Meet the new RBWM Mayor, Councillor Simon Bond

The former and current Mayors of Windsor & Maidenhead have reflected on the past and future as the Borough’s ‘first citizen’ – amid personal triumphs and difficulties.

Belmont ward councillor Simon Bond has been elected as the new Mayor for the Royal Borough, this 2024/25 civic year.

In his duties, he will represent the borough and its communities, attend a variety of events and chair full council meetings.

The councillor took on this ceremonial, non-political role last night, following a vote at the annual council meeting in the Town Hall on Tuesday (May 14).

Stepping up from the Deputy Mayor position, Cllr Bond received the mayoral chain from Cllr Knowles (Old Windsor Residents’ Association), who has served as Mayor since May 2023.

Cllr Bond moved to Maidenhead 45 years ago, working for financial services firm Towry from 1979 to 2009, in both Windsor and Bracknell.

After taking early retirement, he undertook a variety of voluntary roles with community groups, including treasurer and a trustee for a not-for-profit care home for older residents.

A founder member of Wild Maidenhead, Cllr Bond takes a particular interest in the contribution we can all make, together with organisations and the world of finance, to transition to net zero and a more sustainable economy and environment.

Standing at Cllr Bond’s side will be his consort, David Armitage.

“I think we’re the first same-sex couple Mayor consort in Maidenhead,” said Cllr Bond. “It’s remarkable in that it isn’t – nobody pays any attention or bats an eyelid.”

He praised Cllr Knowles’ contribution and said his is looking forward to continuing to attend the sorts of events he experienced in his role as deputy Mayor.

Some of his favourites included those celebrating the talents of young people, and social events for older people who are just happy to have a chat.

Remembrance Day is another key event in the calendar for Cllr Bond.

“We got quite a crowd of people of all ages who wanted to remember [the fallen] coming onto the High Street [last year],” said the Mayor.

Cllr Bond’s previous election as Deputy Mayor and subsequent step up were a joint decision that he was slightly uncertain about at first.

“I think of myself as slightly introverted – I’m a person who likes to beaver away in the background,” he said.

“But I have really enjoyed it [mayoral/deputy responsibilities] over the past year and I think I have grown into the role.”

The charities Cllr Bond will be supporting during his mayoral year are The Mayor’s Benevolent Fund, Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service and Baby Bank.

Cllr Bond hands over the deputy position to Cllr Mandy Brar (Lib Dem, Bisham and Cookham), alongside her consort Harry Brar.

The outgoing Mayor, Cllr Knowles, a military veteran who moved to Windsor from Newcastle-Under-Lyme at a young age, bid a fond farewell to the role.

He said the experience had been ‘very special’ for both he and his wife, Teresa, the former Mayoress.

Cllr Knowles’ mayorship took place during a ‘strange’ year for him, having battled health issues and hospitalisation.

“It was an odd experience becoming Mayor on the back of being in intensive care. Then just after becoming the Mayor I had to go away and have a brain tumour removed,” he said.

“Having all these [mayoral] things going on made the year nicer.”

Something that stood out to Cllr Knowles from his time as Mayor is the hard work of volunteers.

“I’m truly staggered by the amount of volunteers that we have,” he said.

“They’re just a remarkable powerhouse. You can’t tell the difference sometimes between the volunteers and the paid staff.”

Cllr Knowles was also very ‘moved’ by citizenship ceremonies, the final part of becoming a British citizen, which involves making an oath of allegiance to the monarch.

“Some people have had a long and torturous journey to get here. It’s a remarkably emotional event,” said Cllr Knowles.

“As a ward councillor you tend to be very insular and focused on your own little silo, so if you can zoom out and see the whole borough, that’s a special thing,” he added.