Councillor Rob Geleit has been officially recognised as the new Mayor of Epsom and Ewell at the council's annual Mayor Making ceremony at the Town Hall on Tuesday 23 May.
The Mayor is the first citizen of the Borough of Epsom & Ewell and has several specific roles during their one-year term of office. These include representing the council and the local community at formal and ceremonial occasions, both within the borough and elsewhere, and chairing full meetings of the Council. During the mayoral year the Mayor is strictly politically neutral and the work representing those in their ward is undertaken by the other ward councillors.
As Mayor for 2023/2024, Rob will have a full diary of civic events planned throughout the year, including visits to residents, community and sports groups.
On becoming Mayor, Rob said, "It is a great privilege to be appointed Mayor of Epsom and Ewell. It is a wonderful opportunity to give back to and highlight the community I love and the place I’ve called home for many years.
“I look forward to meeting as many residents and organisations as possible throughout my tenure as Mayor and showcase their work in our community.”
Rob first moved to Epsom in 1977 when he was 5 years old and has lived here, on and off, since then. He attended Pound Lane School, Bishopsmead Church of England School and finally Epsom High School, where he was Head Boy.
After he left school, Rob suffered an episode of mental ill health, a challenging time for him. He recovered well and was first elected as a Labour Councillor in Court Ward in 2011.
Rob has served on several committees during his time as a Councillor at Epsom & Ewell, most recently serving as Deputy Mayor.
In his professional life, Rob works as a computer programmer in Leatherhead. During his career, he has written code for the European Space Agency, as well as working on Smart Metering and at the Crown Prosecution Service.
Rob is passionate about the environment. He has had a zero-carbon footprint for over seven years. He doesn’t own a car, instead choosing to cycle and use public transport. At home, he uses sustainably sourced electricity and offsets his gas usage.
During his Mayoral year, Rob will raise awareness of and funds for three charities. These are:
A local community charity focusing on empowering older people in the Borough of Epsom & Ewell by providing information, advice, medical transport, social support and befriending services.
A small registered charity based in Epsom, which aims to promote better understanding of mental health and to support the wellbeing of everyone in the community.
