Welcoming the Mayor of Chelmsford for 2023-24

Councillor Linda Mascot has been elected as the new Mayor of Chelmsford for 2023-24. The appointment was unanimously agreed by members of all parties at the Annual Full Council meeting held last night (Wednesday 24 May 2023).

The Mayor has appointed Councillor Jude Deakin as her Deputy. The Mayor will be supported by her husband Ian as her Consort.

The Mayor’s charities and theme for the year

The theme for the Mayor this year is “Bright Futures” – focusing on supporting young people to become confident, successful and happy adults. The Mayor will be fundraising for YMCA Essex. The Mayor chairs Full Council meetings in a ceremonial role, and represents the council by supporting local events and charities.

At the meeting, thanks were given to the retiring Mayor, Cllr Sue Dobson and the retiring Deputy Mayor, Cllr Bob Massey for their contributions to Chelmsford during their term. Cllr Sue Dobson was appointed Mayor in November 2022 following the sad death of Mayor John Galley in October 2022.

About the Mayor

Cllr Linda Mascot was born at St. John’s hospital in Chelmsford and has lived in the local area for most of her life.

After leaving school, Cllr Mascot began her career as an apprentice at Marconi Communication Systems Ltd in New Street. She has gone on to work as an inclusion manager at a local Chelmsford junior school. Her role sees her work closely with children who have special educational needs, young carers and other vulnerable pupils. She offers practical and pastoral support to help them overcome barriers to their learning, including social and emotional difficulties. 

Cllr Mascot lives in Tile Kiln with her husband Ian, who is the Mayor’s Consort, and the youngest of her six children, Isobel. Linda and Ian are proud grandparents to eight grandchildren.

Cllr Mascot’s ‘claims to fame’ include spending a memorable four days in Italy with Angela Rippon whilst filming a TV programme called ‘Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting’. She has also appeared on the One Show wearing motorbike leathers alongside Dolly Parton whilst nominating World Superbike Champion James Toseland as Sports Personality of the Year! 

She was first elected to Chelmsford City Council (then Borough Council) in 2011 to represent Goat Hall Ward and was privileged to be re-elected as a City Councillor in May 2019, and again in May 2023. She has contributed more than 32 years of community involvement including The Tile Kiln Residents’ Association and Neighbourhood Watch, being a Founding Trustee of the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust, SEN Governor of Mildmay Junior School for 10 years, and has written a monthly community column for the Moulsham Times for the past 7 years. 

As a Chelmsford City Councillor, Cllr Mascot has Chaired the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, was on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was Chair of the Liberal Democrat Group. 

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"I am honoured to have been elected as Mayor of this great city of Chelmsford and I’m looking forward to actively supporting local residents, businesses, community groups, charities, as well as our diverse performing groups, art and culture."

Cllr Linda Mascot, Mayor of Chelmsford

About the Deputy Mayor

Cllr Jude Deakin has been a member of Chetwood Primary, William De Ferrers and Rainsford High School PTAs and was a school governor at Collingwood Primary, Rainsford High/St Peters College and King Edward Grammar School. She is currently a Director of Chelmsford Community Radio, a trustee of North Chelmsford Community Trust, a trustee of John Henry Keene Memorial Homes and a past trustee of Helping Hands Essex.   

Cllr Deakin’s daughter Helen, who lives in Chelmsford, will be Deputy Mayoress. 

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"I am delighted to serve as the Deputy Mayor for 2023-24 and look forward to supporting the Mayor at community engagements and fundraising for YMCA Essex."

Cllr Jude Deakin, Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford

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"Cllr Mascot is one of those people that makes things happen. She’s been organising all sorts of things over many years in Tile Kiln and further afield and has done so much in the community. Too often people think local politics isn’t the place for them, but Linda, as well as many of her colleagues, have proved the value of having a diverse range of voices on the city council and it’s all the better for it. I know that she will make an excellent first citizen of the city of Chelmsford for the next year."

Cllr Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council

Requests to invite the Mayor to an event or engagement can be submitted on the Chelmsford City Council website.