The Mayor of Colchester

Colchester

Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...

sits as non-political chairman of Colchester Borough Council and serves as the civic representative of the borough. The mayoralty is customarily awarded to the most senior councillor of one of the political groups

Current Mayor

the Mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

 of Colchester was Councillor Peter Crowe (Conservatives). He died of cancer on 15 September 2008.
Colchester's Mayor 2010-2011 is Conservative Councillor Sonia Lewis.(source: Colchester borough council website)

The Mayor's Charities

Throughout his year in office, the Mayor organises events to raise money for his charities ("The Mayor's Charities"). The current Mayor is raising funds on behalf of the following charities:

• Army Benevolent Fund
  Army Benevolent Fund
  ABF The Soldiers' Charity, formerly the Army Benevolent Fund is a British charity. It is the British Army's national charity and provides financial and practical support to soldiers, former soldiers, and their families in times of need....
  
  
• Colchester and Tendring Community Trust
• Headway (charity)
• Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
  Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
  Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is a British medical research charity dedicated to the curing of the neurological condition muscular dystrophy. It was founded as the Muscular Dystrophy Group in 1959 and changed its name to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in 1999....
  
  
• Colchester Scout Band

The role of Mayor

The Mayor is the chief citizen and represents the borough

Borough

A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....

 throughout their year of office. The Mace

Ceremonial mace

The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon...

, carried by the Town Serjeant

Town Serjeant

The Town Serjeant is the Serjeant-at-Arms for English borough councils. The position dates to the 16th Century and its functions included macebearer, bailiff, and gaoler....

 on ceremonial occasions and into the council chamber, is the symbol of that authority.

The Mayor sits as non-political chairman of the council. The mayoralty is customarily awarded to the most senior councillor of one of the political groups, who take it in turn. The nomination is only rarely challenged. He or she serves for a year as Deputy Mayor.

The annual ceremony of the installation of a new Mayor takes place each May, following the borough council elections. The Mayor's election take splace at the first meeting of the newly formed council.

The council, officers and members of the public gather in the Moot Hall

Moot hall

A moot hall is meeting or assembly building, traditionally to decide local issues.In Anglo-Saxon England, a low ring-shaped earthwork served as a moot hill or moot mound, where the elders of the hundred would meet to take decisions. Some of these acquired permanent buildings, known as moot halls...

 to welcome the incoming Mayor who takes the oath administered by the Town Clerk.

The Mayor's Parlour

The Mayor's Parlour is the Colchester Town Hall office where the Mayor works, as well as the reception suite for visitors. The borough regalia

Regalia

Regalia is Latin plurale tantum for the privileges and the insignia characteristic of a Sovereign.The word stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, 'regal', itself from Rex, 'king'...

 (including The Mace

Ceremonial mace

The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon...

), is also displayed there, and represents gifts to the town as well as items of the borough's heritage.

2000–present

• 2010/11 S Lewis (Conservative)
• 2009/10 HWF Spyvee (Liberal Democrat)
• 2008/09 P Crowe (Conservatives)

Peter Crowe died in office and was succeeded as Mayor by his wife M Fairley-Crowe (Conservative) for the remainder of the Municipal Year

• 2007/08 R Gamble (Liberal Democrat)
• 2006/07 R Gower (Conservative)
• 2005/06 T Sutton
  Terry Sutton
  Terence Richard Sutton is a British politician.Sutton was a Conservative councillor for the Berechurch ward of Colchester Borough Council. He was elected to the council in 1990 and he represented Berechurch for over 16 years.Sutton was elected Mayor of Colchester in May 2005 and served a 1-year...
  
   (Liberal Democrat)
• 2004/05 JG Bouckley (Conservative)
• 2003/04 Dr CB Hall (Liberal Democrat)
• 2002/03 NA Chapman (Conservative)
• 2001/02 MJ Hogg (Liberal Democrat)
• 2000/01 JC Garnett
  Christopher Garnett (politician)
  J. Christopher "Chris" Garnett is a British politician from Colchester.Garnett is a Conservative Party councillor for the Dedham & Langham ward of Colchester Borough Council...
  
   (Conservative)

1990–1999

• 1999/2000 MC Hunt (Liberal Democrat)
• 1998/99 DJ Cannon (Conservative)
• 1997/98 Mrs JA Stevens (Liberal Democrat)
• 1996/97 WE Sandford MBE JP (Liberal Democrat)
• 1995/96 Mrs ML Fairhead OBE (Conservative)
• 1994/95 JAR Webb
  Tony Webb
  J. A. R. "Tony" Webb is a British politician from Colchester in Essex. He served as Mayor of Colchester from 1994 to 1995.Webb was an Independent councillor for the Tiptree ward of Colchester Borough Council for 30 years. He decided not to run for office again and retired in 2006...
  
