Valda James reflecting on her time in office

ISLINGTON’S first black mayor was celebrated last week as more than 150 residents attended a ceremony recognising her achievements.

Former mayor Valda James, 98, was first elected to the Town Hall in 1986 and became mayor two years later.

Reflecting on her time in office, she told the Tribune: “I enjoyed being the mayor, I remember I felt so proud wearing that chain.

“When I got elected, I didn’t know I was making history. I just wanted to do the job properly. I was the only black woman there [in the chamber] and I was proud to be the first.”

While mayor, Ms James chose the Whittington Baby Unit as her charity andraised thousands of pounds to buy two incubators for premature babies in the ward.

Ex-mayor Ms James and her family with current mayor Jason Jackson at the Residents Without Borders celebrations

Last Thursday marked the first time in years Ms James had returned to the Town Hall, and family from as far away as Orlando had flown in to be there for the celebrations.

Ms James said she wished she could “go back in again and do another term”.

“I wish I was younger, but I don’t think I would be able to canvass now,” she added.

Corinne Atsu-Valentine, Ms James’s daughter, was mayoress in 1988 and said moving tributes to her mother were “beautiful”.

She said: “My mum was surprised about how much they knew about her, what she had achieved. The mayor said she had paved the way for him to take that role. It was unbelievable, even the communication and emails were so emotional, so heartfelt. The magnitude of people, the standing ovations, I couldn’t believe it.”

The former mayor still lives on the Margery Street estate in Clerkenwell where she first moved in 1971.

She said her secret to 98 years was not to worry too much.

She said: “Just relax and don’t worry about nothing, something will come. I didn’t put in anything extra to be 98. I laugh a lot.”