A councillor who represents Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside has been announced as the borough's new deputy mayor.
Councillor Jean Loveland will support the new mayor, Councillor Martin Seymour, throughout his tenure in 2015-16 and will help to raise money for this year's chosen charities, The Mulberry Centre and the Alzheimer's Society.
Coun Loveland said: "It is a great honour to take on this civil duty supporting our new borough mayor and his chosen charities are important as almost every family in the borough will be affected by either cancer or dementia, or both.
"It is also a good opportunity to meet residents, groups and businesses outside of my ward.
"I am lucky as my gardening project with Richmond Aid enables me to have regular contact with many of our disabled, vulnerable and older residents."
Along with being a keen cyclist, Coun Loveland has recently taken up the craft of honey bee keeping.
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