   (Independent)
• 1993/94 ITJ Trusler (Liberal Democrat)
• 1992/93 Mrs MR Frank (Labour)
• 1991/92 RP Spendlove (Conservative)
• 1990/91 KG Cooke (Labour)

1980–1989

• 1989/90 JG Sanderson (Conservative)
• 1988/89 GFD Bober (Labour)
• 1987/88 JW Lampon (Conservative)
• 1986/87 RE Russell (SDP)
• 1985/86 JRW Williams (Conservative)
• 1984/85 Miss JI Fulford (Conservative)
• 1983/84 J Bird (Labour)
• 1982/83 ELW James
• 1981/82 RWR Browning (Conservative)
• 1980/81 FCC Wilkin (Labour)

1970–1979

• 1979/80 CGE Sargeant (Conservative)
• 1978/79 D Holt (Conservative)
• 1977/78 LC Woodrow (Labour)
• 1976/77 Mrs JM Brooks (Conservative)
• 1975/76 W Ladbrook (Labour)
• 1974/75 J Jackson
• 1973/74 AC Parsonson (Conservative)
• 1972/73 WE Buckingham (Labour)
• 1971/72 Mrs AM Smith
• 1970/71 JR Wheeler (Conservative)

1960–1969

• 1969/70 RW Hilham (Conservative)
• 1968/69 CA Howe (Labour)
• 1967/68 EP Duffield
• 1966/67 CW Pell
• 1965/66 SH Wooster
• 1964/65 WH Willingham
• 1963/64 RA Harrison
• 1962/63 WJ Porter
• 1961/62 DF Panton
• 1960/61 IT Brown

1950–1959

• 1959/60 AWJ Kay
• 1958/59 May Cook
• 1957/58 CE Wheeler (Conservative)
• 1956/57 CE Child (Labour)
• 1955/56 A Craig
• 1954/55 TH Morris
• 1953/54 Kathleen E Sanders (Conservative)
• 1952/53 WC Lee (Labour)
• 1951/52 HH Reid
• 1950/51 J Andrews

1940–1949

• 1949/50 PHW Bailey
• 1948/49 LE Dansie
• 1947/48 LE Dansie
• 1946/47 LM Worsnop
• 1945/46 HG Thompson
• 1944/45 Arthur William Piper
• 1943/44 Maurice Pye
• 1942/43 Percy Alan Sanders
• 1941/42 Percy Alan Sanders
• 1940/41 Percy Alan Sanders

1930–1939

• 1939/40 Percy Alan Sanders
• 1938/39 HH Fisher
• 1937/38 E Alec Blaxill
• 1936/37 GC Benham
• 1935/36 FE MacDonald-Docker
• 1934/35 Arthur H Cross
• 1933/34 W Gurney Benham
• 1932/33 Maurice Pye
• 1931/32 George W B Hazell
• 1930/31 Wm. C Harper

1920–1929

• 1921/22 Wasey Chopping
• 1922/23 Percy Alan Sanders
• 1923/24 Catherine B Alderton
• 1924/25 Catherine Reeve Hunt
• 1925/26 Arthur William Piper
• 1926/27 Charles C Smallwood
• 1927/28 Ernest H Turner
• 1928/29 John Russell
• 1929/30 CJ Jolly
• 1920/21 Arthur John Lucking

1910–1919

• 1919/20 A Owen Ward
• 1918/19 George F Wright
• 1917/18 Arthur F Jarmin
• 1916/17 John T Bailey
• 1915/16 Allen G Aldridge
• 1914/15 W Coats Hutton
• 1913/14 Wilson Marriage
• 1912/13 W Coats Hutton
• 1911/12 Reginald B Beard
• 1910/11 Frank Cant

1900–1909

• 1909/10 E Alec Blaxill
• 1908/09 W Gurney Benham
• 1907/08 Wilson Marriage
• 1906/07 Walter B Sparling
• 1905/06 Henry Goody
• 1904/05 Edwin J Sanders
• 1903/04 Ernest Henry Barritt
• 1902/03 Henry Harvey Elwes
• 1901/02 Wilson Marriage
• 1900/01 CE Egerton-Green

