Cllr Carol Jewell elected as new Borough Mayor

Cllr Carol Jewell was elected as the next Wokingham Borough Mayor at Annual Council on Thursday 22 May, succeeding Cllr Adrian Mather after a year as his deputy.

The Mayor is officially the ‘first citizen’ of the borough, with a civic role, representing the council and the people of the borough, as well as presiding over borough council meetings.

Unless His Majesty The King or his representative is in attendance, the Mayor takes precedence over any other dignitaries at events within Wokingham Borough. 

The Deputy Mayor for the next civic year will be Cllr Rob Comber.

Cllr Jewell’s chosen charity for her year as Borough Mayor will be Building for the Future. The charity provides activities, support and therapy for children with disabilities and additional needs, as well as supporting their families.

Based at Our House on Toutley Road in Wokingham, the charity offers an accessible play centre where families can meet and all children are celebrated. The centre has a range of facilities, including soft play, a sensory room, play area and small garden.

They also run an 18 to 25 club to support young, local, disabled adults who have left school or college in working towards achieving their ambitions.

Cllr Jewell said: “I have absolutely loved my time as Deputy Mayor and would like to thank the outgoing Borough Mayor, Cllr Adrian Mather, for all he has done over the past year. It has been a privilege to serve as his deputy and it is an even bigger honour to be asked to step into his shoes and represent Wokingham Borough for the next year.

“I look forward to shining a light on the excellent work that is done by our residents. Whether it is attending events, or through my Mayor’s Honour Awards, I want to celebrate the generosity, dedication and selflessness that makes our borough brilliant. 

“I am also eager to do all I can to support my chosen charity, Building for the Future. They do amazing work to help children and their families, creating an inclusive environment where children with disabilities and additional needs can thrive. Importantly, they also support disabled young adults who are trying to enter the world of work.”

About Cllr Carol Jewell

Cllr Jewell represents South Lake Ward in Woodley and has lived there for more than 50 years. Her two daughters were educated locally and she also has two granddaughters.

First elected to Woodley Town Council in 1979, she served on the town council for 29 years and was Town Mayor three times. She temporarily left the council to take on an Open University degree, followed by a PhD in construction management. She was then re-elected to the town council in 2019, where she represents South Lake South Ward.

She is a governor at South Lake Primary School, a member of Friends of Bulmershe Open Space, a part of the Woodley Adopt-a-Street team and a volunteer gardener for the Wokingham Volunteer Centre. 

Last year, Cllr Jewell helped to set up the Woodley Repair Café with the support of a team of fixers and volunteers, all with the aim of reducing the number of things that get thrown away.

About Cllr Rob Comber

Cllr Comber has been a borough councillor since 2024 and was the Wokingham Town Mayor in the previous municipal year, the year of Wokingham Town Council’s 50th anniversary

He first moved to Berkshire as a result of opportunities in the IT sector and came to Wokingham around 40 years ago. He built a successful career, managing a number of businesses before running his own small business.