Cllr Leslie McDonnell has been selected as the next Mayor of Wandsworth, the council has announced.

Having lived in the borough for more than 40 years, he has also served as a councillor for the East Putney ward for the last 20 years and was previously mayor in 2002.

The announcement was made in the council’s full meeting yesterday (October 11) following the death of Wandsworth’s previous mayor, councillor Jim Maddan.

Cllr McDonnell is a military historian, former staff officer in the Amy reserves and is currently the borough’s Armed Forces Champion, helping the area become one of the first to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

In addition, he is an active member of The Rotary Club, St John Ambulance and the Royal British Legion.

He has chosen to support The Rotary Club and St John’s Ambulance through his fundraising this year, as well as the Wandsworth Community Safety Trust that was supported by the late Mr Maddan.