Banbury’s new mayor: Let’s be proud of Banbury
14/05/2025
It’s the second time in the role for Kieron Mallon accompanied by his wife Sandra as Mayoress
Banbury’s new Town Mayor will be focusing on Banbury’s history and traditions, along with the uniformed services during his year in office.
Councillor Kieron Mallon was appointed during Banbury Town Council’s Annual Meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening.
In taking on the chains of office he paid tribute to his predecessor, Councillor Mark Cherry, noting they were both “Bretch Hill boys”.
Councillor Mallon’s Mayoress will be his wife Sandra.
In his first interview after being elected as Town Mayor Councillor Mallon told Banbury FM: “My priorities this year are going to be the history and traditions of the town. If we don’t know our past, we can’t learn and avoid mistakes in the future.
“I’m also going to be focusing very much on the uniform service – be it the police, the army, reservists, the cadet forces, the scouting and guiding movement. These people, I think, are a backbone of any community.”
Councillor Mallon has served on Banbury Town Council since the town was granted a council in 2000. He’s also been an Oxfordshire County Councillor since 2009 and Cherwell District Councillor since 2016.
This will be his second term as Town Mayor, having previously worn the chains of office from 2007 to 2008. Councillor Mallon described being very proud taking on the role in the Town Council’s Silver Jubilee year.
He wants people to be positive about the town: “I will not countenance anyone talking Banbury down. I’m not Banbury born and bred. I came here as a child from the over spill of London and before that from Northern Ireland where I was born in a Magdalene laundry.
“With that sort of background a town like Banbury has given me so much – and my family so much over the years.
“The message to the people of Banbury is: Banbury is a great town, don’t talk it down, talk it up. The more you talk it down, the fewer people will come. The more you talk it up, the more people will come.
“We have some fantastic events – the Canal Day, Armed Forces Day, all the civic events during the year – we’re going to build on that.
“Let’s be proud of Banbury.”
At the same meeting Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke was appointed Deputy Mayor.
Outgoing Mayor Councillor Mark Cherry handed money raised during his mayor year to the Katharine House Hospice and Banbury Samaritans.
You can listen to our interview here:
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