1890–1899

• 1899/1900 E Thompson Smith
• 1898/99 Edwin J Sanders
• 1897/98 James Noah Paxman
• 1896/97 HG Egerton-Green
• 1895/96 James Wicks
• 1894/95 CE Egerton-Green
• 1893/94 Henry Goody
• 1892/93 W Gurney Benham
• 1891/92 Wilson Marriage
• 1890/91 Lent John Watt

1880–1889

• 1889/90 Asher Prior
• 1888/89 Edwin J Sanders
• 1887/88 James Noah Paxman
• 1886/87 HG Egerton-Green
• 1885/86 Henry Laver
• 1884/85 HJ Gurdon-Rebow
• 1884 J B Harvey
• 1883/84 Alfred Francis
• 1882/83 JB Harvey
• 1881/82 JB Harvey
• 1880/81 S Chaplin

1870–1879

• 1879/80 John Kent
• 1878/79 Thomas Moy
• 1877/78 Thomas Moy
• 1876/77 John F Bishop
• 1875/76 PO Papillon
• 1874/75 John F Bishop
• 1873/74 Edward A Round
• 1872/73 John F Bishop
• 1871/72 Charles Hy. Hawkins
• 1870/71 Charles Hy. Hawkins

1860–1869

• 1869/70 John F Bishop
• 1868/69 Francis Smythies
• 1867/68 John F Bishop
• 1866/67 PO Papillon
• 1865/66 Charles Hy. Hawkins
• 1864/65 John F Bishop
• 1863/64 John F Bishop
• 1862/63 Edward Williams
• 1861/62 Henry Wolton
• 1860/61 Francis Smythies

1850–1859

• 1859/60 Edward Williams
• 1858/59 Arthur Louis Laing
• 1857/58 Peter Martin Duncan
• 1856/57 Henry Wolton
• 1855/56 Joseph Cooke
• 1854/55 Edward Williams
• 1853/54 Henry Wolton
• 1852/53 Francis Smythies
• 1851/52 Arthur Louis Laing
• 1850/51 Joseph Cooke

1840–1849

• 1849/50 Edward Williams
• 1848/49 Charles Hy. Hawkins
• 1847/48 Henry Wolton
• 1846/47 William Bolton Smith
• 1845/46 Henry Wolton
• 1844/45 Henry Wolton
• 1843/44 Henry Vint
• 1842/43 Roger Nunn
• 1841/42 Henry Vint
• 1840/41 Thomas J Turner

1836–1839

• 1839/40 Samuel Green Cooke
• 1838/39 George Bawtree
• 1837/38 Samuel Green Cooke
• 1836/37 John Chaplin
• 1836 George Savill

Pre-1835

Mayors prior to the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act 1835. (Source: Charles Benham.)

1830–1835

• 1834 Roger Nunn

• 1833 Win. Smith

• 1832 Edward Clay (Greenstead)

• 1831 William Sparling
• 1830 William Smith

1820–1829

• 1829 Edward Clay (Greenstead)
• 1828 William Sparling
• 1827 John Clay
• 1826 Edward Clay (St. Leonard's)
• 1825 John Clay
• 1824 Samuel Clay
• 1823 John Clay
• 1822 William Smith
• 1821 James Boggis
• 1820 John Clay

1810–1819

• 1819 Frincis Tillett Abell
• 1818 William Argent
• 1817 Edward Clay
• 1816 William Argent
• 1815 Edward Clay
• 1814 John King
• 1813 William Sparling
• 1813 William Smith
• 1812 John Bridget
• 1811 Francis Smythies
• 1810 Francis Tillett Abell

1800–1809

• 1809 William Smith
• 1808 Thomas Hedge
• 1807 Thomas Hedge, junior
• 1806 William Smith
• 1805 William Sparling
• 1804 Thomas Hedge
• 1803 William Bunnell
• 1802 William Phillips
• 1801 Thomas Hedge
• 1800 William Smith

1790–1799

• 1799 Robert Hewes
• 1798 William Phillips
• 1797 Thomas Hedge
• 1796 William Mason
• 1795 William Bunnell
• 1794 William Phillips
• 1793 Newton Tills
• 1792 Nathaniel Barlow
• 1791 John Gibson
• 1790 William Swinborne

1780–1789

• 1789 Edmund Lilley
• 1788 Bezaliel Angier
• 1787 Edward Capstack
• 1786 William Argent
• 1785 Edmund Lilley
• 1784 Samuel Ennew
• 1783 William Seabor
• 1782 Stephen Betts
• 1781 John King
• 1780 Thomas Boggis

1770–1779

• 1779 Thomas Clamtree
• 1778 John King
• 1777 Thomas Clamtree
• 1776 Thomas Boggis
• 1775 Thomas Clamtree
• 1775 John King
• 1774 John Bakers
• 1773 Thomas Clamtree
• 1772 Thomas Clamtree
• 1772 Thomas Bayles
• 1771 Solomon Smith.
• 1770 John King

1763–1769

From the year 1740 to 1763, there being no Charter in existence, no Mayor could be appointed.

