The 122nd Lord Mayor of Leeds takes to office

After receiving unanimous support from members of all parties at the council, Councillor Judith Chapman has become the city’s 122nd Lord Mayor of Leeds.

As the successor of Cllr David Congreve, Cllr Chapman will be joined with her husband Alan, whom she married in 1977, throughout her tenure in office during 2015/2016.

Born in Leeds and raised in the Roundhay area, Judith has represented the Weetwood ward as a Liberal Democrat city councillor for the past nine years.

During her time as a councillor, Judith, who currently resides in Chapel Allerton, has previously chaired the adult social care scrutiny board and until this month, the children’s and families scrutiny board.

Before becoming a council member, Judith taught both in London and at Bedford Field Middle School in Leeds after gaining a Bachelor Education Degree and Diploma of Education at Didsbury College of Education in Manchester, and also previously worked in the family clothing business.

As well as being an active member of the Jewish community in Leeds, Judith has also gained a particular interest in mental health and adult social care issues, especially in regard to helping people with learning difficulties.

For this reason, Judith has chosen the Specialist Autism Services as the charity which she will support during her time in office as Lord Mayor.

Councillor Judith Chapman, the new Lord Mayor of Leeds, said: “I feel immensely proud to be given the opportunity to represent our great city as Lord Mayor over the next year.

“As someone who was born and raised in Leeds to have the chance to be Lord Mayor is really unbelievable, and both I and Alan cannot wait to get started and be able to through our engagements, meet so many of the wonderful people who live in the city.

“This year I will be supporting as my chosen charity the Specialist Autism Services, and we are looking forward to raising hopefully lots of money to support the vital work that they do.”

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