Mayor of Runnymede

The Mayor of Runnymede for 2025-26 is Councillor Margaret Harnden.

Margaret was born in Thorpe and has lived there most of her life. She attended Egham Hythe Infants and Junior School and Sir William Perkins’s School, Chertsey. Her first employment was with Wilkinson Sword whilst studying part-time for a Higher National in Applied Physics. Margaret then gained L.Inst.P and Grad I.E.R.E qualifications whilst working at Cape Universal as a Research Physicist. Her last research position was with BP Exploration at Sunbury, where she met her husband, Pat. Margaret has also worked in the voluntary sector in various roles including the Probation Service, an animal charity and Adult Education. She subsequently undertook teaching qualifications and taught Literacy at Brooklands College and latterly Strode’s College, Egham.

Margaret joined Thorpe Ward Residents’ Association, as she was keen to preserve the best of the local community she loved, eventually becoming chairman - and in 2008 was asked to stand in the local elections as an Independent candidate for Thorpe - the rest is history!

Margaret has served on a variety of committees at RBC including Community Services, Environment & Sustainability, Licensing & Regulatory and Standards & Audits. She has been appointed to numerous outside bodies, and with a particular interest in family and local history, is a Trustee of The Egham Museum and represents the council on Surrey Museums Partnership, and also Staines Shopmobility.

St Mary’s Church, Thorpe has played an important part in Margaret’s life, having been confirmed and married there, singing in the choir since a child, and now serving as a deputy warden. In her spare time Margaret enjoys genealogy and gardening, and also has a keen interest in improving accessibility for those with a range of disabilities, including physical and neurodivergent.

Following her term as Mayor of Runnymede from 2022-23, Margaret was both surprised and deeply honoured to be asked to stand for a second term.

Sadly Margaret’s husband died from cancer in late 2020.  He had been a huge support to her throughout her time as a councillor. She is very grateful to Dennis Brown, BEM, long term member and Vice-President of The Egham Band, for offering to be her consort this year. Fr Gerard Mee, friend and former Assistant Curate at St Mary’s, will be her Mayor’s Chaplain.

Although Margaret loved her work in research, she missed working with people in the community, hence the change to teaching, and is really looking forward to meeting and supporting a wide spectrum of people in the borough of Runnymede over the next year.   

Margaret will be raising funds for two charities, Runnymede Foodbank and Egham Constellations. Margaret and her husband had a long association with the Foodbank, being the link with St Mary’s Church for many years.  She saw first hand the need for support for families struggling to put food on the table, which is sadly still needed. The Foodbank now works closely with Citizens Advice Runnymede and Spelthorne to help improve the finances of families in need, but it is still supporting many. With the cost of living still a challenge, donations of food have reduced and money is needed to replenish stocks in the warehouse as they dwindle each month. Any funds Margaret can raise during her mayoralty will help people in need right across the borough.

Egham Constellations organises swimming sessions at The Orbit Leisure Centre for those with a wide range of disabilities. They are supported by a wonderful band of volunteers. With a waiting list for this service, more financial help will enable the group to expand and provide much needed specialist transport to the pool and also grow the volunteer force. As well as the importance of the benefits of exercise in the pool, members value the social interaction and friendship built up within the group. 

Over the coming year, Margaret looks forward to travelling across the borough, visiting and supporting as many people, organisations and businesses as possible and, as in her previous mayoral term, promises to represent the Borough of Runnymede to the best of her ability