For details of the Order of Proceedings please see page 5.

The Mayor, Mrs Christine Bateson, welcomed everyone to the Annual Meeting and reflected on her year as in office.

Mrs Bateson thanked all the officers who had supported her: Andrew Scott, Dean Graham, Emma Duncan, Amarjit Mitharo and Mark Blackshaw. In particular she highlighted Alison Singleton, Mayoral Secretary who had been brilliant. During her year as Mayor she had been very luck to attend special and historic events. At the start of her year she had attended events to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee which was a wonderful start to an interesting and enjoyable 12 months. She reflected that, in September, she had felt privileged to journey to London to see the Queen lying in state and attend the service in Saint George’s Chapel following the funeral procession. She had also been involved in the proclamation of His Majesty the Kind, attended Buckingham Palace to deliver a royal address to him and saw the Coronation Concert in the grounds of Windsor Castle. She reflected that alongside the high-profile events she had also enjoyed all if the other engagements such as opening new stores, visiting day centre, attending community events and meeting lost of people at around 200 events. She reported that the borough was blessed with hundreds of volunteers, and she was astonished by the hours of work and effort made by Scout Leaders, Rotarians and Lions. The Windsor and Maidenhead Community and Interfaith Groups did such good work to keep harmony and peace as well as celebrating the diverse borough. She concluded that it was lovely to finish her 28 years as a Councillor as Mayor she had many happy memories and had made many friends. She was looking forwarded to active retirement and would be travelling abroad to visit family and friends. 

The Mayor invited nominations for the election of the Mayor of the Royal Borough for 2022/23. 

In proposing Councillor Neil Knowles for the role of Mayor, Councillor Jones stated that he was born in Newcastle Under Lyme but moved to Windsor at an early age with his military family. They were then posted all over the world including Germany, Malaya and Singapore before returning to the UK and Windsor, where he attended Dedworth Green Secondary School as it was then. He joined the Army and The Life Guards straight from school and served in Windsor, Cyprus, Germany, Canada before returning to Windsor again, where he met Teresa.

Following a tour of Mounted Duty Neil applied for and passed the Army Pilots course becoming an Army Helicopter Pilot in the Army Air Corps serving everywhere there was conflict until completing his Regular service moving onto the reserve, in which he served with the Royal Air Force until the age of 55, when he retired as a Squadron Leader.

On leaving the Army, Neil become a Radio and TV presenter and producer working for the BBC then local commercial Radio before joining the British Forces Broadcasting Service, again working everywhere there was conflict until he moved into project, administration and financial management in the education sector.

She continued that Neil has been a Ward Councillor for Old Windsor since May 2019, working hard to make a difference to local residents and is particularly keen on preserving the green belt. He is very active in the community having run Windsor Air Cadets for some years, he is a school governor at St Peters Middle School, a trustee of Old Windsor alms houses and keeps his military links as a member of Flemish Farm based Light Cavalry, the Honourable Artillery Company, and is also a member of the Historic Army Aircraft flight.

She continued that Teresa and Neil have a son, Sam, who runs a successful events business in the Netherlands and a grandson Max. On a personal note she commented that she had thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Neil representing Old Windsor and said that life was never boring with him around. Whilst he would be proud to be Mayor she considered he had the experience, skills and authority to ensure the smooth running of Council meetings and carry out his duties with the passion and good humour he was known for.

In seconding the motion Councillor Hill explained that as Mayor, Councillor Knowles would be accompanied by his wife, Teresa Knowles as Mayoress. She had attended Kins Court School and St Peters School, Old Windsor and Windsor Girls School before starting work in the early years sector. Teresa had become a specialist OFSTED inspector, working mentoring and training Early Years practitioners. Teresa enjoyed crafting and was always making something. 

It was moved by Councillor Jones, seconded by Councillor Hill and:

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that Councillor Neil Knowles be elected Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for the ensuing Municipal year.

The Chief Executive declared Councillor Knowles duly elected Mayor.

Councillor Knowles made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, witnessed by Councillors Jones and Hill.

THE MAYOR (COUNCILLOR KNOWLES) IN THE CHAIR

Mrs Bateson presented the Mayor with the Mace, the Borough seal and the keys to the Mayor’s Parlour.

In making his speech of acceptance, Councillor Knowles thanked Lieutenant Colonel Tom Armitage from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment for allowing officers Goodman and Tye to represent when he had begun his working life. He also thanked John Cookson from The Light Calvary Honourable Artillery Company based at Flemish Farm where he spent he spare time.

He thanked Mrs Christine Bateson and Richard Bateson for representing the borough the previous year, noting it was a year like no other and her length of service as an elected representative was inspiring. He asked everyone present to join him in applauding her achievement.

He commented that he did not think he had dreamed of being Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead when he was 15 years old but he had achieved many of his ambitions. He became an elected councillor when he had followed his wife’s advice to take action. He stated that she was his ‘rock’ and anything he achieved was due to her support. In his forthcoming year he would try to continue his support for Blue Acre Horse Rescue in Old Windsor and the Household Cavalry Foundation. He also intended to support and highlight local small medium businesses. He commented that they were still suffering post covid and wanted to update the 70s slogan “Buy British” to “Buy Borough”.

He concluded that he hoped his appointment was the start of a new era and a friendlier Council which was less adversarial and consequently more attractive to residents who may be apprehensive about becoming Councillors. He thanked everyone for his appointed and hoped he would be a good servant to them all.

The Mayor presented Mrs Christine Bateson and Richard Bateson with their Past Mayor’s and Past Consort badges.