Mayor of Wigan

The Worshipful
Mayor of Wigan

Arms of Wigan Borough Council
Incumbent
Councillor Phyllis Cullen
42nd Mayor of Wigan
since June 11th, 2014,
Style Madam Mayor
or alternatively
Councillor
Appointer General Assembly of the Wigan Council
Term length 1 year
Inaugural holder Robert Matthew Lyons
Formation Wigan Council Constitution
1974
Deputy Deputy Mayor of Wigan
Councillor Phyllis Cullen
Website Office of the Mayor

The Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is the first citizen, Chairman of the Wigan Council and elected representative of the Wigan Borough and the council.

Traditionally if the incumbent is a gentleman, the wife of the Mayor would take the office of the Mayoress of Wigan. However when a Lady Mayor is elected, their husband would assume the role of Mayors Consort.

Duties of the Mayor and its Origins

The Mayoralty of Wigan goes back to its first creation in 1246AD when Henry III granted the town its first royal charter, however since 1974 the office of the mayor has been created by legaslative statute of the Constitution of Wigan Council (Article 5, Section 1).[1] The Mayor of Wigan as the 'First Citizen' has highest precedence unless a member of the royal family is present. As the elected representative of the borough, the mayor acts as focal point for the community as well as promoting the borough and forging national and international links which includes continuing links with the Mayor of Angers in Western France as the twinned city. The official position of the Mayor and the council includes presideing over the meetings of the council of which if the Mayor is unable to preside at the time, it is the duty of the elected Deputy Mayor to temporarily take his Place. Wigan Town Hall in the centre of Wigan serves as the official location where the Office of the Mayor is located and also serves as the location for meetings of the council in the main chamber. The Town Hall of Leigh is often used by the Mayor and other councillors as a second headquarters.

The position of the Mayor is politically neutral and so even though the Mayor remains Chairman of the Council, the Council assembly elects itself a Leader of the Council who will also chair the Wigan Cabinet. The Office of the Mayor is located in the Wigan Town Hall were the Council Chamber is also located.

When in office, other duties include receiving members of the Royal Family and other state visitors, attending ceremonies and engagements of charities as representative that take place within or out of the borough. The Mayor also leads the service on Remembrance Sunday at the cenotaph of Wigan Town Centre in November.

Current Mayor

The 42nd and current mayor is Councillor Phyllis Cullen who was elected by the council general assembly and officially inaugurated on June 11th, 2014. She succeeded Councillor Billy Rotherham after serving as the Deputy Mayor of Wigan between 2013 and 2014. The current Mayors Consort is Terence Cullen.

Succession and Deputy Mayor

The Deputy Mayor of Wigan is elected by the council assembly as second citizen who assists the elected Mayor and Mayoress in their duties. The deputy mayor is also first in succession to the mayoralty.

The Mayor's Charity Appeal

By tradition, the Mayor of Wigan may choose a charity they wish to support throughout their year in office by charitable engagements and donations. The Mayor may choose to support one charity or may contribute to the support of others. The current Mayors charity appeal is The Cancer Care Unit at Wigan Infirmary, a cancer care unit which is due to be open in late 2014.[2]

Style and Title

Styles of
The Mayor of Wigan
Reference style The Mayor of Wigan
Spoken style Madam Mayor
Alternative style Councillor

The Mayor of Wigan is entitled to the style of "The Worshipful" however the style is only used when referring to the office rather than the holder and is not retained after they have left office. The Mayor is referred to in speech as "Mr Mayor" and if a female councillor is in office they are referred to as "Madam Mayor".

The full title of the current Mayor is: The Worshipful The Mayor of Wigan Council, Councillor Phyllis Cullen

List of Mayors of Wigan

No. Mayor Term
1 Robert Matthew Lyons 1974–1975
2 George Macdonald J.P. D.L 1975–1976
3 Joseph Albert Eckersley 1976–1977
4 Thomas Gerard Morgan 1977–1978
5 Leonard Sumner 1978–1979
6 Harry Milligan 1979–1980
7 William Charles Priest France 1980–1981
8 James Bridge 1981–1982
9 Thomas Jones 1982–1983
10 Thomas Isherwood J.P. 1983–1984
11 Peter Hull 1984–1985
12 George Alfred Lockett 1985–1986
13 Jack Sumner J.P. 1986–1987
14 James Jones 1987–1988
15 David Norris Caley J.P. 1988–1989
16 Audrey Bennett 1989–1990
17 Ronald McAllister J.P. 1990–1991
18 John Horrocks J.P. 1991–1992
19 Arthur Wright 1992–1993
20 Joseph Clarke 1993–1994
21 William Stanley Simmons 1994–1995
22 Norman Bernard Holt 1995–1996
23 Anthony Bernard Coyle O.B.E J.P. D.L. 1996–1997
24 Kenneth Pye 1997–1998
25 Samuel Little 1998–1999
26 (part) William Smith J.P. 1999–2000
27 (part) Evelyne Smith 1999–2000
28 Joan Hurst 2000–2001
29 John E. Hilton J.P. 2001–2002
30 Geoffrey Roberts 2002–2003
31 Wilfred Brogan B.E.M 2003–2004
32 John Hilton 2004–2005
33 Brian Jarvis 2005–2006
34 Eunice Smethurst 2006–2007
35 John O'Brien 2007–2008
36 Rona Winkworth 2008–2009
37 Mark Aldred 2009–2010
38 Michael Winstanley 2010–2011
39 Joy Birch 2011–2012
40 Myra Whiteside 2012 - 2013
41 Billy Rotherham 2013 - 2014
42 Phyllis Cullen 2014 - present

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Mayoralty/About-the-Mayor.aspx