New Year message: Mayor Tom Buckley

AS we step into a new year, I want to take a moment to speak directly, resident to resident, about Henley — our town, our community and the year ahead.

Being Mayor is an honour, but the real privilege is seeing Henley not just from a council chamber or a committee agenda but from the everyday moments. This includes talking with shop owners on the high street, chatting with volunteers who give up their evenings and listening to residents who care deeply about making this place better.

Henley is often described through its famous landmarks — our riverside, the royal regatta and the town hall — but what strikes me most is the spirit behind it all.

We are a town that prides itself on tradition, yet refuses to stand still. Whether we’re talking about planning and development, heavy goods vehicles, protecting the countryside and the wildlife that makes our area so special, or finding new ways to support families and vulnerable people, we show time and again that progress and preservation can go hand in hand.

This past year has reminded me just how strong those values are. The work of the Nomad youth and community project, the Chiltern Centre and Lowland Rescue has been inspiring and it has been a privilege to support them as mayoral charities.

I’ve watched volunteers, businesses and groups step forward when needed — not for recognition, but because that’s simply what Henley does. I’ve seen older residents supported and young people encouraged, even when resources have been tight.

Of course, it hasn’t all been big policy conversations and ribbon cuttings. There was also an enthusiastic debate about my shirts and dress sense… something I didn’t quite expect to become a headline this year!

But, if nothing else, it shows two things: Henley reads (and often writes to) the Standard and we care about how we present ourselves, both to each other and to the wider world.

I’ll take the lively commentary in good humour and keep wearing the occasional daring shirt, just as I’ll keep bringing bold ideas to the council chamber. Colour, after all, has its place both in clothing and in thinking.

Looking ahead, we do have real challenges to face. Keeping Henley affordable for the next generation, improving local transport and supporting public services will require honest conversation and genuine collaboration. We won’t always agree, and that’s healthy but I want us to continue disagreeing with respect, listening before speaking, and remembering that at the end of any debate we still share the same home, the same pub and the same traffic jams and potholes.

My biggest hope for the coming year is simple: that we strengthen the connections that make this town remarkable. Whether it’s by supporting local events, backing our independent businesses, treating the Thames and our green spaces with the care they deserve or simply looking out for neighbours, I want 2026 to be a year defined by community.

Thank you for everything you do to make Henley the place it is. I wish you, your families and everyone who calls this town home a happy, healthy and hopeful New Year.