The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Deborah Edwards has been living in Reading with her family since 1981. She has five children and is a grandmother of six.

She been a Labour Southcote Councillor since 2006 and was re-elected in May 2008. She is honoured to be the current Mayor of Reading 2011/2012. Cllr Edwards is on the Family and Friends Fostering Panel and the Parenting Panel. These all cover her areas of interest and expertise.

She has worked not only in the community sector but also in the public and private sector. Since living in Reading, she has held a number of voluntary community posts, the most recent being:

School governor for Manor Primary and Southcote Primary schools.

Chair and tutor for Southcote IT Experience, an award winning UK Online community project. She writes courses and trains local people in IT skills.

Chair of the Steering Group for the Southcote Children’s Centre.

Governor of the Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS Trust until 2010.

She runs her own book-keeping business dealing with small business accounts. She has a passionate interest in life-long learning and personal development for all.