List of mayors of Colchester

The mayor of Colchester 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 incumbent mayor of Colchester - from late May 2022 - is Cllr Tim Young (Labour)

Colchester's mayor from October 2020 was Councillor Robert Davison, a Conservative. Like his predecessor Cllr Nick Cope, Cllr Davidson held office for 18 months rather than the traditional year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The role of mayor

The mayor is the chief citizen and represents the borough throughout their year of office. The Mace, carried by the Town Serjeant 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. The mayor 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 takes place at the first meeting of the newly formed council.

The council, officers and members of the public gather in the Moot Hall 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 (including The Mace), is also displayed there, and represents gifts to the town as well as items of the borough's heritage.

The mayor's charities

Throughout their year in office, the mayor organises events to raise money for their charities ("The Mayor's Charities").

List of Colchester mayors

Post-1835

Mayors subsequent to the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act 1835.

2000–present

2024/25 Lesley Scott-Boutell (Liberal Democrat-turned-independent^[a])
2023/24 John Jowers (Conservative)
2022/23 Tim Young (Labour)
2020/22 Robert Davidson (Conservative) (from October 2020)
2019/20 Nick Cope (Liberal Democrat) (until October 2020)
2018/19 Peter Chillingworth (Conservative)
2017/18 Gerard Oxford (Highwoods Independent)
2016/17 Julie Young (Labour)
2015/16 Theresa Higgins (Liberal Democrats)
2014/15 John Elliott (Conservative)
2013/14 Colin Sykes (Liberal Democrat)
2012/13 Christopher Arnold (Conservative)
2011/12 Helen Chuah (Liberal Democrat)
2010/11 Sonia Lewis (Conservative)
2009/10 Henry Spyvee (Liberal Democrat)
2008/09 Margaret Fairley-Crowe (Conservative)
2008 Peter Crowe (Conservative) (died in office)
2007/08 Ray Gamble (Liberal Democrat)
2006/07 Richard H Gower (Conservative)
2005/06 Terry Sutton (Liberal Democrat)
2004/05 John Bouckley (Conservative)
2003/04 Chris Hall (Liberal Democrat)
2002/03 Nigel Chapman (Conservative)
2001/02 Mike Hogg (Liberal Democrat)
2000/01 Christopher Garnett (Conservative)

1990–1999

1999/2000 Martin Hunt (Liberal Democrat)
1998/99 David Cannon (Conservative)
1997/98 Jenny Stevens (Liberal Democrat)
1996/97 Wesley Sandford (Liberal Democrat)
1995/96 Mary Fairhead (Conservative)
1994/95 J Tony Webb (Tiptree Independent)
1993/94 Ivan Trusler (Liberal Democrat)
1992/93 Mary Frank (Labour)
1991/92 R Paul Spendlove (Conservative)
1990/91 Ken Cooke (Labour)

1980–1989

1989/90 John Sanderson (Conservative)
1988/89 Graham Bober (Labour) President of Colchester Co-operative Society and Branch President Colchester NGA. Printer's union
1987/88 John Lampon (Conservative)
1986/87 Bob Russell (SDP), MP for Colchester, 1997-2015
1985/86 J Williams (Conservative)
1984/85 Janet Fulford (Conservative)
1983/84 John Bird (Labour)
1982/83 Eric L W James (Conservative)
1981/82 Roger Browning (Conservative)
1980/81 Frank Wilkin (Labour)

1970–1979

1979/80 Cyril Sargeant (Conservative)
1978/79 David Holt (Conservative)
1977/78 L Woodrow (Labour)
1976/77 Joyce Brooks (Conservative)
1975/76 W Ladbrook (Labour)
1974/75 James Jackson
1973/74 Arthur Parsonson (Conservative)
1972/73 Walter Buckingham (Labour)
1971/72 A Smith
1970/71 J Richard Wheeler (Conservative)

1960–1969

1969/70 R Hilham (Conservative)
1968/69 C Howe (Labour)
1967/68 Edward Duffield
1966/67 C Pell
1965/66 S Wooster
1964/65 W Willingham
1963/64 R Harrison
1962/63 W Porter
1961/62 D Panton
1960/61 I Brown

1950–1959

1959/60 A Kay
1958/59 May Cook
1957/58 C Wheeler (Conservative)
1956/57 C Child (Labour)
1955/56 Alexander Craig (Conservative)
1954/55 T Morris
1953/54 Kathleen Sanders (Conservative)
1952/53 W Lee (Labour)
1951/52 H Reid
1950/51 J Andrews

1940–1949

1949/50 P Warwick Bailey
1948/49 Leonard Dansie
1947/48 Leonard Dansie
1946/47 L Worsnop
1945/46 H Thompson
1944/45 Arthur Piper
1943/44 Maurice Pye
1942/43 Percy Sanders
1941/42 Percy Sanders
1940/41 Percy Sanders

