Mayor of Wigan
Encyclopedia
The Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the "First Citizen
", Chairman of the Wigan Council and elected representative of the Wigan Borough
on a national and international level. The Mayor is also the representative in Wigan of the British Monarch
(Currently Elizabeth II), and as such plays a primary role in certain civil ceremonies and functions that would normally be completed by the head of state.
Traditionally the wife of a Mayor would take the office of Mayoress of Wigan
. However when a Lady Mayor is elected, their husband would take the style of the Mayors Consort
.
when Henry III
granted the town its first charter. The Mayor of Wigan as the 'First Citizen' has highest precedence unless a member of the royal family is present. As the elected representative of the borough, the mayor acts as focal point for the community as well as promoting the borough and forging national and international links which includes continuing links with the Mayor of Angers
in Western France
as the twinned city. The official position of the Mayor and the council includes presideing over the meetings of the council of which if the Mayor is unable to preside at the time, it is the duty of the elected Deputy Mayor to temporarily take his Place. Wigan Town Hall in the centre of Wigan
serves as the official location where the Office of the Mayor is located and also serves as the location for meetings of the council in the main chamber. The Town Hall of Leigh is often used by the Mayor and other councillors as a second headquarter.
The position of the Mayor is politically neutral and so even though the Mayor remains Chairman of the Council, the Council assembly elects itself a Leader of the Council who will also chair the Wigan Cabinet. The Office of the Mayor is located in the Wigan Town Hall were the Council Chamber is also located.
When in office, other duties include receiving members of the Royal Family
and other state visitors, attending ceremonies and engagements of charities as representative that take place within or out of the borough. The Mayor also leads the service on Remembrance Sunday
at the cenotaph
of Wigan Town Centre in November.
. Councillor Birch succeeds to the mayoralty following her office as the Deputy Mayor in the previous year.
whilst if a Lady deputy mayor is elected, their husband would be styled the Deputy-Mayors Consort
The current deputy mayor is Councillor Myra Whiteside who was elected on the 25th May 2011 to take up office. Her partner Mr John Hurst assumed the office of the Deputy-Mayors Consort
.
Multiple Sclerosis Society, Wigan
Marie Curie Cancer Care
" however the style is only used when referring to the office rather than the holder and is not retained after they have left office. The Mayor is referred to in speech as "Mr Mayor" and if a female councillor is in office they are referred to as "Madam Mayor".
The wife of the Mayor is "The Mayoress" and if the Mayor in office is unmarried they may appoint a female consort to take the position of Mayoress (Usually a Fellow Councillor). In speech the Mayoress is referred to as "Mayoress". The husband of a Lady Mayor may be styled as "The Mayors Consort", however they are addressed by their name
The full title of the current Mayor is The Worshipful The Mayor of Wigan Council, Councillor Joy Birch
The current consort of the Mayor is The Mayors Consort
, Mr Albert Bradley
The current deputy is The Deputy-Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Myra Whiteside
The current deputy mayors consort is The Deputy-Mayors Consort, Mr John Hurst
Princeps
Princeps is a Latin word meaning "first in time or order; the first, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first man, first person."...
", Chairman of the Wigan Council and elected representative of the Wigan Borough
Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. It is named after its largest component town, Wigan and also includes the towns of Leigh, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ince-in-Makerfield, and Hindley. The borough was formed in 1974 and is an...
on a national and international level. The Mayor is also the representative in Wigan of the British Monarch
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
(Currently Elizabeth II), and as such plays a primary role in certain civil ceremonies and functions that would normally be completed by the head of state.
Traditionally the wife of a Mayor would take the office of Mayoress of Wigan
Mayoress of Wigan
The Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the title traditionally given to the wife of the current Mayor of Wigan in office, The Mayoress attends engagements whilst also being the hostess at functions organised by the Mayor...
. However when a Lady Mayor is elected, their husband would take the style of the Mayors Consort
Mayoress of Wigan
The Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the title traditionally given to the wife of the current Mayor of Wigan in office, The Mayoress attends engagements whilst also being the hostess at functions organised by the Mayor...
.
Duties of the Mayor and its Origins
The Mayoralty of Wigan goes back to 1246ADAnno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
when Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
granted the town its first charter. The Mayor of Wigan as the 'First Citizen' has highest precedence unless a member of the royal family is present. As the elected representative of the borough, the mayor acts as focal point for the community as well as promoting the borough and forging national and international links which includes continuing links with the Mayor of Angers
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
in Western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as the twinned city. The official position of the Mayor and the council includes presideing over the meetings of the council of which if the Mayor is unable to preside at the time, it is the duty of the elected Deputy Mayor to temporarily take his Place. Wigan Town Hall in the centre of Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
serves as the official location where the Office of the Mayor is located and also serves as the location for meetings of the council in the main chamber. The Town Hall of Leigh is often used by the Mayor and other councillors as a second headquarter.
The position of the Mayor is politically neutral and so even though the Mayor remains Chairman of the Council, the Council assembly elects itself a Leader of the Council who will also chair the Wigan Cabinet. The Office of the Mayor is located in the Wigan Town Hall were the Council Chamber is also located.
When in office, other duties include receiving members of the Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
and other state visitors, attending ceremonies and engagements of charities as representative that take place within or out of the borough. The Mayor also leads the service on Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday
In the United Kingdom, 'Remembrance Sunday' is held on the second Sunday in November, which is the Sunday nearest to 11 November Armistice Day. It is the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War at 11 a.m...
at the cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
of Wigan Town Centre in November.
