Mayor of the Borough
A Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Borough are elected every May, to represent the Council at civic functions and raise money for local good causes.
The current Mayor is Councillor Nancy Baldwin, and the current Deputy Mayor is Councillor Matthew Wherry.
The Mayor
A native of Upstate New York, Cllr Nancy Baldwin was the first American born mayor of a Greater London Borough. Cllr Baldwin is extremely proud to be elected mayor of Richmond for a second term – the first term having been cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cllr Baldwin has made her home in Richmond since 1985 and is a Liberal Democrat councillor for North Richmond with a special interest in communities and the voluntary sector. She has served as Spokesperson for Communities, Equalities and the Voluntary Sector for the past four years as well as having been Vice Chair of Finance. She was instrumental in the borough’s accreditation as a Borough of Sanctuary – an achievement which fills her with great pride.
Her two sons, Peter and Andrew, attended local schools and now live in London and Birmingham. She begins her Mayoral year after a varied career in which she has been a banker, teacher, entrepreneur and actor. Cllr Baldwin is passionate about Richmond and is proud to be its Mayor for the next 12 months. For her charities, Cllr Baldwin has chosen Cocoon Care After Care and Skylarks.
Cocoon Care After Care supports young people as they navigate their way into independence and adulthood after leaving care. These young people face many challenges setting up homes, finding careers and just navigating the vicissitudes of life without the family support others enjoy. Cocoon provides the warm parental support and practical help that these young people need at a pivotal time in their lives.
Skylarks, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, provides help, guidance and activities for children and young people with additional and their families. It can be incredibly isolating caring for a child with complex needs. Skylarks steps in to provide these families and young people with a community and help which is all provided for free. To visit a Skylarks project is to experience the joy and hope that they provide to local families who need them.
Cllr Baldwin says: "I am thrilled that I will be spending the year celebrating all the wonderful things that the people of Richmond do to make life in our borough an inclusive and kind place to call home. My chosen charities, Cocoon Care After Care and Skylarks, do fantastic work locally and have touched many local residents. It is my hope that this mayoral year will result in a greater focus on their excellent work and the good works of all our volunteer and community groups."
The Deputy Mayor
Cllr Matthew Wherry was elected as a Liberal Democrat Councillor for Fulwell and Hampton Hill in 2026. He was born in Maidstone, Kent and his family moved to Richmond when he was five years old. He was educated in the borough, first at The Vineyard Infants and Juniors, then at Newland House School and St Paul’s School in Barnes.
He continued his education studying Classics at Trinity College Dublin, and afterwards joined a music promotions agency and worked on a series of shows with some of Ireland’s leading acts. On his return to London, he joined a marketing agency and worked in the service and media sectors before joining Liberal Democrat Federal Headquarters. He worked there for five years in the fundraising and membership services departments, and served on the party’s Federal Executive as HQ Staff Representative.
Matthew has worked in book and magazine publishing as an agents’ assistant, writer, editor and publisher and has co-written two books on non-duality with Jez Alborough, the bestselling picture book creator. More recently, he has complemented his writing projects with working in several hospitality venues in the borough.
Matthew and his consort, David, moved to Hampton Hill in 2005. They entered a civil partnership in 2006 and will marry on their 20th anniversary.
His voluntary work includes having served as Chair of the Hampton Hill Association, as well as Vice and acting Chair of the borough’s LGBT Forum, as a Director of The British Wheel of Yoga Qualifications charity, and on the committee of the Society of Young Publishers. His interests include current affairs, personal development, the arts, the environment, history and genealogy.
The Mayor’s charities
The Mayor's charities for 2026/2027 are:
Cocoon Care After Care
Cocoon Care After Care supports local care experienced young adults as they build independent, fulfilling lives after leaving care.
It helps to improve day to day living, ease emotional and financial pressures, and reduce the isolation many young people feel during this transition. From small everyday tasks to life changing support, it works to remove barriers that prevent many care-experienced people from enjoying a good standard of living, pursuing education or career goals, and fully participating in society.
Skylarks
Skylarks is an independent charity that provides free vital services and support for children and young people aged 0 to 25 with additional needs, and their families, in the heart of the community.
Based in Richmond for twenty years, Skylarks provides a variety of activities, workshops, therapies and training as well as advice, information and support for the whole family.
Charity events
The Mayor holds a number of events to raise funds for their chosen charities.
Competitions
The Mayor regularly runs competitions for residents to enter. Find out more about the Mayor's competitions.
Make a donation
You can make a donation to the Mayor's appeal fund.
You can also support the Mayor’s charities by attending one of our Mayor's charity events or entering a competition.
Arrange a visit
If you want the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor to attend your event, you will need to submit a request at least 14 days before the date of the function.
Keep up to date
There are a number of ways to find out what the Mayor is doing.
Freedom of the Borough
The Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that we can give and is an honour bestowed on very few people.
Contact
The Mayor's Office
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
York House
Richmond Road
Twickenham
TW1 3AA
Telephone: 020 8891 7123
Email: mayors.office@richmond.gov.uk
Up to: Councillors
Updated: 20 May 2026
