Welcoming the new Mayor of Chelmsford for 2026–27

Councillor Lynne Foster has been elected as the new Mayor of Chelmsford for 2026–27. The appointment was unanimously agreed by members of all parties at the Annual Full Council meeting held last night (Wednesday 13 May). Her long-standing friend, Corinne Tutton, will support the Mayor as Mayoress for the year.

The Mayor has appointed Councillor Julia Frascona as her Deputy. The Deputy Mayor will be supported by her former colleague and good friend, Amanda Wilson.

Mayor Foster also welcomed the Reverend Canon Ivor Moody as her chaplain for the mayoral year. 

Thanks given to departing Mayor

Before appointing the new Mayor of Chelmsford, thanks were given at Full Council to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Jannetta Sosin, and Mayoress, Christine Shaw, for their dedication to the role over the past year. Appreciation was also extended to the outgoing Deputy Mayor, Councillor Smita Rajesh, and her consort, Kumar Rajesh, for their service to Chelmsford.

Councillor Sosin reflected on some of her personal highlights from her year as Mayor. She recalled a very welcoming trip to Backnang in Germany, one of Chelmsford’s twin towns, plus a reciprocal civic visit from the Lord Mayor of Backnang to Chelmsford.

She spoke about how delighted she was to partner with Chelmsford CVS as her chosen Mayoral charity for the year and recalled the many successful events held to fundraise for them, describing the volunteers as “unsung heroes”.

In 2025-26 Chelmsford's mayoralty attended many events, from tree plantings, to the openings of children's playgrounds, sporting events and museum exhibitions.

Springfield Furniture Bank selected as new Mayoral charity

Mayor Foster has chosen to use her Mayoral term to fundraise for the charity Springfield Furniture Bank. The local volunteer-run charity collects unwanted furniture and household goods, providing essential items to people moving into a home with nothing – often following domestic abuse or homelessness. The charity provides people with beds, white goods, curtains, bedlinen and other vital household items. The Mayor will hold events and activities throughout the year to raise funds in support of this work.

During her term in office, the Mayor will also chair Full Council meetings three times a year in a ceremonial role and will support community and charitable events across the district on behalf of Chelmsford City Council.

About the new Mayor of Chelmsford

Councillor Lynne Foster moved to Chelmsford in 1976 following her marriage to husband Mick. Her husband’s career led them to enjoy time living abroad in both Barbados and Bangladesh in the 1970s and 80s. They have two children and three grandchildren.

The new Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Lynne Foster. Photos by Paul Starr.

The new Mayor built herself a successful a career in social housing, progressing from managing hostels for vulnerable people to becoming a director at the local Community Housing Partnership (CHP). She has extensive leadership experience across housing services and is a trustee of local almshouses. Her housing career and experience assisting the vulnerable has inspired her choice of Mayoral charity.

She became Cabinet Member for Fairer Chelmsford in 2023 (covering housing, homelessness and property) and Deputy Leader of the Council in July 2024.

A long-time member of Chelmsford Theatre Workshop in Springfield Road, Councillor Foster has acted in and directed numerous productions, including comedies and Shakespeare. She is also a keen cyclist and values Chelmsford as a great place to live.

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“It is a great privilege and honour to serve as Mayor of Chelmsford. Although I’m not a native Chelmsfordian, I have proudly called this city home for over 50 years, and I believe it is a vibrant and welcoming place to live.

My chosen theme for the year is kindness, which I hope to champion at every opportunity. While the world can sometimes feel lacking in kindness, I know I will meet many people across Chelmsford who demonstrate it in practical and inspiring ways.

I look forward to meeting residents, community groups and volunteers who make such a difference every day. I am also proud to support and raise funds for the Springfield Furniture Bank, a small but impactful charity that helps people rebuild their lives when they have very little.”

Councillor Lynne Foster, Mayor of Chelmsford 2026-27

About the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford

Councillor Julia Frascona was born over the county border in Hatfield and subsequently lived in Gosport, Cyprus, Bristol, Epsom, Brighton and Cardiff, where she graduated in English Literature. She very much enjoyed teaching English in secondary schools for her whole career, moving to Chelmsford in 1987 and spending the last 27 years at Boswells School where she was head of Library and Information Studies, job sharing with Amanda Wilson, her chosen Deputy Mayoress.

She was elected to the city council in 2019 and again in 2023 and has been a member of the Planning and Licensing Committees throughout. She was also a Governor at Trinity Road School for four years and a Trustee for Chelmsford Culture Trust – helping to grow this organisation from small beginnings to a strong voice for culture at all levels in Chelmsford. In addition, Councillor Frascona is a Trustee for Chelmsford Educational Foundation, which gives grants to local students of all ages.

She volunteers for English for Women, a charity which teaches English to ladies from all over the world for whom English is a second language and helps them to feel part of our community.

Councillor Frascona has two daughters, two grandchildren and another grandchild on the way. She is very much looking forward to her role as Deputy Mayor, learning more about the city and meeting the people who help make it such a vibrant place.

The Mayor welcomes invitations to attend events held by organisations in the city. Photos by Paul Starr.

Invite the Mayor to an upcoming event

If you’d like to invite the new Mayor or Deputy Mayor to join an upcoming event or visit a charity or organisation, you can submit a request via Chelmsford City Council’s website.