Here, Mayor and Everwhere!
Mayor of Hounslow and Chiswick Riverside councillor Amy Croft on her role
Left: Pressing apples on Apple Day. Right: With Cllr Ranjit Gill at the Flower Market
September 13, 2025
Naturally it is a huge honour to have been appointed as Mayor of the Borough for the year, but what actually is the role of a mayor, and what does it entail? My answer to this, had you asked me in May before my inauguration, would have only really talked about the ceremonial aspect of it: fundraising for charity, and celebrating residents’ achievements. I now realise that it is much more than this.
It has been a bit of a whirlwind since taking office on the 27th May, and today I will be attending my 100 th mayoral event. Needless to say I have had the absolute pleasure to have met some really amazing people in this time, who are doing wonderful things for the community all across the Borough.
In the last couple of weeks I have attended a number of events in and around Chiswick, including the official opening of the new Chiswick Health Centre (albeit that it has actually been open since the beginning of April). It was great to see the new facilities and to hear about the amount of services that will be available to patients, in addition to the 4 practices housed there. Having this space in the centre of Chiswick, bringing GP and community health services together in one place, is a real achievement and the benefit to residents will be really impactful. I even got to sample some of what is on offer, by attending a seated ballet class, along with the Chair of the Justice Select Committee, Andy Slaughter MP - one for the scrapbook!
Taking part in a seated ballet class at the new health centre
Last weekend I had the pleasure of officially opening the Cabinet of Curiosities outside Chiswick Library, which will house lots of, well…. curiosities, and a seed swap where you can bring and take seeds, organised as part of Abundance London’s Apple Day. Stalls by some of our local ecological groups, free locally collected and pressed apple juice, all topped off with a spot of apple bobbing, made for a very fun packed couple of hours.
Then, onto St Paul’s Grove Park for the Grove Park Group Summer Party; in addition to the delicious food and fabulous unicorn bouncy castle, the warm and fun atmosphere really shows the positive impact on local areas of having an inclusive and community minded resident association, of which GPG is a shining example.
With Andy Slaughter MP (right) at the Grove Park Group Summer Party
Not to forget the beautiful colours and fragrances of the Chiswick Flower Market, which I visited on Sunday for its 5 th anniversary. The High Road was truly buzzing, something that many high streets across the country would envy.
This weekend again sees a packed Chiswick agenda, with the Chiswick Book Festival running across the weekend, and the Thames Tidefest at Stand on the Green as well as Chiswick Horticultural and Allotment Society Autumn Show both happening this weekend.
The one thing that links together the vast majority of events that I attend is the passion for the community that is held by the wonderful people who put on events and facilities like these; whether delivered professionally or by volunteers, I have been overwhelmed by the dedication, resilience, compassion and community spirit of hundreds (if not thousands) of people across the Borough who share very similar goals for their communities, and environment.
So, my answer to the original question is now much fuller. As Mayor of the Borough, as well as the duties listed above, you are in the extremely privileged position to be able to have an audience with countless brilliant individuals doing wonderful things for their communities. So probably the most important part of the mayoral role, for me, is to bring those individuals and organisations together, and link up people across the Borough doing similar things in different places to see how they might complement each other, or even just provide a support network or sounding board. My initial assumption that groups who do similar things, for example in Brentford and Bedfont, would know of each other, is often not the case.
The other part is shining a spotlight on the wonderful things that these often voluntary groups do, and encourage others to volunteer to join them.
If you can think of any more of these wonderful community champions that I might not already know then please do let me know, and otherwise I hope you enjoy another fun packed weekend in Chiswick - I may well see you there!
Councillor Amy Croft
Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow
Amy.croft@hounslow.gov.uk
DEMOCRACY: DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday 13 October: Chiswick Area Forum - Normally at Hogarth Hall, Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, Turnham, W4 4JN, but moveable around Chiswick (please check the website). Meetings are open from 6.30pm allowing residents to meet officers of Hounslow Council in Adult and Child care Social Welfare, Education, Housing and Services
Council Meetings
Borough Council
- Tuesday 16 September 7.30pm
- Tuesday 25 November 7:30 pm
Overview and Scrutiny Panel
There is public access for these meetings via a direct lift from the ground floor to the Council Meeting Room
6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
Council Meetings – Overview and Scrutiny Committee
- Monday 18 September 2025 7.00pm
6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
Council Meetings – Audit and Governance Committee
- Tuesday 4 November 7:00 pm
6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB
Anyone can attend public meetings of the council. Most meetings take place on the 6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, TW3 3EB. Hounslow House is fully accessible. The nearest tube is Hounslow Central which does not have step-free access. Parking in local roads is limited.
Emergencies
You can report emergencies outside office hours by ringing the council on: 020 8583 2222.
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