Historic election of city council’s final lord mayor

May 13 2008 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

A DYNASTY dating back to the 13th century reaches an historic landmark in Chester tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, May 14).

City Cllr Brian Bailey (Con, Christleton) is due to be elected as Chester City Council’s last lord mayor as the council holds its final annual meeting before it is abolished next April under local government secretary Hazel Blears’ local government review.

Cllr Bailey, who polled the highest personal vote in the recent elections to the new Cheshire West and Chester Council and the second highest in Cheshire, ends a line of city mayors thought to date back to William the Clerk in 1229.

At least one has been murdered and a number have died in office.

A vast range of trades have held the office from an iron monger to a retired chief constable.

Women had to wait until 1938 to see a lady mayor but the city’s first lord mayor, elected in 1992, was Cllr Sue Proctor.

A knight first occupied the position in 1241.

Following the reformation, no Roman Catholic was elected mayor until 1959.

Following the election, taking place in the council chamber at 5pm, Cllr Bailey, who will also hold the title admiral of the Dee, will be invested at a ceremony later in the evening.

Hoole Groves City Cllr David Hull (Lib Dem) is to be elected sheriff with Vicars Cross Cllr Paul Cheetham (Lib Dem) as deputy lord mayor.

The council is also due to agree arrangements to preserve the city’s historic and ceremonial rights, traditions and privileges under the new authority.

It is recommended the district’s 27 unitary councillors should become charter trustees who would elect a lord mayor, sheriff and deputy for the district each year.

Chester district’s city status would be protected together with rights including the armorial bearings, honorary freeman and the Freemen and Guilds.

A report by managing director Chris Hardy hints that “ultimately” Chester’s city status might apply to the whole of Cheshire West and Chester.

This is seen as a longer term objective.

Retaining the civic offices would enable them to continue to play an important civic and community role in the city, according to Mr Hardy.

The cost would be met by council tax payers in Chester district.

Cllr Bailey faces the prospect of a retreat from the mayor’s parlour during his year of office.

Renovation work to the town hall may deal with the drips which have plagued his predecessors during wet weather but will make parts of the building unusable.

The lord mayor is to occupy accommodation in the former retreat house in the cathedral precincts which is no longer used as such.