By Cameron Blackshaw

A borough has elected its youngest ever mayor, who said the civic opportunity is a “really great honour”.

Jonathan Andrews, 31, was appointed as the mayor of Bromley for 2025 to 2026 at an annual council meeting on May 14.

He became a Conservative councillor for Darwin ward three years ago and has lived in the borough his entire life after being born in 1994 in what was then Farnborough Hospital, now Princess Royal University Hospital.

The solicitor was also a pupil at Warren Road Primary School and Darrick Wood Secondary School.

Jonathan said: “I am really pleased to serve this borough that I grew up in, I went to school in and have lived all my life. I have got a good grounding in what makes Bromley so special and what a wonderful place it is.”

The new mayor has served as a trustee, advisor and supporter of several charities and has been recognised nationally and internationally for his work championing disability inclusion.

Jonathan, who is autistic, also chairs Bromley’s All Age Autism Partnership Board.

He added: “I am very passionate about fair access to roles, jobs and employment, but particularly in terms of inclusion for those with disabilities.

“I have got a good grounding in what makes Bromley so special…”

“I personally was diagnosed with being on the autistic spectrum when I was nine, and I was never raised to feel that that was going to hold me back.

“I was very much taught in terms of it bringing challenges, but also that it is a different way of thinking, and you should be encouraged to achieve.”

How Jonathan treated his autism diagnosis led him to get involved with several different charities centred around disabilities and autism in his younger years.

He was recognised for his voluntary work at 22 with an award from the volunteering service, Community Links Bromley.

This drive to support charities and help those in need, as well as his passion for his home of Bromley, led him to get involved with local politics at such a young age.

Jonathan’s mayoress for 2025/26 is his mother, Theresa Andrews, who served as his deputy mayoress last year. She has previously worked at the council supporting children with special educational needs.

Jonathan said it has been “really nice” being able to spend time with his mother at civic events because with his busy job as a lawyer and with Theresa working as well, they do not get to see each other as much as they would like.

He said: “Mum is very, very good at the role and very keen to do it, and it is great to have her as a support.”

Jonathan is part of a young mayoral team, with his deputy mayor Gemma Turrell also being under the age of 35.

He hopes that this will inspire more young people to get involved with volunteering at civic events around the borough, as well as giving him the chance to shine a light on the volunteering work young people are already doing in Bromley.

Jonathan’s chosen charities that he will support throughout his mayoral term are CASPA and The Maypole Project, two causes he is “really keen” to promote and fundraise for.

CASPA provides support for autistic individuals and their families across Bromley, including running important social clubs and services.

Jonathan said: “I think there is often a focus on disability and autism issues around what you cannot do and not what you can, and I think CASPA is really good in terms of talking about that.”

The Maypole Project provides local support to young people with complex medical needs and their families, from diagnosis onwards. Jonathan praised the charity for the “fantastic job” it does offering and implementing its services.

Jonathan also had some words of praise for the outgoing mayor, David Jefferys. He said: “I think David’s work was fantastic and he was really great. He really threw himself into the role.”

He also called David’s feat of walking more than 60 miles in a fundraising event to celebrate 60 years of Bromley as a borough “absolutely incredible”.

The new mayor encouraged any residents who are putting on an event in the borough this year to invite him along if they so wish.

“I just really look forward to this year, serving as the mayor of Bromley, raising money for those great charities and serving the local area as well as I suppose I can,” he added.