Rachel Parry - Mayor of Sevenoaks 

It is such an honour to be the Mayor of Sevenoaks and this Platinum Jubilee year will make the role even more special and so I am very conscious of the privilege and especially the responsibilities of being our Town’s Mayor.

Our family has lived in Sevenoaks for many years and, for those who may not know me, I’m married with two sons, who went to school locally; and we now have four granddaughters. I am a primary teacher and I have taken early retirement to provide time and opportunity to pursue other activities. When teaching, in Sevenoaks, I initially taught in several local Schools and spent the latter 10 years of my teaching career at Weald Community School. However to keep abreast of my profession’s activities I have continued as a Key Stage 2 marker and still, occasionally teach.

As mayor I will follow the tradition, started in the 2002 Jubilee year of promoting Sevenoaks Town widely as a great place in which to Live, Work and Visit. My objective will be to spread this message far and wide, so that once again the whole of Kent, nearby counties and also London Boroughs realise the significance, importance and desirability of our super Town.

My chosen charity, for which I will try to raise a lot of money, is SAYT – SAYT focusses on the needs of a wide range of young people and helps to resolve their problems and concerns. I will also support the excellent “House in the Basement”, a home from home meeting place, a learning space and also a youth cafe where our young citizens meet in comfort and safety.

We in Sevenoaks, together with our fellow country men and women, our European neighbours, especially those in or near Ukraine, in essence most of our world, are faced with an extremely challenging year. The awful increase in the cost of living will cause problems for so many and this, together with the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, will make all our lives difficult.

As Sevenoaks’s Mayor, with the help of my fellow councillors and our Council’s excellent staff, I will do my very best to make the most of any and all opportunities to make positive contributions to the lives and well-being of my fellow residents and also our Town’s businesses.

Finally, with the days of our Queen’s platinum Jubilee celebrations fast approaching, may I wish all a very happy and enjoyable summer.

God save the Queen!

Rachel Parry,