Frank Branston
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| Frank Branston | |
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Mayor of Bedford
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| In office first elected October 2002, re-elected May 2007 – May 2011 |
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| Preceded by | New Office |
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| Born | May 9, 1939 Retford, Notts |
| Political party | Independent |
| Website | www.bedford.gov.uk |
Frank Branston is the directly-elected mayor of the borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England.
He stood as an independent in the borough's first direct election for mayor in 2002[1], backed at the time by the Better Bedford Independent Party, which has since been disbanded.[2]
Prior to entering politics he was a journalist. In 1974 he was the first weekly newspaper owner to be honoured in national press awards. After launching his own newspapers he also received a number of other awards.
Born in Retford, Notts, brought up in Chelsea, West London, educated at Sloane Grammar School, Chelsea leaving in 1955 aged 16. Married to German-born Marlies since 1968, father of two children, Naomi (a lawyer) and Antonia (marketing)
Branston was the owner of five local newspapers, Bedfordshire on Sunday, 'Luton on Sunday', 'Hertfordshire on Sunday', 'Leighton Buzzard on Sunday' and the 'Milton Keynes News', with a total distribution approaching 400,000. He and his wife sold their 88% stake in the newspapers in 2002[3]. He is also the author of two novels, "Sergeant Ritchie's Conscience" (1978) and "Up and Coming Man" (1977) and contributed to 'Dogs of War', a book about mercenary soldiers in the 1970s.
Branston was reelected with an increased majority on Thursday 3 May 2007, after a count which lasted 16 hours due to problems with an experimental electronic counting system.[4]
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| Preceded by New Creation |
Mayor of Bedford 2002 – Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
