Kingston Mayor and Deputy Mayor thanked for service as new Mayor elected

22 May 2026

Kingston upon Thames Council has bid a fond farewell to its retiring Mayor, Councillor Noel Hadjimichael, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sue Ansari, thanking them for their dedicated service over the past municipal year.

The Annual Council meeting, held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, saw Councillor Tai Tylen elected and installed as the new Mayor for the 2026-2027 term. Councillor Tylen, who arrived in the UK from Sri Lanka in 1970, has a long history of community involvement in Kingston. He co-founded the Surrey Seamers Cricket Club in 1983, using sport to bring people together, and the ITC Kingston Tamil School in 1986, which helps generations of young people stay connected to their language, heritage, and culture. Councillor Tylen has also played a major role within the Kingston Race and Equalities Council and helped establish Global Arts Kingston. He has been a Councillor for Tolworth Ward since 2014.

As Mayor, Councillor Tylen stated his intention to 'promote community cohesion, inclusion and support for the local charities and vulnerable residents across the borough.' He also expressed a desire to 'meet and celebrate the people who make our borough such a special place.' The Mayor of Kingston upon Thames is the 'first citizen of the borough' and the 'first servant', with duties including representing the borough with dignity and care, engaging with communities, supporting local charities and vulnerable residents, and presiding over council meetings.

During the meeting, a vote of thanks was unanimously approved for Councillor Hadjimichael and Councillor Ansari. Councillor Griseldis Kirsch proposed the vote of thanks, highlighting Councillor Hadjimichael's dedication, humanity, and commitment to community resilience. Councillor Mike Massimi seconded the motion, emphasizing Councillor Hadjimichael's authenticity and warmth.

Key achievements and highlights of Councillor Hadjimichael's tenure as Mayor included convening Kingston's first resilience board, which later became best practice for London, and his role as GLA spokesperson for community resilience. He also initiated '40 coffee and conversations' events across the borough, ultimately holding 42, to discuss community matters with residents. Furthermore, he championed two women-led charities, Leah (Learning English at Home) and the Fanny (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), bringing their work to the forefront.

Councillor James Giles, Leader of the Opposition, commended Councillor Hadjimichael's outstanding service and his understanding of public service beyond party politics. Councillor Rowena Bass also thanked Councillor Hadjimichael and his wife Carol for their excellent teamwork and focus on resilience and community initiatives.

In his response, Councillor Hadjimichael expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and acknowledged the contributions of his family, colleagues, and the wider community. He reflected on his year as Mayor, stating, The joy was to meet people who were thrilled to meet us, but you learn so quickly from day one, if you don't know already, that you are the first citizen of the borough, but you are indeed the first servant.

The full agenda and reports from the meeting can be found in the Public reports pack.

Councils Involved

Kingston upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the Council of Kingston upon Thames Council on 21 May 2026

People Involved

Councillor Sue Ansari Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames • Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Rowena Bass Leader of the Minority Opposition Group • Conservative • Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor Mark Beynon Chair of Planning Committee • Liberal Democrat • King George's and Sunray Ward

Councillor Emily Davey Portfolio Holder for Housing & Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor Lorraine Dunstone Chair - South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Mark Durrant Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Ian George Conservative • Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor James Giles Leader of the Opposition; Opposition Spokesperson for Housing, Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling, Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Green Lane and St James Ward

Councillor Helen Grocott Liberal Democrat • King George's and Sunray Ward

Councillor Noel Hadjimichael Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames • Liberal Democrat • Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Sabah Hamed Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities and Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Roger Hayes Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Lesley Heap Chair - New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Alison Holt Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Economic Development & Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Amir Ali Khan Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Robert Dongsung Kim Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Andreas Kirsch Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee • Liberal Democrat • Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Griseldis Kirsch Liberal Democrat • Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Ian Manders Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy & Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Alexandra Ward

Councillor Mike Massimi Liberal Democrat • Old Malden Ward

Councillor Sharukh Mirza Liberal Democrat • Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Nicola Nardelli Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Transport, Waste and Recycling and Co-Chair - Place Committee • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Elizabeth Park Liberal Democrat • Old Malden Ward

Councillor Tom Reeve Chair - Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Anita Schaper Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee • Liberal Democrat • Berrylands Ward

Councillor Andrew Sillett Chair - Licensing Committee • Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Thay Thayalan Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Yvonne Tracey Opposition Spokesperson for Social Care (including Education), Public Health and Equalities • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Green Lane and St James Ward

Councillor Olly Wehring Chair - Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor Andrew Wooldridge Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Yogan Yoganathan Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Brian Austen • Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Kim Bailey • Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Joanne Barker • Liberal Democrat • Hook and Chessington North Ward

Councillor Helen Milestone • Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Sam Foulder-Hughes • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor Rizwana Malik • Liberal Democrat • Berrylands Ward

Councillor Nicolai Due-Gunderson • Liberal Democrat • Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Stephen Evans • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Mark Manners • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Callum Morrissey • Liberal Democrat • Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Councillor Robert Sadler • Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Sarah Wait-Sillett • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Peter Higgins • Liberal Democrat • Canbury Gardens Ward

Councillor Jane Lim • Liberal Democrat • Tolworth Ward

Councillor Blaise Murphet • Liberal Democrat • Tudor Ward

Councillor Manish Shukla • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Sachin Tulyani • Liberal Democrat • Tudor Ward

Councillor Wimal Wimalathasan • Liberal Democrat • Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Topics

Councillor Noel Hadjimichael Councillor Sue Ansari Councillor Tai Tylen Kingston upon Thames Council Councillor Griseldis Kirsch Councillor Mike Massimi Councillor James Giles Rowena Bass