Biography of the current Mayor of Walsall

Councillor Alan Fleming QRM, Mayor of Walsall 2026/27

Councillor Fleming QRM was born in Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, where he attended the Model School, sang as a choirboy at Enniskillen Cathedral, played drums in the local pipe band, and was an active member of the Boys’ Brigade. He moved to England in 1966 and has lived in Streetly for 62 years. After attending Streetly Comprehensive School, he joined the Warwickshire Police Cadets in 1972 and went on to join West Midlands Police in 1974.

During a 32-year policing career, Councillor Fleming served in a range of roles including Uniform Patrol, CID, the Serious Crime Squad and murder incident rooms. In 1984, he established the first Child Abuse Squad. In 1980, he was deployed to Rhodesia as a trained firearms officer to escort mobile election stations in Matabeleland during the Zimbabwe Independence Elections. For his service, he was awarded the Queen’s Rhodesia Medal (QRM) and the Zimbabwe Independence Medal for service in a war zone.

After retiring from the police in 2004, he worked overseas as a scuba diving instructor and later as a driving examiner for the army, helping to prepare troops for deployment to Afghanistan. He also worked with a charity supporting women and children fleeing domestic abuse, helping families move towards safe and secure resettlement.

Councillor Fleming has also been actively involved in community life for many years. He is a Designated Safeguarding Lead, serves on a number of sporting organisation committees, plays golf at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club, and dives with Sutton Coldfield Sub-Aqua Club.

He is married to Sue Fleming and they have two grown-up children, Ellie and Jack. 

The Mayor’s charities

Streetly Sports and Community Association

A registered charity and company established in 1995 to serve the Streetly and Walsall community. Its mission is to provide educational and leisure opportunities to the people of Walsall, particularly for young people, while fostering an inclusive environment for all ages.

Caldmore Village Festival Ltd

Since 2009, this group has worked to regenerate Caldmore by challenging stereotypes through creative, community-led projects. Their initiatives include an annual arts festival, the volunteer-run Caldmore Community Garden, and the Caldmore Community House, which collectively provide space for arts, education, play, and skill-building for local people.