Becomes 1st Black Mayor of Wolverhampton

Jamaica-born Sandra Samuels has created history by becoming the first Black person to be elected Mayor of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom in 200 years.

Samuels, who is 11th woman to be elected mayor of the city, which is home to almost 300,000 people, has said that becoming mayor would be her life’s greatest honour.

“I am proud beyond words that my fellow city councilors are due to make me the first person of African Caribbean heritage in 200 years to hold this most prestigious role…,” she said on being confirmed as mayor.

“It is my sincere hope that wearing the mayoral ceremonial chains of office of our great city as a proud black lady will inspire others from underrepresented groups to believe in themselves and know that anything is possible.”

Samuels declared that the theme for her year in office will be ‘Dare to Dream’.

The mayor-elect was born in Jamaica and raised by her grandparents after her parents migrated to the UK from Jamaica in 1959 in search of a better life.

Early years in the UK

At the age of 10, Samuels, along with her sisters Marcia and Lavern, migrated to the UK, joining her parents. She attended junior school followed by senior school in Bushbury – at Northicote – before progressing on to Wulfrun College, now Wolverhampton College, and then university, studying nursing.

She spent 40 years working as a nurse, theatre sister and manager and was also a trade union official, school governor, community activist and volunteer.

In May 1998 she joined the Labour party, becoming local secretary of the branch within six months and a parliamentary candidate within 12 months.

She served as councilor before being elected mayor. In 2015, she was awarded membership in the Order of the British Empire by the Queen in recognition of services to local government and politics.

Solemn commitment to service

According to Samuels, “the city will have my unwavering commitment as mayor, there is so much to look forward to with Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and Wolverhampton’s participation as a venue in the Commonwealth Games”.

She added: “I’m so looking forward to being a hard-working ambassador for the people of this city, getting out and meeting them and celebrating the rich tapestry of our diverse communities.”

She will be raising money throughout the year for her three chosen charities, which are the Wolverhampton African Caribbean Community Initiative, which provides mental health and suicide prevention services, Compton Care, which provides palliative care and Wolverhampton Sickle Cell Care and Activity Centre, which provides services for people with the genetic blood disorder.

Councilor Dr Michael Hardacre is set to become deputy mayor for 2022 to 2023.

Samuels’ is married for 40 years to Karl Samuels.