1930–1939

1939/40 Percy Sanders
1938/39 H H Fisher
1937/38 Alec Blaxill
1936/37 G C Benham
1935/36 F MacDonald-Docker
1934/35 Arthur Cross
1933/34 William Gurney Benham
1932/33 Maurice Pye
1931/32 George Hazell
1930/31 William Harper

1920–1929

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

1910–1919

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

1900–1909

1909/10 Alec Blaxill
1908/09 William Gurney Benham
1907/08 Wilson Marriage
1906/07 Walter Sparling
1905/06 Henry Goody
1904/05 Edwin Sanders
1903/04 Ernest Barritt
1902/03 Henry H Elwes (Conservative)^[2]
1901/02 Wilson Marriage (Liberal)^[3]
1900/01 C Egerton-Green

1890–1899

1899/1900 E Thompson Smith
1898/99 Edwin J Sanders
1897/98 James Noah Paxman, founder of Davey, Paxman and Co
1896/97 H G Egerton-Green
1895/96 James Wicks
1894/95 C E Egerton-Green
1893/94 Henry Goody
1892/93 William Gurney Benham
1891/92 Wilson Marriage
1890/91 Lent J Watts

1880–1889

1889/90 Asher Prior
1888/89 Edwin J Sanders
1887/88 James Noah Paxman, founder of Davey, Paxman and Co
1886/87 H G Egerton-Green
1885/86 Henry Laver
1884/85 H J Gurdon-Rebow
1884 J Harvey
1883/84 Alfred Francis
1882/83 J Harvey
1881/82 J Harvey
1880/81 Samuel Chaplin

1870–1879

1879/80 John Kent
1878/79 Thomas Moy, coal merchant
1877/78 Thomas Moy, coal merchant
1876/77 John Bishop
1875/76 P Papillon
1874/75 John Bishop
1873/74 Edward Round
1872/73 John Bishop
1871/72 Charles Hawkins
1870/71 Charles Hawkins

1860–1869

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

1850–1859

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

1840–1849

1849/50 Edward Williams
1848/49 Charles 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 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 Bridge
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, upholsterer and auctioneer
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, currier and tanner
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, of Customs and Excise
1778 John King
1777 Thomas Clamtree, of Customs and Excise
1776 Thomas Boggis
1775 Thomas Clamtree, of Customs and Excise
1775 John King
1774 John Bakers
1773 Thomas Clamtree, of Customs and Excise
1772 Thomas Clamtree, of Customs and Excise
1772 Thomas Bayles
1771 Solomon Smith.
1770 John King

1763–1769

1769 Jordan Harris Lisle, apothecary
1768 James Robjent
1767 Samuel Ennew
1766 Thomas Bayles
1765 Thomas Wilshire
1764 Henry Lodge
1763 Thomas Clamtree, of Customs and Excise
1740 to 1763: there being no Charter in existence, no Mayor could be appointed.

1730–1740

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

1720–1729

1729 James Boys (or Boyce)
1728 John Blatch
1727 Sir Ralph Creffield, Kt, woollen draper
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, junior
1718 Robert Clark
1717 Thomas Grigson
1716 Sir Isaac Rebow, MP for Colchester 4 times between 1689 and 1722
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, MP for Colchester, 1685
1708 John Pepper
1707 George Clark
1706 James Lawrence
1705 John Rainham
1704 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior
1703 Samuel Angier
1702 Ralph Creffield, junior, woollen draper
1701 Samuel Fetherstone
1700 John Potter

1690–1699

1699 William Francis
1698 William Boys
1697 Ralph Creffield, junior, woollen draper
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, senior
1682 Thomas Greene
1681 William Moor
1680 Ralph Creffield, woollen merchant

1670–1679

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

1660–1669

1669 Henry Lambe
1668 Ralph Creffield, woollen merchant
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

Notes

^ Lesley Scott-Boutell resigned from the Liberal Democrats a week after being elected mayor.^[1]

References

^ Deady, Elliot (30 May 2024). "Colchester councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell quits Lib Dems". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
^ "Election of Mayors". The Times. No. 36922. London. 11 November 1902. p. 12.
^ "Election of Mayors". The Times. No. 36609. London. 11 November 1901. p. 7.

[2] Lesley Scott-Boutell resigned from the Liberal Democrats a week after being elected mayor.^[1]

[1] Deady, Elliot (30 May 2024). "Colchester councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell quits Lib Dems". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 3 June 2024.

[3] "Election of Mayors". The Times. No. 36922. London. 11 November 1902. p. 12.

[4] "Election of Mayors". The Times. No. 36609. London. 11 November 1901. p. 7.

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