New Dawn In Royal Greenwich As Cllr Olu Babatola Becomes First Black Mayor

* Mayor of Royal Greenwich, Cllr Olu Babatola

by Benson Agoha | Colnbrook

The appointment of Cllr Olugbenga Babatola, formerly first black Deputy Mayor and now Mayor, makes him the sixth Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

It is a welcome development from a leading Borough in the country.

Cllr Babatola, was the Councillor for Thamesmead Moorings when he became Royal Greenwich’s first ever deputy mayor of African descent in 2015. He is a married father of three.

In 2015, he said of his appointment of as the Deputy Mayor: “I am greatly honoured to be the first African councillor to be elected as the Deputy mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich." adding "We have demonstrated that ours is truly a borough of unity in diversity.”

Here is a list of his predecessors, which includes Mayors of Greenwich before the borough became the Royal Borough of Greenwich in 2012:

Councillor Norman Adams

• Cllr M Hayes, 2014 to 2015
• Cllr Norman Adams
• Cllr A Cornforth, 2013 to 2014
• Cllr DI Grant, 2012 to 2013
• Cllr JJ Gillman, 2011 to 2012
• Cllr B Barwick, 2010 to 2011
• Cllr AJHD MacCarthy, 2009 to 2010
• Cllr S Offord, 2008 to 2009
• Cllr S Jawaid, 2007 to 2008
• Cllr H Singh, 2006 to 2007
• Cllr Dr Paul Tyler, 2005 to 2006
• Cllr BR O'Sullivan, 2004 to 2005
• Cllr Mrs J Gillman, 2003 to 2004
• Cllr D Austen, 2002 to 2003
• Cllr TA Malone, 2001 to 2002
• Cllr J Sekhon, 2000 to 2001
• Cllr J Fahy, 1999 to 2000
• Cllr D Austen, 1998 to 1999
• Cllr WF Strong, 1997 to 1998
• Cllr Mrs J Gillman, 1996 to 1997
• Cllr AM Moon, 1995 to 1996
• Cllr Ms VE Morse, 1994 to 1995
• Cllr Ms AF Barratt, 1993 to 1994
• Cllr BR O'Sullivan, 1992 to 1993
• Cllr EH Claridge, 1991 to 1992
• Cllr GS Dhillon, 1990 to 1991
• Cllr WF Strong, 1989 to 1990
• Cllr J Austin Walker, 1988 to 1989
• Cllr J Austin Walker, 1987 to 1988
• Cllr TA Carter, 1986 to 1987
• Cllr JJ Gillman, 1985 to 1986
• Cllr P Graham, 1984 to 1985
• Cllr MA Jeffrey, 1983 to 1984
• Cllr Mrs H Stroud, 1982 to 1983
• Cllr FG Burton, 1981 to 1982
• Cllr Mrs ME Dean, 1980 to 1981
• Cllr D Swan, 1979 to 1980
• Cllr NRJ Sims, 1978 to 1979
• Cllr PG Mornington, 1977 to 1978
• Cllr Mrs H Stroud, 1976 to 1977
• Cllr RF Neve, 1975 to 1976
• Cllr L Squirrell, 1974 to 1975
• Cllr DJ Dean, 1973 to 1974
• Cllr CJ Scales, 1972 to 1973
• Cllr Mrs MI Kingwell, 1971 to 1972
• Cllr AM Selves, 1970 to 1971
• Cllr DC Thurley, 1969 to 1970
• Cllr LJ Smith, JP 1968 to 1969
• Cllr WT Walden, JP 1967 to 1968
• Cllr RT Coombs, JP 1966 to 1967
• Councillor WAG Brooks, JP 1965 to 1966
• Chairman 1964 to 1965