Howard Smith, Labour’s councillor for Westborough and Parliamentary candidate in the 2017 General Election, became Mayor on Wednesday May 7^th. He becomes Guildford’s first Labour Mayor since Angela Gunning in 2007.

Howard is a Guildford local who was born and went to school here and is delighted to get an opportunity to represent his home town in this way.

The appointment got rather more coverage than usual because of Howard’s first career as a punk drummer in the band The Vapors. This BBC article includes a wonderful picture of the youthful Howard: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9910r297zzo

Howard is a passionate campaigner for good quality social housing and education for children and young people and more likely to be found riding his electric bike than driving the car.

Howard is looking forward to a busy year and has chosen four charities which reflect his lover of music and the performing arts: The Cheryl King Trust, Phyllis Tuckwell Living Well Service, Guildford Shakespear Company and the Mayor of Guildford’s Local Support Fund.

Labour Mayors of Guildford Borough

• Ronald Burgess – 1979-1980
• Jack Patrick – 1985-1986
• Doreen Bellerby – 1991-1992
• John Woodhatch – 1996-1997
• Sallie Thornberry – 2000-2001
• Angela Gunning – 2006-2007
• Howard Smith – 2025-2026