Mayor of Runnymede

The Mayor of Runnymede for 2026-27 is Councillor Steve Ringham.

Steve was born in Hammersmith Hospital, W12 within a stone’s throw of Loftus Road, the home ground of Queen’s Park Rangers. And for his sins, he has been a lifelong supporter of the Mighty Hoops ever since.  He is the eldest of 5 siblings and has lived in Egham since 2012 with his wife Beena, a Psychotherapist, Serenity, his daughter, their dog called Piper and cat called Panda. 

His junior school was St Edmunds in Whitton, before progressing to Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in Kensington. It was a few years though, before Steve moved onto higher education to study Engineering at Portsmouth Polytechnic (as was). A lifelong learner, he has also attended courses in Graphic Design, Technical Illustration, IT Hardware, Music Production and Bass Guitar to name a few.

But unlike his unwavering support of QPR, his career has been varied and interesting. His first role after leaving 6th Form was as a trainee medical photographer at the Institute of Urology in London. Already holding a keen interest in photography, here he learnt not only how to shoot and develop film properly but to also photograph medical specimens and video operations (ask him for the gory details!). And although this appointment did not last long, he would eventually return to photography. In the interim, he moved between various roles in different sectors before arriving at what would be the most pivotal time in his life.

In 1997 an agency contract at Heathrow Express, the company charged with building the Heathrow - Paddington Rail Link, lead to an opening in the BAA IT Department. “Working in IT” was to last for the next 20 years, on and off. 

But way more importantly, it is where he met his future-wife, Beena. What started as little more than a workplace romance, developed into something deeper and more connected. But despite getting engaged in 1999, the course of their relationship was, much like his IT career, very on-and-off. They eventually tied the knot in 2008 and they would like to report that despite the amount of time they spend adjacent to each other, they are still happily married. Beena will be his Mayoress for the duration of his term.

Steve took a career break shortly after their daughter was born in 2010 and qualified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, having gained more than a passing interest in psychology and mental wellbeing while helping Beena to study for her Masters. After running a practice for several years, he returned to IT as a software tester, primarily working for ITV. Or “being paid to watch TV” as he put it to his daughter.

Since 2012 Steve has also worked as a portrait and event photographer and continues to do so in between his council and local party commitments. 

Steve has always had a great curiosity and inquisitiveness about many subjects and the acquisition of knowledge, just for the sake of it. At an early age this manifested as the willingness to read anything and everything. This in turn, led to him being ejected more than once from local newsagent shops with the words “this is not a library. If you’re not going to buy it, will you stop reading it” ringing in his ears. This breadth of knowledge also makes him a great partner for Trivial Pursuit!

In addition to photography, music has always held a place dear to his heart. He has been in several bands since the age of 18. Firstly as a (really bad) drummer, then a singer and most recently, a bassist (his favourite). He has also, again over the years, been a DJ. One of the things he intends to promote throughout his Mayorship, are the arts and culture across the borough.

Steve’s entry into local politics was through his participation in environmental activism at the turn of the decade. He joined the North Surrey Green Party and in 2022 won a seat in Addlestone North.

In his time as a councillor, Steve was instrumental in Runnymede finally declaring a Climate Emergency in 2023 as well as bringing a successful motion in support of Zane’s Law around contaminated landfill. Since 2024 he has been Co-Leader, Deputy Chair of Environment & Sustainability and chair of the Constitution Members Working Party. 

When asked, Steve said that “if you had told me in 2021 when I first stood for election, that I would one day be Mayor, I wouldn’t have believed it. I don’t think in fairness, that it’s a position many actually aspire to. But I am deeply honoured to be assuming this role. I will be not only the first Green Mayor of Runnymede, but the first one in Surrey. And more importantly I will be the last Mayor of Runnymede. So I truly value the unique opportunity it brings to meet and support people all across the Borough.