Bexley's Current Mayor

Cllr Nick O’Hare, who represents Blendon and Penhill Ward, became the London Borough of Bexley’s 45th Mayor at the Council’s annual meeting on 14 May. His wife and the new Mayoress is Mrs Maria O’Hare. Cllr O’Hare is the 69th person to hold the title of Mayor of Bexley since the old Borough of Bexley received its charter in 1937. He is the first serving Deputy Mayor to be elected Mayor of the Borough since 1969.

Nick Teteri was born on 8 April 1958 to Greek parents. He attended Greek schools and church and never thought for a minute that his future life would take him to England and Bexley. He says: “We were a poor family and it was a big decision for my mother and I when my Greek aunt Lily - who had moved to England when she married an English engineer, Michael O’Hare - offered to look after and raise me in this country. I was only 13 years old when my mother and I arrived in St Albans, Hertfordshire and I did not speak a word of English.”

After a few months, Nick’s mother went home. Nick says: “It was a lonely time, but England was everything I imagined it would be. Beautiful countryside and wonderful people, but I missed home.” It wasn’t long before Nick was legally adopted by Michael and Lily, but his adoptive parents did not spoil him at all. Within weeks of his arrival, he found himself doing a paper round at 6am every morning. At his first interview for a school, the head teacher asked him if he would like to learn a foreign language. Without any thought, Nick replied “English would be a good start, Sir!”

The family decided to move to Wimbledon, South West London. He soon applied for a job as a baker’s boy, but was unsuccessful. Not to be put off, he noticed a sign in the ladies hairdressing salon next door, which was looking for a young person to wash people’s hair. It wasn’t long before the resident stylist realised Nick’s potential and he was offered a three year apprenticeship. He grabbed the opportunity and quickly excelled in his chosen career.

On graduation and armed with his Diploma from the National Hairdressing Federation, Nick worked seven days a week for five years, eventually saving enough money to buy outright and open his first hairdressers salon in Worcester Park in April 1981. By this time, he had met his future wife, Maria, who was Greek Cypriot. Working closely together, Nick taught Maria to be a hairdresser. They have now worked together for more than 25 years. They were married in July 1981 in the Greek Church in Camberwell. Their first daughter, Natalie, was born in November 1983.

In 1985, Nick and Maria decided to sell their first business and bought a shop and hairdressing business in Wickham Lane, Welling. Their second daughter, Leah, was born in February 1986. Both children attended St. Stephen’s Primary School, Welling and St. Catherine’s School for Girls, Bexleyheath. By 1994, they had saved enough money to buy their first house in Honiton Road, Welling, where they lived until moving to their present home in 2006. They currently own and run a health clinic in Bexleyheath.

Nick first became interested in politics during the mid 1970s. He joined the Young Conservatives and campaigned for the appointment of Mrs Thatcher as Leader of the Conservatives and subsequently for her election as Prime Minister.

In 1997, he was disillusioned with the direction the Conservative Party seemed to be heading, so he joined the Liberal Democrats and served for seven years as a Liberal Democrat Councillor in Bexley. In 2005, he decided to rejoin the Conservatives and in 2005 was successfully elected to the seat he currently holds.

The Mayor says: “Being Deputy Mayor for 2007/8 has taught me much that will stand me in good stead for the coming year. I learned much about the Borough and its wonderful voluntary sector. Last year was very busy for me. The Mayor, Cllr Nigel Betts suffered a personal tragedy in his family’s life and I was proud to support him with his duties. I must pay tribute to Nigel for his dignity, fortitude and resilience throughout what has been a devastating blow to him and his family.

“The Mayoress and I will work hard this year to raise further still the profile of our Borough and also to raise funds for our chosen charities. I was taught from a young age to fight and work hard for whatever I wanted and believed in and wanted to achieve. I feel lucky to have had the benefit of four wonderful parents who rather than spoil me, taught me values that I hold dear to my heart."

Nick and Maria have worshiped at the Greek Orthodox Church, Welling for 23 years and have many friends in the Borough. They are both heavily involved in charitable work, both borough-wide and internationally.

The Mayor appointed Cllr Ray Sams, who represents St. Michael’s Ward, as Deputy Mayor and his wife, Mrs Diane Sams, as Deputy Mayoress. The Mayor has appointed Reverend Father Michael Pazinas as his Chaplain.

The Mayor has already announced that he and the Mayoress will be working throughout his Mayoral year to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society, Bexley Branch. The Alzheimer’s Society is the leading care and research charity for people with all forms of dementia and their carers. Bexley Branch has provided services in the Borough for more than 20 years. They also intend to support a number of other charities, including the Demelza Hospice Care for Children charity.

Anyone can invite the Mayor to visit an event by simply calling the Mayor's Team on 020 8294 6153 or completing the visit request form on-line.