Jamaican is first black woman to head Watford Council

LONDON:

After almost 12 months serving as chairwoman of Watford Borough Council in south west Hertfordshire, Councillor Dawn Allen-Williamson, who is of Jamaican descent, is proud of her role as leader of government business for a major British town.

When she was announced chairwoman in May last year, it marked a historic moment in the town’s centuries old history as she was the first black woman to hold the position oftentimes referred to as the town’s Civic Mayor.

The role has enabled her to chair the quarterly council meetings, participate in an array of volunteer opportunities, attend council-related activities, and also carry out fundraising events throughout the year.

Once such fundraising event saw her participating in the Stadium Sleep Out campaign organised by Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust to help combat and raise awareness of the number of people facing homelessness in Watford. The trust has so far raised £1,400.

Cllr Dawn Allen-Williamson was born in Lacovia, St Elizabeth, and moved to the UK in 1991 and has lived in Watford ever since. She worked in the retail and care sectors before she decided to go into representative politics, wishing to make her voice be heard.

She said: “I saw so many injustices happening within the community, and it just seems to me that if you don’t have a voice, no one listens to you.”

Her experience of losing her home from a fire within the block where it was located and the difficulties she encountered with the Housing Authority in getting housing support further strengthened her decision.

“I was treated very badly in getting rehoused and also had to fight hard to get reimbursed for rates and council tax while being ill at the same time. I had to stand up to the injustice, and being a councillor helped to sort that out. So you need a voice,” she said.

Representing the Lib Dems party, she won her first council election in 2019 with a majority while representing the Callowland ward in North Watford. In the council, she sat on various committees, including the Council Pay Panel, Council Function and Licensing, all of which helped in her elevation to be elected the first black chairwoman.

At her swearing-in ceremony last May she said: “I am honoured to serve as the chairwoman of Watford Borough Council and to be the first black woman to hold this position. As I take on this role, I am proud to represent the voices and aspirations of all residents regardless of background.”

Cllr Allen-Williamson dedicated her year in office to fundraising for her chosen charities, Ngorli C. I. C. and Manna Foodbank, two organisations with which she has been involved for many years.

Ngorli C. I. C. aims to improve the educational experiences of children by providing supplementary tuition outside of school for youngsters from diverse backgrounds in the community. Initiatives such as Saturday School and the Mentorship Programme are part of their outreach.

Manna Foodbank, managed by the Elim Church in St Albans Road, offers crucial food aid to individuals in the community negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

Cllr Allen-Williamson’s year as Civic Mayor will come to an end on May 20, but before that, on Monday, March 30, she will host Jamaica’s High Commissioner, Alexander Williams, at the town hall for a Jamaica flag-raising ceremony followed by lunch with a number of local guests, including Luther Blissett OBE DL, former trailblazing footballer who represented England, and Watford FC. High Commissioner Williams will also be taken on a tour of the council buildings.