Welcoming the new of Mayor of Chelmsford

Cllr. John Galley was elected as the new Mayor of Chelmsford last night (18 May). The appointment was unanimously agreed by members of all parties at the Annual Full Council meeting. The Mayor will be accompanied by his wife, Mayoress Jackie Galley during his term in office until May 2023.

The Mayor has appointed Cllr. Sue Dobson as his Deputy. She will be supported by her husband Keith Dobson as her Consort.

The Mayor’s charities and theme for the year

The theme for the Mayor this year is “Hope”. The Mayor will be fundraising for Farleigh Hospice and Parkinson’s UK Chelmsford and both causes are very close to his heart. 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. Jude Deakin and the retiring Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Linda Mascot for their extraordinary contributions to Chelmsford during their unprecedented two-year term.

About the Mayor

Cllr. Galley grew up in South Woodford but moved to Springfield when he married his wife Jackie in 1972. He worked in the financial sector in London for 28 years, mainly with Nat West and culminating at Coutts, the Queen’s bankers.  He also served as a Non-Executive Director for Chelmsford Primary Care for seven years, chairing the Audit Committee.

He’s been a Parish Councillor at Boreham for over thirty years. In 2000, he was elected as a Borough Councillor for Boreham. In 2003, he was re-elected in both Boreham and the Leighs.

Following this, Cllr. Galley served as Deputy Leader of Chelmsford Council and Cabinet Member for Finance for sixteen years. He also chaired the Treasury Management and Property subcommittee and served on the Audit and Risk and Policy Board subcommittees and the Leisure working group. Recently, he chaired the Overview and Scrutiny committee.

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“I am honoured and proud to be selected as the Mayor of Chelmsford for 2022/23. I hope to continue the cultural heritage of this proud and historic city."

Cllr. John Galley, Mayor of Chelmsford

About the Deputy Mayor

Cllr. Dobson was born in Hornchurch and spent her early life there. She moved to Billericay after her marriage to her husband Keith and subsequently to Sandon, where she has lived for around thirty years.

Following a career as an export buyer in the paint industry and having two children, she took on various roles within the community. She was the parish clerk at Sandon for fourteen years, the clerk to the governing body at William de Ferrers School, and a parent governor and PTA member for several years at St Johns Primary School, Danbury.

A keen horse rider all her life, she has worked with both the British Horse Society and Essex Bridleways Association campaigning for better off-road access for all vulnerable user groups, especially equestrians, throughout Essex.

She is currently the chair of the steering group for the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan. She is also the chair of the Sandon Quarry liaison group who liaise with local residents and the quarry operators, Brett Aggregates.

Cllr. Dobson was elected to Chelmsford City Council for the first time in May 2019 for Bicknacre and East and West Hanningfield. She also sits on the City Council’s Planning committee and is currently an opposition spokesperson at Cabinet.

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“I am incredibly honoured to have been elected as Deputy Mayor, working with the Mayor, Cllr John Galley.”

Cllr Sue Dobson, Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford

Civic Service

The Mayor would like to invite everyone to join the annual Civic Service which will be held on Monday 13 June 2022 at 5.15pm in Chelmsford Cathedral.