A history of the mayoralty

WE HAVE A NEW Mayor of Bourne following the election of Councillor Brenda Johnson at the annual meeting of the town council last month (Tuesday 17th May), so becoming the 40th person to hold the office since it was inaugurated in 1974.

The word mayor dates back to Norman times meaning an overseer or bailiff although there is an alternative explanation that it comes from the Latin major meaning greater or superior. But the public perception today is that of a person who runs the town, a situation now becoming a reality through the new system of directly-elected mayors for some of the metropolitan authorities.

This is unlikely to happen in Bourne where the mayoralty dates back less than 40 years and is in reality a token appointment. From 1899, the town was administered by Bourne Urban District Council which had a chairman but under the local government re-organisation of 1974, all urban authorities in England were replaced by district councils and from then on, Bourne's affairs came under the control of South Kesteven District Council based in Grantham.

Bourne retained a parish council but because of its historic status was given permission to become a town council with a chairman who is also the mayor, and this authority took over the Coat of Arms and civic regalia previously enshrined in BUDC. Our first citizen, therefore, is chairman of the town council but under this agreement is also elected annually as town mayor by his peers. The arrangement also means that if a man is elected mayor, his wife becomes mayoress but if a woman is appointed, then her husband becomes consort, although if either are unattached, they may choose someone who would be suitable for the role.

The first Mayor of Bourne was Councillor Percy Wilson (1918-2005), who was leader of BUDC when the re-organisation took place and so he accepted the appointment for a short spell during the changeover period in 1974.

During the next four decades, small milestones have been established, notably by Councillor Shirley Cliffe, a member of the town council since 1976, who has set a record by serving three terms, in 1979-80, 1997-98 and 2008-09. In addition, her husband, the late Ray Cliffe (1925-2006), also served two terms from 1975-76 and 1991-92, so making Shirley our mayoress on two occasions.

John and Judy Smith, a husband and wife team, also have an impressive record between them, John having been mayor twice in 1978-79 and 1996-97, when his wife became mayoress, and Judy in 2005-06 when John became her consort.

The late Mrs Marjorie Clark (1919-2007) is also remembered for being mayor in 1999-2000 at the remarkable age of 81, having already served a previous term in 1984-85. She lived to be 88 and became Bourne's longest serving councillor with 40 years of service to her credit including a two-year spell as the first woman chairman of South Kesteven District Council from 1990-1992.

One mayor has died in office. Councillor Richard Reeve (1936-87) was nine months through his term in 1986-87 when he was rushed to hospital in Peterborough but did not recover and his place for the remaining period was taken by the deputy mayor, Councillor Sydney Pegden. Like others who have held the post before and since, he was proud to have worn the mayoral chain of office which was carried on his coffin during his funeral service at the Abbey Church attended by hundreds of people including many other mayors from neighbouring authorities.

Among our most popular mayors was Councillor Mary Parker (1926-2004) whose grace and dignity enhanced the office she filled from 1989-90. She had worked as a schoolteacher and soon gained a reputation for her warmth and friendliness which became known to the many people she stopped to talk to in the street.

During the year in office, the mayor will chair town council meetings and attend a variety of civic and social events such as garden fetes, concerts, coffee mornings and dinners, culminating with the civic dinner and ball at the end of the term when those who have been of help during the year are thanked personally for their support.

It is a busy time for anyone prepared to tackle the task ahead and the opportunity to become mayor now comes round far quicker than in the past. The appointment is usually made in rotation on the basis of seniority and as a result, many of those who have already served before are often either too committed elsewhere or prefer to give others the chance to wear the chain of office.

The office of Mayor of Bourne may be one of ornamentation rather than authority but it is within the grasp of everyone provided they wish to devote their time to the service of the community and to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner that wins the approval of their colleagues. Additional time is needed to fulfil a busy round of civic duties and it can be costly with the need for new clothes, entertaining and travelling, but the town council does provide a mayoral allowance to cover out of pocket expenses, currently set at £1,846 from January 2011.

Don Fisher, aged 77, who has just retired from the town council after 35 years, was mayor twice from 1983-84 and 1998-99. “It is like being king for a day”, said. “There is no financial gain but to wear the chain of office is an enormous pleasure and it is also a privilege to be chosen as the first representative of the town where you live. There can be no greater honour for a councillor.”

There has been criticism that the continued appointment of a mayor at town level may be out-dated but if it were abolished, we would also abandon a tradition. The achievements may be small but the chain of office does symbolise a civic pride in our town and for that reason alone, it is worth keeping.