Councillor Victoria Granville has been elected the new Mayor of Sevenoaks at the Annual Meeting of Sevenoaks Town Council, held on Monday 11th May 2026. Councillor Lionel O’Hara was elected Deputy Mayor.
Councillor Granville has been on Sevenoaks Town Council since 2019 as a Town Ward Councillor, and last year held the position of Deputy Mayor. She is also a Ward Councillor for Sevenoaks District Council.
The new Mayor and her husband, Richard Baxter, have lived in Sevenoaks for 20 years. Richard was born and educated in the town, and together they have four adult children.
Councillor Granville’s working life spanned architecture, interior design and advertising. As an artist and curator of many exhibitions in Kent – including two years at the National Trust – she is still actively involved in the arts in Sevenoaks. She intends to focus on ‘Celebrating Culture in Sevenoaks’ and sees the arts as a vital element for community and regeneration. Councillor Granville said, “We have a thriving creative town in Sevenoaks, particularly supported by wonderful schools’ programmes, the performing arts, the Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Gallery and the Stag theatre. As chair of the Arts and Culture Committee, I have been privileged to meet many advocates and look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with them.”
As Town Mayor, Councillor Granville aims to follow the success of her predecessors, Councillors Tony Clayton, Libby Ancrum and Claire Shea, who worked with the Sevenoaks community to make important investments in safer streets, better facilities for young people and safeguarding green spaces. She commented, “The Town Council’s Masterplans for Sevenoaks and St Johns underpin the ambition for the town’s future and are informing the Sports and Arts Strategies and town centre development. With Local Government reorganisation likely to devolve more responsibilities to town councils, the town looks forward to exciting developments at The Stag in partnership with our diverse artistic community. Among major works, completing the Greatness Pavillion, improvements to the pitches at Sevenoaks Rugby Club and upgrading of the Vine and its cricket outfield all happily demonstrate effective co-operation between the Town Council and its partners. There is much to do and we are always listening.”
Mayor Granville points out that, under the current national programme of the reorganisation of local government affecting districts and counties, “Town and parish councils offer continuity and attachment to place. They will continue to speak for their communities. My objective as Town Mayor is to represent the widest possible range of voices in building the future of our remarkable town.”
The new Deputy Mayor, Councillor Lionel O’Hara, has lived in Sevenoaks for 10 years with his partner, Pauline Nugent. He has been an active member of Brasted Parish Council and Sevenoaks Town Council as a Northern Ward Councillor.
Councillor O’Hara began his career at Coutts & Co before living in Amsterdam during the early 1980s. Returning to the UK, he then went on to build a career in media. The Deputy Mayor has also worked at The Oaks Specialist College in Tonbridge and volunteered with Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees. He is also a member of Westerham Amateur Dramatic Society, which in his words, was like finding his lost family.
Speaking about his career, Cllr O’Hara said, “While working in the world of media, I have shared moments with many well-known figures from Pelé to Elizabeth Taylor. But the most fun I have had in years was being Santa at Sevenoaks Town Council’s Christmas Lights.” Cllr O’Hara’s passion these days is teaching Tai Chi and Qigong. He also says he shares as much time as he can with his grandchildren. Cllr O’Hara commented, “My career has not been conventional, it’s been often unbelievable, and most of all a lot of fun. Being Deputy Mayor will be a privilege and an honour I will cherish, and I hope to make it memorable.”
The new Mayor, Cllr Victoria Granville, has nominated Hospice in the Weald as her charity for the 2026/27 Civic Year. This charity is the local hospice for the Sevenoaks community, providing care for those living with a terminal or life-limiting illness, and their loved ones. As well as providing in-care for patients at the end of their life, the hospice also provides vital support for people at the start of their journey through counselling, physiotherapy, and opportunities to make art or music, and live well at home for as long as possible. Councillor Granville commented, “Councillor Nick Varley has been a champion fundraiser over the last year and together we intend to raise funds and promote the aims of the hospice. As Nick says, hospice care is not just about dying – it’s about living well – and that will be the focus of my year supporting Hospice in the Weald.”
