Kingston and Epsom and Ewell both inaugurated new mayors in recent days as figureheads for their respective boroughs for the coming year. 

Councillor Sushila Abraham was sworn in as Kingston's new mayor, while in Epsom and Ewell Councillor Peter O’Donovan was named as the new mayor. 

In Kingston, outgoing mayor Cllr Margaret Thompson opened the inauguration ceremony and praised her successor whose appointment was also celebrated by race equality advocates Kingston Race Equalities Council (KREC). 

A lawyer by trade, Liberal Democrat Cllr Abraham has lived and worked in Kingston for 35 years and also serves as a representative for Berrylands ward. 

Kingston Council (RBK) CEO Ian Thomas tweeted his support for both the former and incoming mayors: 

"Thanks so much to our outgoing Mayor, Councillor Margaret Thompson, the first I'm advised to undertake the role for 2 successive years since late Victorian times and congratulations to our new Mayor, Councillor Sushila Abraham and her team. The sun shined for them today, eventually!" He posted to Twitter. 

Meanwhile in Epsom and Ewell, Ewell Court ward Cllr O’Donovan was welcomed in as the new mayor. 

Cllr O'Donovan has lived in the borough with his family since 2007 and said he was looking forward to meeting people who contribute most to the community. 

"Epsom and Ewell is a special place; successful, welcoming, inclusive – the ideal environment to bring up a family and to run a business.

"My aim as mayor is to give something back to the borough I call home and to meet and thank the people who contribute so much to our community," he said.