Cllr Leon Murray elected as new mayor for Telford and Wrekin

The new Mayor was elected at Telford & Wrekin Council’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, along with the election of Councillor Jane Pinter as Deputy Mayor.

It is the second time that Leon has held the position of Mayor for Telford and Wrekin; he previously represented the borough as Mayor in 2013/14.

Councillor Murray said: “I’m delighted to have been elected as the Borough of Telford & Wrekin’s Mayor again and I am very much looking forward to the year ahead.

“I’m passionate about working with the local community again. It’s a great honour to represent the whole of the borough and I will pride myself on maintaining that community focus throughout this year.”

At the meeting, Councillor Murray announced that the charities he would be supporting for the next 12 months would be the Samaritans (Telford), MS Society (Telford and District) and Wellington Cottage Care Trust.

Councillor Murray was born in Jamaica and immigrated to Telford in 1961. He was raised a Methodist and began to attend the New Street Methodist Church just two days after arriving in England.

To this day, Leon regards the Methodist Church as his spiritual home and is Vice President of British Methodism.

Leon has involved himself fully in the local community; becoming a lay preacher, a magistrate and helping West Mercia Police produce training materials.

He has been instrumental in tackling racial discrimination, including writing the book; Being Black in Britain.

Leon has been a member of the West Mercia Probation Board, director of a number of charitable trusts, president of the YMCA and chairman of Mind.

He was awarded the MBE in 2004 and appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire. Leon lives in Hadley with his wife Barbara, and they have two grown up daughters, Christine and Rachel.

Deputy Mayor for this year is Councillor Jane Pinter.

Councillor Pinter was born in Swindon Wiltshire; she came to Telford in 1975 and attended the Phoenix School. She lives in little Dawley with her husband Louis, and they have two grown up daughters.

Councillor Pinter said: “I’m really looking forward to taking on the role of Deputy Mayor for this year and supporting Councillor Murray throughout his term as Mayor for Telford & Wrekin Council.

“I know we both intend to work hard to both represent and promote the borough’s reputation as an efficient and caring body in the whole community.”

Councillor Murray replaces outgoing Mayor, Councillor Malcolm Smith, who was thanked during the meeting for his very successful year in post.