Current Mayor
The current mayor is Councillor Joy Birch who was elected to be the 39th Mayor of Wigan on the 25th May 2011 by a full general assemby of the council, as a member of the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. Councillor Birch succeeds to the mayoralty following her office as the Deputy Mayor in the previous year.
Deputy Mayor
The Council Assembly also elect a Deputy Mayor as 'Second Citizen' who assists the elected Mayor and Mayoress in their duties. This includes taking part in civil and private events, as well as taking the place of the chairman in council meetings when the Mayor is unavailable to preside. The wife of the deputy mayor would take the office of Deputy-Mayoress of WiganMayoress of Wigan
The Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the title traditionally given to the wife of the current Mayor of Wigan in office, The Mayoress attends engagements whilst also being the hostess at functions organised by the Mayor...
whilst if a Lady deputy mayor is elected, their husband would be styled the Deputy-Mayors Consort
Mayoress of Wigan
The Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the title traditionally given to the wife of the current Mayor of Wigan in office, The Mayoress attends engagements whilst also being the hostess at functions organised by the Mayor...
The current deputy mayor is Councillor Myra Whiteside who was elected on the 25th May 2011 to take up office. Her partner Mr John Hurst assumed the office of the Deputy-Mayors Consort
Mayoress of Wigan
The Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the title traditionally given to the wife of the current Mayor of Wigan in office, The Mayoress attends engagements whilst also being the hostess at functions organised by the Mayor...
.
The Mayor's chosen charity
By tradition, the Mayor of Wigan may choose a charity they wish to support throughout their year in office by charitable engagements and donations. The chosen charities of the Mayor:Multiple Sclerosis Society, Wigan
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Style, Title and Honours
The Mayor of Wigan is entitled to the style of "The WorshipfulWorship (style)
His or Her Worship is an honorific prefix for mayors, Justices of the Peace and magistrates in Commonwealth Realms. In spoken address, these officials are addressed as Your Worship or referred to as His or Her Worship; South Africa is an exception, as the term is still used to address judges in...
" however the style is only used when referring to the office rather than the holder and is not retained after they have left office. The Mayor is referred to in speech as "Mr Mayor" and if a female councillor is in office they are referred to as "Madam Mayor".
The wife of the Mayor is "The Mayoress" and if the Mayor in office is unmarried they may appoint a female consort to take the position of Mayoress (Usually a Fellow Councillor). In speech the Mayoress is referred to as "Mayoress". The husband of a Lady Mayor may be styled as "The Mayors Consort", however they are addressed by their name
The full title of the current Mayor is The Worshipful The Mayor of Wigan Council, Councillor Joy Birch
The current consort of the Mayor is The Mayors Consort
Mayoress of Wigan
The Mayoress of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the title traditionally given to the wife of the current Mayor of Wigan in office, The Mayoress attends engagements whilst also being the hostess at functions organised by the Mayor...
, Mr Albert Bradley
The current deputy is The Deputy-Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Myra Whiteside
The current deputy mayors consort is The Deputy-Mayors Consort, Mr John Hurst
List of Mayors of Wigan
| # | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Matthew Lyons | 1974–1975 |
| 2 | George Macdonald J.P. D.L | 1975–1976 |
| 3 | Joseph Albert Eckersley | 1976–1977 |
| 4 | Thomas Gerard Morgan | 1977–1978 |
| 5 | Leonard Sumner | 1978–1979 |
| 6 | Harry Milligan | 1979–1980 |
| 7 | William Charles Priest France | 1980–1981 |
| 8 | James Bridge | 1981–1982 |
| 9 | Thomas Jones | 1982–1983 |
| 10 | Thomas Isherwood J.P. | 1983–1984 |
| 11 | Peter Hull | 1984–1985 |
| 12 | George Alfred Lockett | 1985–1986 |
| 13 | Jack Sumner J.P. | 1986–1987 |
| 14 | James Jones | 1987–1988 |
| 15 | David Norris Caley J.P. | 1988–1989 |
| 16 | Audrey Bennett | 1989–1990 |
| 17 | Ronald McAllister J.P. | 1990–1991 |
| 18 | John Horrocks J.P. | 1991–1992 |
| 19 | Arthur Wright | 1992–1993 |
| 20 | Joseph Clarke | 1993–1994 |
| 21 | William Stanley Simmons | 1994–1995 |
| 22 | Norman Bernard Holt | 1995–1996 |
| 23 | Anthony Bernard Coyle O.B.E Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions... J.P. D.L. |
1996–1997 |
| 24 | Kenneth Pye | 1997–1998 |
| 25 | Samuel Little | 1998–1999 |
| 26 | (part) William Smith J.P. | 1999–2000 |
| 27 | (part) Evelyne Smith | 1999–2000 |
| 28 | Joan Hurst | 2000–2001 |
| 29 | John E. Hilton J.P. | 2001–2002 |
| 30 | Geoffrey Roberts | 2002–2003 |
| 31 | Wilfred Brogan B.E.M | 2003–2004 |
| 32 | John Hilton | 2004–2005 |
| 33 | Brian Jarvis | 2005–2006 |
| 34 | Eunice Smethurst | 2006–2007 |
| 35 | John O'Brien | 2007–2008 |
| 36 | Rona Winkworth | 2008–2009 |
| 37 | Mark Aldred | 2009–2010 |
| 38 | Michael Winstanley | 2010-2011 |
| 39 | Joy Birch | 2011 - Present |