| A biographical outline of the Deputy Lord Mayor and Consort 2011-2012 |
Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Valerie Slater
Councillor Val Slater was born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire.
She attended Mexborough Grammar School, later studying at Didsbury College of Education where she gained a Teaching Certificate. Subsequently she received a CIPD qualification in Training and Development from Leeds Metropolitan University.
She was elected as a Labour Councillor in 1996, representing firstly Wibsey and then following boundary changes in 2004, Royds ward in Bradford South.
In 2000 she became Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee; and subsequently Chair of Regeneration & Economy Scrutiny which she held for six years. Most recently, she became Chair of Corporate Governance & Audit and Chair of West Yorkshire Joint Services, Archives, Archaeology & Trading Standards Sub-Committee. Previously she was Chair of the Equal Rights Sub-Committee and also served as Deputy Chair of the Social Services Committee and Chair of the Children’s Sub-Committee.
Councillor Slater is passionate about regeneration, has a keen interest in Trading Standards matters and is dedicated to improving the image of Bradford and boosting a sense of pride in the District.
In her previous occupations she worked as a civil servant in the Benefits Agency and as a Training Manager for Leeds City Council’s Leisure Services. She now runs her own Training Consultancy and does part-time work as a hospital manager for Bradford District Care Trust.
She is married to Malcolm, her Consort, whom she met whilst working on the Council. She has six stepchildren and seven grandchildren. Though the majority of their family now live abroad, from New Zealand to Malta, Uruguay and South Africa, two stepdaughters and two grandchildren still live locally.
Councillor Slater enjoys meeting people and has travelled widely herself, having visited all continents except Antarctica. She has recently travelled to Peru, China, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
In her leisure time she greatly enjoys reading and visiting historic sites, being a member of both the National Trust and English Heritage.
In terms of dietary requirements, Councillor Slater is not fond of seafood.
Deputy Lord Mayor's Consort - Mr Malcolm Slater
Malcolm Slater was born in Keighley in 1939.
He went to Keighley Boys’ Grammar School, then Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied French and Spanish. He later gained degrees in International Politics and Law.
He taught at Bingley College of Education in the 1960s then worked in the Foreign Office in the early 1970s. From 1975 until retirement in 1998, he taught French Studies in the University of Bradford, specialising in French Politics, translation and interpreting, and EU Law.
He was a member of Bradford Council from 1991 to 2008, representing Keighley East ward. He has six children and seven grandchildren. His sons live in Malta, New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay; his daughters live in Bingley.
Apart from being on various voluntary committees and accompanying his wife on visits to historic sites, his spare time is devoted to reviving fond memories of building stone walls, time-trial cycling and fell walking.