• 1769 Jordan Harris Lisle
• 1768 James Robjent
• 1767 Samuel Ennew
• 1766 Thomas Bayles
• 1765 Thomas Wilshire
• 1764 Henry Lodge
• 1763 Thomas Clamtree

1730–1740

• 1740 Jeremiah Daniell.
• 1740 G. Wegg, junior
• 1739 John Blatch
• 1738 Joseph Duffield
• 1737 James Boys
• 1736 Thomas Carew
• 1735 John Blatch
• 1734 Joseph Duffield
• 1733 James Boys
• 1732 Thomas Carew
• 1731 John Blatch
• 1730 Joseph Duffield

1720–1729

• 1729 James Boys (or Boyce)
• 1728 John Blatch
• 1727 Sir Ralph Creffield, Kt
• 1726 Matthew Martin
• 1725 Jeremiah Daniell
• 1724 Peter Johnson
• 1723 Samuel Jarrold
• 1722 Edmund Raynham
• 1721 Arthur Winsley
• 1720 Jeremiah Daniell

1710–1719

• 1719 Thomas Grigson
• 1719 Nathaniel Lawrence
• 1718 Robt. Clark
• 1717 Thomas Grigson
• 1716 Sir Isaac Rebow, Kt
• 1715 Peter Johnson
• 1714 George Clark
• 1713 James Lawrence
• 1712 Peter Johnson
• 1711 James Lawrence
• 1710 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior

1700–1709

• 1709 Samuel Angier
• 1709 Nathaniel Lawrence, senior
• 1708 John Pepper
• 1707 George Clark
• 1706 James Lawrence
• 1705 John Rainham
• 1704 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior
• 1703 Samuel Angier
• 1702 Ralph Creffield, junior
• 1701 Samuel Fetherstone
• 1700 John Potter

1690–1699

• 1699 William Francis
• 1698 William Boys
• 1697 Ralph Creffield, junior
• 1696 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior
• 1696 John Seabrook
• 1695 John Beason.
• 1694 William Moore
• 1693 Samuel Mott
• 1692 John Stileman
• 1691 John Seabrook
• 1690 Benjamin Cock

1680–1689

• 1689 John Potter
• 1688 John Milbank
• 1687 John Milbank
• 1687 Alexander Hindmers
• 1686 Samuel Mott
• 1685 William Flannar
• 1684 John Stilleman
• 1683 Nathaniel Lawrence
• 1682 Thomas Greene
• 1681 William Moor
• 1680 Ralph Creffield

1670–1679

• 1679 Nathaniel Lawrence
• 1678 John Rayner
• 1677 Ralph Creffield
• 1676 Thomas Greene
• 1675 Alexander Hinmers
• 1674 Henry Lambe
• 1673 Ralph Creffield
• 1672 Nathaniel Lawrence
• 1671 John Rayner
• 1670 William Moor

1660–1669

• 1669 Henry Lambe
• 1668 Ralph Creffield
• 1667 Andrew Fromanteele
• 1666 William Flannar
• 1665 Thomas Talbot
• 1664 Thomas Wade
• 1663 William Moor
• 1662 Thomas Rennolds
• 1662 Henry Lambe
• 1661 John Milbank
• 1660 John Gale

1650–1659

• 1659 Thomas Peeke
• 1659 Jonn Radhams
• 1658 Henry Barrington
• 1657 Nicholas Beason
• 1656 John Vickers
• 1655 Thomas Lawrence
• 1654 Thomas Reynolds
• 1653 Thomas Peeke
• 1652 John Radhams
• 1651 Richard Greene
• 1650 John Furlie

1640–1649

• 1649 Thomas Wade
• 1648 Henry Barrington
• 1647 William Cooke
• 1646 John Langley
• 1645 Robert Buxton
• 1644 John Cox
• 1643 Thomas Lawrence
• 1642 Ralph Harrison
• 1641 Thomas Wade
• 1641 Henry Barrington
• 1640 Robert Talcott

1635–1639

• 1639 John Langley
• 1638 John Firlie (or Furley.)
• 1637 Henry Barrington
• 1636 Robert Buxton
• 1635 Daniel Cole