Cllr Rex Barnett - Mayor of Swindon 2010-11

Rex was born in Swindon in 1938 and has lived in North Swindon all of his life. He's married to Sandra, and they have two daughters and four grandsons.

2010 will be a doubly-special year for Rex and Sandra because they will celebrate their Golden Wedding on 8 October.

Rex left school in 1953 and began work at Swindon Railway Works - serving a five-year apprenticeship as a gas fitter and plumber and staying with the railways until being made redundant.

He then became involved with the building development of British Home Stores, Debenhams and the attached hotel, the then new Princess Margaret Hospital, and the modernisation of the barracks at Aldershot. He then moved into engineering sales.

He served as a Swindon Borough Councillor and Wiltshire County Councillor in the late 1960s and early 1970s until pressure of work forced him to stand down.

During that time he was a member of various committees including Highways, Public Protection, Water and the Planning Committee (as the Vice Chairman).

He also served as Chairman of the Governors at Haydon Wick, Greenmeadow and Headlands Grammar Schools; and he returned to Greenmeadow School as a governor in 2007.

In the same year, he was elected to represent Haydon Wick as a borough councillor.

He's now retired, having worked for the last twenty years as a sales manager for an engineering company.

Rex has been a member of the Haydon Wick Bowls Club since it was formed, and he's now one of its Trustees.

Mayoress Sandra Barnett

Sandra is also Swindon born and bred, and has also always lived in north Swindon.

Upon leaving school, she worked for British Railways for a short period before becoming a dental nurse. In 1960 she married Rex and became a full-time mother to Sara and Alison before returning to work in 1976 with W H Smith, where she was a Logistic Executive for 20 years.

Sandra is a committed Christian and an active member of St Mary's Church at Rodbourne Cheney.

She enjoys spending as much time as possible with their daughter, Sara, and her family; and visits Alison and her family as often as possible at their home in Texas.

Rex and Sandra both enjoy travelling and have also visited the Far East, Australia, Canada and much of Europe; and they have a special love of France and the Greek Islands.

The Mayor's Charities

Traditionally, the Mayor supports a group of charities during his or her year in office. This year's chosen causes are:

• Prospect Hospice
• The Willows Counselling Service
• The Calm Trust

For full details, please see The Mayor's Charities 2010-11.