COUNCILLOR MARGARET ALEXANDER
MAYOR 2005/06
Councillor Margaret Alexander was born in Barry and is a retired
teacher. She has represented Buttrills Ward in Barry as a Labour
councilor since 1995.
She is the first woman mayor of the unitary
authority.
After training in Birmingham and the then University College, Cardiff,
Councillor Alexander spent most of her teaching career in the Midlands
and London before returning "home" in 1990. With an attraction to local
government sparked by joining the Vale Labour Party in 1991, Councillor
Alexander has placed education – she is vice-chairman of the authority's
Scrutiny (Lifelong Learning) Committee – housing and children's welfare
at the top of her interests.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading history, coastal walks, exploring
France, visiting art galleries and, in her own words, "writing very bad
poetry."
Councillor Alexander hopes in her year of office – which coincides with
the 100th anniversary of the birth of late Barry composer Grace Williams
– to assist in commemorating the life of what she describes as a
"talented and unusual woman."
Councillor Alexander, whose Consort is Mrs Bonnie Bellis, has chosen
Diabetes UK and ValePlus as her nominated charities.