The first Black mayor of Reading has bid his farewell and offered his reflections on the past year.
Councillor Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) was elected mayor of the town last May for 2024/25.
The year saw him attend nearly 200 public engagements.
Cllr Dennis gave his speech at the annual meeting of Reading Borough Council at the Town Hall this Wednesday (May 21).
He said: “Serving as mayor of Reading has been the greatest honour of my life, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the people of Reading for making it such a joyful and unforgettable year.
“From the very beginning, you welcomed me with open arms, whether I was meeting faith groups, visiting community centres, attending festivals or simply walking through Broad Street.
“I was constantly reminded of the warmth and pride this town holds.
“People didn’t just greet me, they made me feel like one of their own.
“Over the course of the year, I attended many, many engagements, and what an extraordinary journey it has been.
“Each event gave me a glimpse of Reading at its best, diverse, dynamic and deeply caring.”
Commenting on public reaction to seeing the mayoral chain, he said: “People’s eyes light up. Children look at it and say wow! Even adults ask, can I try it? No, you cannot!”
On a serious note, he celebrated fundraising for his chosen charities, Reading Community Learning Centre and Reading Prostate Cancer Support, and the renaming of an IDR junction the ‘Windrush Roundabout’ last month.
Cllr Dennis said: “One of the most powerful experiences for me, personally, was the unveiling of the Windrush Roundabout signs. As the first Black mayor of Reading and someone of Caribbean heritage, that moment meant a great deal.”
He also expressed sadness that his wife, Colette Dennis, could not be with him, as she passed away in June 2023.
Cllr Dennis said: “My one regret during my mayoral year was that she wasn’t here to experience it with me, she would have been incredibly proud.
“Colette’s love, strength and presence has been with me every step of the way.”
He was supported by his son Luke Dennis, who acted as the mayoral escort.
Cllr Dennis said: “I’d like to give a huge thanks to my son Luke, who has supported me, thank you for your patience, your humour and stepping up when it really counted.
“It’s been an incredible year, I’ve loved every minute.”
Cllr Dennis closed by joking that his next official engagement would be the following day on a beach holiday in the Algarve, Portugal.
He gave the speech after a motion of thanks by councillors Mark Keeping (Labour, Kentwood) and Ellie Emberson (Labour, Coley).
Cllr Dennis has been succeeded as mayor by cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles (Labour, Whitley), the first Black female mayor who came to Reading in the 1990s as a refugee from her native Zimbabwe.
