The French village being transformed by an English mayor: How 'devoted' expat, 71, from Oxfordshire won over locals, who say she's 'a breath of fresh air''

Published: 10:51 EDT, 8 October 2026 | Updated: 10:54 EDT, 8 October 2026 Surrounded by woodland and countryside, the small village of Mont-Saint-Éloi looks just like any other rural community in the Pays d'Artois region of northern France.Sat on a hill, the two ruined towers of the Mont Saint-Éloi Abbey, said to date back to the seventh century and be the burial site of Saint Vindicianus, overlook the area.Nearby houses are built with white stone from the abbey ruins and the roads are lined by farmland - it's a picturesque but largely unremarkable spot.However, there is one thing that distinguishes it from the region's other communes - it's in possession of an English mayor. Maureen Searle, 71, was granted the title this year, more than two decades after she first moved to the village in 2000 with her English husband.The first British woman to be elected as a mayor in France, she faced opposition during her campaign trail earlier this year. The small village of Mont-Saint-Éloi is located in the Pays d'Artois region of France. Earlier this year, Englishwoman Maureen Searle became the first British female mayor in the countrySome locals suggested the role shouldn't go to a foreigner, calling Mrs Searle 'L'Anglaise' during the election campaign. However, she managed to win by a landslide.After being elected in the spring, the former pharmacist and English teacher, who speaks French without an English accent, told The Times: 'Overnight I became Madame la Maire, but I say to everyone, "just call me Maureen".'Mrs Searle spent her childhood in Oxfordshire but lived in different countries with her husband before settling in France, becoming a citizen and joining the local council. 'What interested me was being able to do something for my village,' she told Connexion France. The Brit described her role as 'a huge privilege' and added: 'They've put their trust in a British woman to manage projects in France. 'It's a truly beautiful village, a little gem that must be protected and showcased. We love it.'Searle, a former pharmacist, has lived in the village for 26 years. Right: The pretty commune is overlooked by the two ruined towers of the Mont Saint-Éloi AbbeyMrs Searle's constituents have been impressed with her 'devotion' to the role; one resident Alain Cogez, 75, said: 'She's been a councillor for years. She replaced the previous mayor when he was ill, so we know her well. We like her, and she's devoted to this community.'Another local, Amandine Kayndaszyk, 33, described the Brit as 'dynamic' and a 'breath of fresh air'.Despite immersing herself in French life, Mrs Searle and her husband still have a fondness for British produce with both loving PG Tips tea and an English fry-up. Mont-Saint-Éloi is just a 45-minute drive from the city of Lille and 15 minutes from Arras.Its historic abbey began as a monastery, according to France-Voyage.com before expanding over time. The medieval buildings were destroyed in 1750 and a church and convent buildings were rebuilt. However, the site was gradually dismantled and only the façade and towers remain today. The village is a great spot for walking and cycling trails across its steep paths which host the “Boucle de l’Artois” event each year, Arras Pays d'Artois says.