Our Mayor

Councillor Glenn Dennis was elected Mayor of Reading on Wednesday, 22 May 2024, and will serve a 12-month term until May 2025.

A native Londoner, Glenn Dennis was born and raised in Neasden, Northwest London. His early education reflected the limited ambitions often imposed on black boys during that era. Leaving school at 17, he pursued a career in electrical engineering and electronics, beginning as an apprentice with Smiths Industries. His professional journey spanned broadcasting design, oil and gas safety systems design and commissioning, and telecommunications. In the 1980s, he co-owned a small domestic electronics retail and service business in the heart of Brixton.

At 22, he moved out of his family home and settled in a council estate in East Dulwich, South London, where he and his then-wife raised their three children. 

In 2010, Glenn Dennis relocated to Reading and was elected as a councillor for the Kentwood ward in 2014. He has served as a Labour councillor on the Reading Borough Council, with a four-year hiatus, and was re-elected in 2022.

His leadership roles include serving as Deputy Mayor in 2017/18 and again in 2023/24. He chaired the Housing Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee in 2023/24 and was the Vice Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee in the same year. His committee involvement also extends to the Strategic Environment Planning and Transport Committee, the Traffic Management Sub-Committee, and the Licensing Committee.

The Mayor’s Chosen Charities for the year are:

Reading Community Learning Centre (RCLC) – who are dedicated to empowering marginalised women from Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds. These women often face significant barriers to integration and personal growth, but through RCLC’s programmes they receive the support and resources needed to achieve their aspirations. Whether it’s improving English proficiency, building confidence, or securing employment, RCLC is there every step of the way.

Reading Prostate Cancer Support Group (RPCSG) – are a group managed by a committee of elected members who meet regularly. The key aim of the Committee include ensuring good support for all members undergoing diagnosis and treatment for Prostate Cancer.

The current Committee has around a dozen members who willingly, in fact enthusiastically, share their skills, time and effort to ensure the best local and national speakers are booked, social events are organised and sponsors are attracted and involved.

Responsibilities

The Mayor represents the council at events, welcoming guests and visiting local organisations. He also chairs full council meetings. The Deputy Mayor (Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles) may stand in if the Mayor is not available. Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles has been elected Deputy Mayor of Reading until May 2025.

Invite the Mayor to an event

Contact the Mayor’s secretary with the date of your event. If there is a space in the Mayor’s diary, you can invite him to your event.

Our Deputy Mayor

Alice Mpofu-Coles has been a Local Councillor for Whitley Ward since 2021.  She continues to Chair the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education Committee from 2022, 2023, and 2024.  She sits on the Parenting Panel, Health and Wellbeing Board, Safer Reading Neighbourhood Forum and Personnel Committee. She was a committee member of the Housing, Neighbourhood and Leisure and Standing Advisory Council [on] Religious Education (SACRE) in 2021. Alice has been a steadfast member of the Labour and Cooperative Party, her continuous membership since 2014 and her intermittent membership since 2008. She is a member of the Fabian Society and Fabian Women’s Network

Alice lives with her husband, Wayne, and dog, Zee. She has lived in Whitley Reading for over 21 years. She has 2 adult daughters, both educated in local primary and secondary schools. Alice has a Doctorate in Human Geography, works as a University Researcher, and previously worked as a Social Worker in adult social care and mental health. She has also worked in foreign services in different countries. Amongst other issues close to her heart, Alice advocates for refugees, ending poverty, and better care for women with breast cancer, she has survived this and wrote a book. She has received numerous awards for her services to volunteering, refugees, communities, and education. Some of her voluntary work includes: –

• Vice Chair of Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE)
• Trustee of City of Sanctuary
• Member of the Global Female Wave of Change
• Previous Chair of Reading Refugee Support Group