The new Mayor of Redbridge says she wants to get out and meet the borough’s ‘quiet heroes’ during her year in office.

Councillor Felicity Banks took the ceremonial robes and chains from predecessor Muhammed Javed last week.

She becomes the first Roding Ward councillor to hold the office and has already begun her duties.

She said: “It’s been very busy, but I’m enjoying myself.

“I want to meet as many residents as I can, especially those who give up their time to do work for the community.

“I’m particularly interested in meeting all those people who go about their work quietly and don’t always get the publicity they deserve.”

She has picked Hopes and Dreams as her charity of choice for the year ahead and will be raising money for them throughout her time in office.

She explained: “They help terminally ill children and do a lot of wonderful work.

“What really impresses me about them is that none of the staff or committee members take any wages for what they do.

“It’s very rare that you find that these days and very admirable.”

Cllr Banks was born in Grove Hill South Woodford, attended Wanstead High School and now lives in Broadmead Road, Woodford Green, with sister Sheila and mum Florence, who celebrated her 102nd birthday last November.

She has been a councillor since retiring from teaching 15 years ago and says that she will retire from politics at the end of her time as mayor.

She said: “I have so many connections to Redbridge and so many friends. It’s really a great honour to be mayor.

“But when the year is up I’m going to retire.

“I’m a member of the Woodford Green branch of the National Trust and The Woodford Historical Society and I want to devote a bit more time to those organisations and my other interests.

“Until then I’m going to meet as many people as possible and hopefully enjoy myself along the way.”

Outgoing mayor Cllr Javed said: "I have no doubt Cllr Banks will be an excellent mayor.

"She has a lot of experience and really gets on with people."