Mayor of Bridgwater   

William (Bill) James Monteith.                               

BSc (Hons) Dip IT (Open) Dip Comp (Open)

Born Bournemouth 1959 

Lived in Bridgwater since 1992, having moved to Somerset in 1986.

Married to Alison with 3 Children

Is an active Cadet Adult Instructor (Chief Petty Officer) with TS Blake, Bridgwater Sea Cadets, having been with Bridgwater Army Cadet Force (Colour Serjeant).

Elected to Sedgemoor District Council 1999.

Had served as District Ward Councillor and member of the Charter Trustee’s until the formation of the Town Council in 2003. District ward Councillor and Town Councillor until 2007 during which time served as Mayor in 2005/6, having been Deputy Mayor in 2002/3 and 2004/5. Stood down from Sedgemoor District Council in 2008 to concentrate solely on Town Council affairs and has been Town Council ward member for Eastover from 2008.
He is a Traction Inspector, working within the Former Western region of what used to be British Railways.

Hobbies include SCUBA diving and watching his beloved Bridgwater Town FC.

Mayoress

Mrs Lynn Bussell

Born in Wales of Welsh parentage,

moved to the Bridgwater Area when   young.

Attended Bridgwater College and progressed into a career in the construction industry working for Caterpillar and Hitachi.

Currently working as a civil servant with the DWP in Taunton and also Secretary of the Bridgwater Sea Cadet Unit Management Committee based at the Docks.

Married with children and living just outside Bridgwater.

Keenly interested in the wealth of history that Bridgwater and the local surrounding areas have.

Deputy  Mayor Pat Parker       

Deputy Mayor’s Lady Jennie Parker

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