The new Mayor of Dartford is Councillor Patsy Thurlow.

Cllr Thurlow was elected as Mayor for the next year at a formal ceremony at Dartford’s Civic Centre.

It is the first time she has taken on the role, but knows what to expect – she was Mayoress in 1989/90 when her late husband was Mayor.

She said: “I am looking forward to meeting lots of people around the borough and helping to raise money for two great local charities.”

She will support the Renal Unit at Darent Valley Hospital and the North West Kent Disabled Foundation.

Her escort will be Denzil Reynolds and Councillor Avtar Sandhu MBE has been appointed Deputy Mayor. The Deputy Mayoress will be Sukh Sandhu.

Cllr Thurlow has been a Cabinet member for eight years with responsibilities including heritage, the museum, parks and open spaces and events such as the Dartford Festival and the Christmas Lights switch-on. She is especially proud of Central Park’s skate park, which she was heavily involved in the planning and delivery of, and will be raising awareness of the skate park’s development during her year as Mayor.

In her spare time, Cllr Thurlow enjoys sport, quizzes, reading and spending time with her two children and three grandchildren.