Born in Hammersmith Hospital the same year the borough was formed, Sharon’s story is inextricably tied to Hammersmith and Fulham itself. The daughter of Windrush pioneers from Grenada, she built her career locally, raised her family here, and now serves as Mayor of the community she has called home for 60 years.
With warmth, humour, and honesty, Sharon shared her personal journey of becoming Disabled later in life following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. She spoke candidly about the moment her life changed, the enduring support of her family, and the reasonable adjustments that enabled her to not only continue to work, but to lead and serve her community.
At the heart of Sharon’s story was the intersection of race, gender and disability, and the belief that lived experience can shape fairer and more empathetic outcomes. From becoming the youngest ever trade union official at 25, to returning to education at 50, to championing accessibility and inclusion as a councillor and now Mayor, her path shows that influence is built through service, not status.
Her ultimate message was powerful and clear: Disability is not a weakness or a limitation, but part of human diversity. Across history and within our own communities, disabled people are shaping policy, driving change and strengthening the places we live and work. When we listen, make space and remove barriers, we enable those contributions to be fully realised – building communities and organisations that work better for everyone.