Royal Leamington Spa has welcomed its next mayor for 2026-7.

Cllr Sarah Boad was officially elected as the town's next mayor and received the mayoral chain during the Town Council's Annual Meeting, which took place yesterday (Thursday 14 May).

The meeting also saw Cllr Savita Lekhi take on the role of Deputy Mayor of Leamington Spa and former mayor, Cllr Ruggy Singh, present his mayoral awards for the year.

Born in Herefordshire, Cllr Boad moved to Warwickshire in 1986, where she now lives with her husband, former Mayor Cllr Alan Boad, and their two children.

After completing a degree in Metallurgy in 1979, she worked in carbon technology in South Wales and Coventry before moving into membership support roles with The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, where she worked until retiring in 2024.

Cllr Boad has lived in Leamington Spa for nearly 40 years and has been actively involved in the community throughout that time. Her roles have included serving as a school governor at Telford Infant School, church warden at St Mary Magdalene Church in Lillington, and supporting a range of local community groups.

Speaking on her appointment as the new mayor, Cllr Boad shared: "Leamington Spa is a wonderful place to live and I am very proud to represent the residents of Lillington on the Town Council. I am looking forward to visiting local organisations and learning more about the important work they do within our community.

"I was honoured to serve as Mayor 32 years ago, and since then many new organisations and community groups have been established. During my previous term, I visited every school in Leamington, and I hope to do so again. I also want to recognise the incredible contribution volunteers make to our town every day."

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Cllr Boad became a Town Councillor in 2002 when the council was formed and was formally elected in 2003. She has served continuously ever since and is currently Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee. She is the only current Town Councillor to have served since the council's formation.

She also served on Warwick District Council from 1987 to 2003 and previously held the role of Mayor from 1994 to 1995, becoming the youngest female Mayor at the time. Since 1994, she has also served as a Liberal Democrat Warwickshire County Councillor and is currently the group leader, as well as Vice Chair of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors.

As part of her mayoral year, Cllr Boad has chosen the Warwickshire Music Education Trust as her nominated charity.

Cllr Boad said: "I am passionate about ensuring children have opportunities to participate in music through schools. The money raised during my mayoral year will help deliver a music event in every primary school in Leamington, working closely with schools and the County Music Service."

She also shared, just as she did during her time as mayor 32 years ago, she aims to visit each school in Leamington to highlight the importance of music in educational settings.

The Warwickshire Music Education Trust provides financial assistance to support music education for students across Warwickshire, including funding instruments, lessons, and music projects for children and young people.