Rayleigh Town Council Chairman, Councillor Marianne Vernon
Cllr Marianne Vernon was elected as Chairman of Rayleigh Town Council in May 2024.
Cllr Richard Linden was elected as Vice Chairman of Rayleigh Town Council in June 2024.
I chose Rayleigh in 2010 when I moved here to live with my husband and two young children. We knew no one in the area, but had heard about “ a lovely town with a village feel and community atmosphere” and that this is indeed what we discovered here in Rayleigh.
My professional background is in retail management, starting work as a Christmas temp at H Samuels in Birmingham, where I grew up, ultimately managing a large jewellery store in London, having worked at Asprey in Bond Street and gaining my gemmological and diamond grading qualifications along the way.
My passion and interest have always been working with people and being part of a team. These days you will still find me people facing and customer focused in my work at a store on the High Street.
I gave up working for a while shortly before moving to Rayleigh starting a new chapter of my life, bringing up my children. However, I had a plan! I was going to put myself out there, meet all my new neighbours and find out more about our town by becoming an Avon Lady. Shortly after we settled in, I was knocking on doors and introducing myself with a brochure in hand. Through this I have met so many lovely people all over Rayleigh. Then after my children started primary school it was lovely that I would no longer walk down the High Street without being stopped by someone for a friendly chat.
My husband, meanwhile, came across an event at our Royal British Legion promoting the club and the Royal Naval Association. Having served in the Royal Navy (notably during the Falklands conflict) he quickly signed up and became an active member of the club and later joined the committee.
It was my husband who introduced me to members of the Town Council he had met as friends at the club. We had enjoyed many community events held by the Town over the years and we became more interested and wanted to get involved.
Devastatingly, my husband passed away in 2022. I have relied heavily on the support of our friends and neighbours and the Rayleigh Community spirit, to get me though. I put myself forward to represent you, to give something back to the community and knowing that I have that support behind me.
I am delighted I chose Rayleigh and now feel very privileged that Rayleigh has chosen me as part of a fresh, new invigorated council truly representing the changing face of our community.
The Rayleigh Town Council motto is “In Reliquom Laboramus” - “ We Work for the Future”