I was first elected to the Council in 1986 as councillor for the then Burlington Ward which still forms the core of my current Beverley Ward. From the outset my main interests have been about involving more ordinary people in local decision making and in making sure that New Malden and Kingston are thriving places that people want to live in and visit.

I became Deputy Leader of the Council from 1994 -1997 and led on the development of Neighbourhood Committees and increasing community participation. I have been Leader in 1997 -1998 and 2003 to date. I was also parliamentary candidate for Kingston upon Thames in 1992 fighting the Chancellor Norman Lamont.

One of my biggest issues has always been that people are so apologetic about Kingston which is a magnificent place to live with a great river frontage, a thriving town centre and great education and other facilities. Over my time on the Council we not only prevented the last cinema closing but have seen the development of the Rotunda with 21 screens and now have a great cultural, educational and economic resource in the Rose Theatre – now internationally known. If not for these Kingston would have been doomed to being a young drinking den at night.

And the theatre brings my second love to life – I used to act in amateur theatre and my daughters are both fabulous actresses and have both appeared (though only 13 and 10) on the professional stage.