The office of mayor of Colchester was established in 1635 and, up to 1974, the borough did not include any of the surrounding villages. Following a merger that year between town and country, there have been 19 mayors who represented areas which, historically, were not part of the original borough. Sir Bob Russell, who was mayor in 1986-87, gives an insight into how events have unfolded

IT is 47 years since the current Colchester Council was created, when the historic town merged with three smaller councils covering 30 villages and the urban districts of West Mersea and Wivenhoe.

Over the past five decades, every part of the borough has seen at least one of its councillors become mayor - except Wivenhoe.

With current mayor Robert Davidson holding the historic position, five villages which had hitherto not had one of its borough councillors elevated to the top position have been so honoured.

They are Abberton, Langenhoe, Fingringhoe, Peldon and East Mersea, which are all part of a grouping known as Pyefleet, now part of the ward which also includes West Mersea.

There has been no snub to Wivenhoe.

It is just that over the past 47 years none of its borough councillors has ever lasted long enough to serve for around 15 years, which is the usual number, although there are a few occasions when the mayor has been a councillor for fewer or more years.

Both Wivenhoe and West Mersea have town mayors, a position introduced in 1974 when both lost their previous status as an urban district council.

Proud - Gazette columnist Sir Bob Russell was Colchester mayor in 1986-87

Proud - Gazette columnist Sir Bob Russell was Colchester mayor in 1986-87

In order that they had recognition for this, they were allowed to have a town mayor instead of a chairman – the description for heading a parish council which is the case with all the villages which merged to form today’s Colchester Council.

But the borough mayor is senior to a town mayor.

The first mayor of the new borough in 1974 was Dedham farmer James Jackson, a Conservative.

Every ward in urban Colchester has had at least one of its councillors becoming mayor – the former Lexden ward leads the way with four of its councillors being mayor – and every rural ward has likewise been honoured, mostly just the once, although Tiptree has had three mayors and both Marks Tey and Great Tey have each been the home village for two mayors.

But zero for Wivenhoe.

The former New Town and St Mary’s (later called Christ Church) wards have each had three mayors and, following their merger into a single ward in 2016, they shared a fourth mayor in 2019 when Liberal Democrat councillor Nick Cope was appointed.

Castle, St Anne’s and Shrub End Wards have also each had three mayors.

Historic position - current Colchester mayor Robert Davidson, incidentally the fifth farmer to hold the title since 1974

Historic position - current Colchester mayor Robert Davidson, incidentally the fifth farmer to hold the title since 1974

Mr Davidson is the fifth farmer to be mayor of Colchester since 1974.

A Conservative, he represents the now merged ward of Mersea and Pyefleet and, therefore, it is the third time the former West Mersea urban district has seen one of its councillors become mayor.

Wivenhoe, in contrast, with a similar urban district council history to that of West Mersea, has yet to have one of its councillors become mayor of Colchester.

Liberal Democrat Mark Cory, who, following this month’s local elections, stood down as leader of the council, is in prime position to be the first Wivenhoe councillor to become mayor of Colchester.

He was first elected in 2007.

The political breakdown of mayors since 1974 show that 25 have been Conservatives, 12 Liberal Democrat, eight Labour and one each for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Tiptree Residents’ Association and Highwoods Independents.

In due course, the board in the mayoral suite at the town hall listing the names of all who have served as mayor since the position was created in 1635, will have asterisks against those of mayors Cope and Davidson, to note that the 2019-20 mayoral year was split between them because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Cope continued to October 2020, when Mr Davidson took over, with both thus having an extended period in office.

Mayor in the making? - Mark Cory, who recently stood down as Colchester Council leader, is in prime position to be the first Wivenhoe councillor to become mayor of Colchester

Mayor in the making? - Mark Cory, who recently stood down as Colchester Council leader, is in prime position to be the first Wivenhoe councillor to become mayor of Colchester

The board already has asterisks for the 2008-09 mayoral year to note that mayor Peter Crowe died in office and that his wife Margaret (who was a councillor, and thus eligible) became mayor for the remainder of the year.

Unlike some boroughs, in Colchester the office of mayor is not political.

It is shared among the parties with long-serving councillors being honoured.

Since 1974, the convention in Colchester has been that the person appointed as deputy mayor will become mayor the following May.

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