Brentwood's OB Mayor

Brentwood Borough Council has elected Councillor Olivia Sanders (OB 1999 - 2001) as the Mayor of Brentwood for 2020/21; she will take over the role of Ambassador and First Citizen for the coming year.

Her appointment was made at Annual Council on Wednesday night (May 19, 2021), where a limited number of members of the Council were able to witness the Mayor being sworn in whilst respecting social distancing.

Olivia, who is Brentwood’s 29th Mayor, has been ward member of Hutton East for seven years having been brought up and schooled in the borough. She is a NHS radiographer and worked throughout the Covid-19 pandemic on the frontline at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. During the last year, as Deputy Mayor, Olivia undertook various duties including flag raising events which were permitted during the Lockdown and Tier restrictions. 

As the new Mayor of Brentwood, she said:

“I am proud to be representing Brentwood as Mayor and to have been chosen to do this. Last year was challenging for everyone in so many ways. With us coming out of Lockdown and more restrictions lifted this week it seems fitting that I can now step into the role and represent the people of Brentwood as their Mayor which is such an honour. I am really looking forward to finally being able to go out and about to support the wide range of events and initiatives that are planned throughout the forthcoming Civic year. Brentwood is a marvellous place and I plan to do my best to ensure I represent our borough in the most positive way. I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement.”

Olivia has chosen four charities for her Mayoral Fundraising this year and explained;

“Parkinson’s UK is a charity close to my family and one I wish to support in honour of a dear friend and colleague, John Kerslake who sadly passed away last year. John was well known to many having always supported Brentwood in many ways including as a Councillor and Deputy Leader. I also want to help Cardiomyopathy UK, which is a disease that directly affected a friend of mine. I also feel it is important to support our much loved local hospice, St Francis Hospice. The care it provides is incredible and I know it has made so much difference to so many families with the support it offers to individuals with life-limiting illnesses. As an animal lover we are most fortunate in Brentwood to have the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary. It does an amazing job helping all sorts of animals from all sorts of situations. All charities faced a tough time last year with many traditional fundraising events unable to take place so I am really looking forward to helping them all.”