The Mayor of Harrow

The Title "Honorary Alderman"

The title Alderman dates from the Anglo-Saxon period when an "ealdorman" - a noble by birth - exercised considerable power as an officer of the King.  Essentially they were leaders of Shires.

Later under the Norman kings, the title came to apply to those who held municipal office. As the centuries passed aldermen often formed the "Upper layer" in a two-layer system of local government.

Under the Municipal Reform Act 1835 the position took on a more political role. Aldermen would not be elected by a given electorate but chosen by councillor of a period of six years. This allowed a party that narrowly lost an election to retain control by choosing such aldermen. Such aldermen had the powers of councillors.

The position was finally abolished under the Local Government Act of 1972. However, the Act created a statutory right for London borough councils to confer the title "Honorary Alderman" on a person who has rendered eminent service as a past member but was no longer a member - a title that remained for life.

Honorary Alderman Keith Toms Dip Ed.,M.Phil

Honorary Alderman Keith Toms was elected a Member of Council in 1974 and served for 32 continuous years. During this period he served on all the major committees and was leader of the opposition.

In 1997 he was elected Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow and from 1998 - 2002 was Deputy Leader of the Council, when he represented Harrow on the Association of London Government (ALG). This Association appointed him Ambassador for London in 1998.  In May 2006 he stood down as a Councillor and at a special meeting of Council on the 4th July that year members voted unanimously to invest him with the title of Honorary Alderman.