The mayor of Cambridge is Cllr Dinah Pounds, who represents Romsey ward.

“It is a great honour to have been elected mayor of the historic and vibrant city of Cambridge and I am very proud to be serving my community in this role.”

Dinah was born in the East End of London and grew up in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. She moved to Cambridge in 2000 to work at Long Road Sixth Form College as a music and performing arts teacher and later at Cambridge University in the Department of Computer Science. Dinah is married to Adam Pounds, composer and conductor of Great St Mary’s Orchestra and has two children and a granddaughter.

Both of Dinah’s parents were evacuees. They returned to the East End at the end of the war, having had their eyes opened to the possibilities and cultural enrichment that education can provide.

From a young age, they instilled in Dinah the importance of education, compassion and civil society. They also had a reverence towards the arts and culture, that likely came from being the first generation in their families to really have the opportunity to experience and enjoy these things.

Music was Dinah’s passion, and she was fortunate to live in an enlightened, socialist run borough that recognised the paramount importance of the arts, both in terms of social mobility and for the quality of individual and civic life they can provide.

The philosophy of the socialist and artist William Morris underpinned Waltham Forest’s ethos. In his words: “I do not want art for a few any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few.”

It was at the Waltham Forest Senior Schools’ Orchestra that Dinah met her husband Adam and they have been incredibly lucky to have had a lifetime of music making together.

From free flute lessons and school orchestras, she went on to study flute at the London College of Music, obtaining a fellowship, and has played in the first seat of several orchestras in London and now for the Academy of Great St Mary’s. She has given performances as a soloist in London and Cambridge, most recently as part of the Romsey Music Project.

Having studied at Cambridge as a mature student and worked for the university in the computer science department, Dinah hopes very much to use her mayoral year to strengthen the links between the university and the city.

“It is my strong belief that the city and the university can and should work together to enrich the lives of everyone in Cambridge. Whilst we certainly cannot claim to have an awe-inspiring landscape on our doorstep… we are very fortunate to live in an ancient university town surrounded by awe inspiring architecture and symbols of learning and discovery.”

As home to centres of excellence in many different fields, Cambridge enjoys the internationalism and multiculturalism of a world city. As deputy mayor, Dinah had the opportunity to experience the diverse cultures in our community through their creative endeavours and celebrations in music and dance. It’s a poignant reminder that the arts can transcend boundaries and language as well as honouring diversity.

“As mayor, I hope to use my background in the arts to build bridges at home and abroad.”

Access to the arts is important for everyone from all walks of life. In 2019, Adam and Dinah started the Romsey Music project based on Mill Road at St Phillips Community Centre. They arrange free lunchtime recitals with varied styles of music from musicians, both local and from further afield. It allows people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy music in their own community without needing to get into the centre of town or paying for expensive tickets. It’s a wonderful way to meet new friends, combat loneliness and be uplifted by a shared musical experience.

The stark relevance of William Morris’s ideas today have been further strengthened by a recent scientific study which revealed the long lasting benefits of experiencing awe and wonder on brain health and overall health.

Green spaces is another area Dinah is passionate about and is yet another way in which the city can provide a source of awe and wonder or even just peace and relaxation for our residents.

Dinah has worked extensively in Romsey creating a garden around the Romsey R and making improvements to Romsey recreation ground.

The arts and crafts movement to which William Morris belonged is known for its impressive dedicated civic buildings. We are blessed with a beautiful purpose-built Guildhall in the heart of the city. William Morris said: “We are only the trustees for those who come after us.”

“I am extremely glad that we are now repairing and restoring our Guildhall to its former glory so that it can be a fully functioning part of the civic centre for the community as it was originally intended.”

Dinah is very grateful to the Reverend Devin McLachlan, now vicar of St Bene’t’s, the oldest church in Cambridge, who has kindly agreed to be mayor’s chaplain for the coming year. Devin is the bishop’s advisor for multifaith in the Diocese of Ely.