Councillor Davina Ridley was appointed Mayor at North Warwickshire Borough Council’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday 13th May.
The ceremonial robes and chains were handed over by outgoing Mayor Councillor Debbie Bates, after what she described as “a truly wonderful year and a great honour.”
Mayor Councillor Davina Ridley will be supported by the newly appointed Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sandra Smith.
On appointment, Councillor Ridley firstly sincerely thanked the previous Mayor Councillor Debbie Bates for her dedication and hard work she committed to during her year.
She then went on to say “A heartfelt thank you to everybody for showing confidence in me to represent North Warwickshire as its Mayor. I am honoured to be given your assent, and I promise I will serve you to the best of my ability and shine a light on our Borough just as the previous Mayor did”
Councillor Ridley was born in North Warwickshire and spent a childhood surrounded by rurality. Her family have lived in the area for over 150 years.
In 1982 she joined the Metropolitan Police, being half an inch too short to join Warwickshire Police and was posted to central London where a force of 26,000 officers consisted of only 2,500 women.
She pioneered one of the first Domestic Violence units in conjunction with the Home Office on Islington Borough. She served for five years on the Child Abuse Investigation Team and ten years on the Serious Crime Unit Homicide Command as a Detective.
Councillor Ridley was elected as a Borough Councillor for Dordon ward in 2023, She is also a Dordon Parish Councillor, representing her home community and village.
The Mayor has chosen two charities to support and raise funds for during her mayoral year. One of these is the North Warwickshire Veterans Hubs, as the Tam Webster Veterans Group in Dordon provides a remarkable support service and forms part of the wider network, alongside its sister hub in Atherstone.
The second charity is Jessie’s Journey, which was granted charitable status in January 2026. Jessie’s Journey is dedicated to supporting children and young people diagnosed with cancer, as well as their families. The charity offers practical, emotional and financial assistance during challenging times, raises awareness of childhood cancer, and helps to build a strong support network within the community.