STOP PRESS: Following the Bridgwater Town Council elections on 5th May, we are delighted to announce the new Mayor’s department:
Mayor of Bridgwater
Pat Parker
Cllr Pat Parker, 61, received the chains of office from outgoing Mayor Cllr Bill Monteith during the ceremony on Friday 13th May, which was attended by dignitaries, friends and family, and was held for the first time in St Mary’s Church.
Born in Southampton in 1950 to Julienne and Fred Parker, he has one older sister. At college, he studied for the priesthood but didn’t follow that path, although he remains a practising Christian to this day.
Instead he became a successful businessman and while attending a convention in Oxford he met a very special lady, Jennie, who later became his wife, and he moved to Bridgwater in 1998 to join her.
On moving to the town, the Mayor became involved in politics and has also been a county councillor and is a town councillor.
He is also deeply involved with various organisations within the community, including Bridgwater Arts Centre and the Bridgwater Education Trust.
Mayoress
Jennie Parker
Jennie Parker was born in Rochford, Essex, in 1953 to Frank and Phyllis Bishop. She has one older brother who still lives in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. She was educated at the local Primary School and went on to Westcliff High School for Girls. In 1971 she went to Surrey University to study Mathematics and graduated in 1974, when she went on to Gipsy Hill College of Education to gain her PGCE in Secondary education. Her first teaching post was at Park Barn Secondary school, which is not far from Guildford Cathedral and the site of Surrey University.
She married for the first time in 1973 and had two sons, Andrew, now 32 and Simon, now 29.
She moved to Bridgwater in 1978 with her first husband and remained home with the children until being asked to cover for a long term illness of a Maths teacher at Haygrove School. She later gained full time employment there as a Special needs teacher/Maths Teacher.
Having divorced in 1996, she later met and married Pat, who moved to Bridgwater to join her.
She left Haygrove School in the year 2000 to spend more time with Pat, but he soon became elected as a County Councillor, so she went back to supply teaching. Finally a friend invited her to apply for a job at Bridgwater College in 2004, where she currently works, teaching Functional Skills Maths, GCSE and AS level Maths.
Last year she was delighted to become a grandmother for the first time to Esmé, who is the daughter of Andrew and his wife, Muthamma.
Deputy Mayor
Graham Granter
Cllr Graham Granter was born in Combwich in 1945
He has lived in Bridgwater for the last 50 years and married to Kay for last 45 years, we have three children one daughter the eldest, and two sons. lucky also to have seven grand children and two great grand children which includes two sets of twins, six girls and three boys with ages ranging from 2-to 22 years.
I attended Combwich junior school and then Westover senior school which I left at the age of 15. I have had a few different jobs before moving to work at British Cellophane for 25 years
finishing in 1999 and going on to own the Mansion House in Bridgwater, High Street until 2002 before retiring in the same year to become a councillor both on Town and District Councils, I have been Mayor of our town in 2005/06 and just been re-elected for another term on Town And District Councils
Deputy Mayor’s Lady
Kay Granter
Kay Granter was born in 1946 and attended North Petherton junior school then Westonzoyland junior school, I started work at Clarks Redgate Factory when leaving school at age of 15
I married Graham in 1966, and my hobbies include gardening and most of all helping out under privilege children in different parts of the world including Egypt, Africa and India.
Town Clerk (& Responsible Financial Officer)
Alan Hurford
Town Clerk (Associate Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and Member of Society of Local Council Clerks).
Appointed Town Clerk to Bridgwater Town Council in November 2003 following creation of Town Council and first elections held in May that year.
Previously Head of Corporate Policy with North Somerset Council (a unitary authority of some 190,000 pop.) member of Management Team with wide-ranging portfolio and responsibility for management of Chief Executive’s Unit and Town Hall services including Press and PR, Research and Information, Community Safety Partnership, Youth Offending Team, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, relationships with voluntary sector and Town and Parish Councils, and special projects.
Began local government career with Bridgwater Borough Council before moving on to Weston-super-Mare Borough Council and Woodspring District Council in a variety of positions before the establishment of North Somerset in 1996.
Born in Bridgwater educated at Spaxton VC Junior School and Dr Morgan’s Grammar School and Taunton Technical College. Married to Pamela for 37 years with two sons and three grandchildren.
A resident of Bridgwater active in local community with wide-ranging interests which include Directorship of Somerset Football Association Ltd with special responsibility for marketing and new HQ project, Chairman of Bridgwater Town (1984) Football Club with teams in the British Gas Business Football League and Somerset County League and at Under 18 level and former Captain of Enmore Park Golf Club.
Also Clerk to Westonzoyland Parish Council.
Telephone – 01278 427692
Mobile – 07776216670
Email - townclerk@bridgwatertowncouncil.gov.uk
Mace Bearer
Chris Hocking
Born in Bridgwater and educated at St Margaret’s School and Dr Morgan’s School before finishing education at Taunton School.
Career began with Natwest Bank in Taunton followed by seven years with Bridgwater Building Society. Appointed as Advertising & PR Manager for Chelsea Building Society, based in Cheltenham, before returning to Bridgwater in 1984. For 12 years ran his own advertising and print company before joining Bridgwater College as Carnival Placement Co-ordinator, (a post he still holds). Establishing and organising courses for people involved in carnivals throughout Somerset, parts of Devon, Dorset & Wilts.
Involved with Bridgwater Carnival for 40 years, initially as a member of Marketeer’s Carnival Club and now a vice-president of Wills C C. Joined the Bridgwater Carnival committee in 1985 and held the post of Publicity Officer for 19 years before becoming President of the committee and serving the maximum three year term in this role. Now a Director and Trustee of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Ltd, Chris has also compered the annual Carnival Concerts for the last 18 years and currently organises the entertainment in the town during the day of Bridgwater Carnival.
Chris became a professional Toastmaster in 2003 and now officiates at weddings and functions throughout the south-west, and beyond. Other interests include amateur theatre and rugby (as a spectator these days!).
Still living in Bridgwater, he is married to Linda and has two children, two step-children and two grandchildren.
Images Copyright Andy Slocombe