The Mayor's pages

Meet the Mayor

Councillor Brian Schama was elected on 15 May 2012 to be the 48th Mayor of Barnet at Hendon Town Hall following the Annual Meeting of the Council. During his Mayoral year the Mayoress will be his wife, Lynda.

Brian has also appointed Councillor Kate Salinger as his Deputy Mayor with her husband, Councillor Brian Salinger, as Deputy Mayor’s Escort.

Brian was born in Golders Green and educated locally at Goldbeaters Secondary Modern; Brian has lived in the Borough all his life.  He has been married to Lynda for 38 years and has two sons. Brian plays tennis reasonably well, at Brampton LTC, and bridge reasonably badly!

Brian has led and supported numerous charity projects throughout his life.

Before they were married, Brian and Lynda mentored children in the care of Norwood Orphanage.
 
Brian chaired the Mayor of Barnet’s Charity Appeal in 2009 during Cllr John Marshall’s Mayoral year, raising £83,000 for Chai Cancer Care and Barnet Carers.

His wife Lynda is Contact Officer for Mill Hill WIZO also raising money for charitable causes.

During his Mayoral Year Councillor Schama will support two charities:

Barnet Hospital
Twenty-five per cent of patients now suffer from some form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s when admitted to our hospitals. The funds the charity raise provide specialised ward equipment.

Barnet Carers
There are thirty thousand carers in our borough. Some are schoolchildren caring for a parent while continuing their own education. Barnet Carers currently help and support over five thousand carers and the funds raised this year will allow them to assist an increased number.

Brian has forty years' experience managing many leading retailers and manufacturers in the UK and overseas with particular emphasis on licensing and supply chain management.

Brian retired from full time corporate life at 57 to concentrate on developing the family’s property and investment companies - which he still runs. 

Brian will be delegating all his business commitments to one of his sons to ensure that he has ample time to carry out his Mayoral responsibilities and in particular giving visible support to voluntary groups in our Borough.

“I treasure the honour of being the 48th Mayor of our wonderful Borough. I am proud of what has been achieved in Barnet over many years – it is a pleasant and safe haven for all – times are difficult for the UK with the current economic climate – but we should never forget to celebrate all that we have here for which we can be justifiably proud. Our residents, our schools, our hospitals, our local businesses and our multi-faith community living together in harmony."