The Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood 2024/25
Councillor Julie Bradshaw MBE, pictured above with Mayoress Julie Ellerbeck.
Cllr Bradshaw was born in Blackpool, Lancashire and moved to Loughborough to study PE, Sports Science and History at Loughborough University in 1983. She then completed her PGCE, and then a Masters of Science degree.
A Charnwood resident ever since, Cllr Bradshaw then went on to teach in a number of schools across the region. She lectured at Loughborough University for over 16 years before becoming a Psychotherapist and Life Coach in 2000.
Cllr Bradshaw has a sporting interest and has undertaken a number of long distance and marathon swims.
At the age of 15, the Mayor swam the English Channel solo and in 2002, set a new and current world record with her solo butterfly swim whilst raising thousands of pounds for charity. She also completed the fastest documented female butterfly solo swim around the 28.5 mile Manhattan Island course in the USA in 2011.
In 2006, Cllr Bradshaw was awarded an MBE after being named in the New Year’s Honours list for ‘Services to Swimming and Charity’ and also received an Honorary Doctorate from Loughborough University the same year.
Cllr Bradshaw will be representing Charnwood at hundreds of events over the next year and will be supported by Mayoress Julie Ellerbeck.
The Mayor said: “This is an extremely proud moment to be appointed as the Mayor of this wonderful borough and I am so looking forward to representing Charnwood over the next 12 months.
“What makes it extra special, is being appointed as Mayor in Charnwood’s 50th year and it will be a huge honour to meet lots of different people who do so much in our community.”