Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge has its first Labour Mayor for over 20 years after town councillors elected Derick Cooper to the position on Monday evening (May 11th).
Outgoing Mayor Peter Burridge-Clayton congratulated Mr Cooper – who has been Deputy Mayor for the past year – on his appointment as he formally passed over the mayoral chain at the Town Council Chambers, as pictured.
Cllr Cooper said he was delighted to be chosen, adding: “I am deeply honoured to be elected to this position and thank my fellow councillors for picking a Highbridge Mayor for the first time in several years.”
“I hope to get around to every school in the area to meet as many of our local children as possible, as well as promote tourism in our towns as much as possible.”
Derick’s wife, Christine, becomes Mayoress, while Cllr Danny Titcombe becomes Deputy Mayor and his partner Jo Hughes is Deputy Mayoress, while the Second Deputy Mayor is John Morgan. The Mayor’s Chaplain is Rev Robin Lodge and the Mayor’s Cadet will be chosen shortly from the Scouts Association.
Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge’s last Labour Mayor was Adrian Whitehouse, who was in position between 1986 and 1987. Derick is currently the sole Labour representative standing on the town council.
Cllr Peter Burridge-Clayton was presented with his Past Mayor’s Badge by Derick, who praised Peter for his “outstanding dedication” over the last year.
And Cllr Titcombe said: “Peter attended 97 Mayoral functions and attended 72 meetings while he was Mayor, which was no mean feat given his outside commitments with the district council, a full time job and a new marriage!”
Cllr Neville Jones formally proposed Cllr Cooper as Mayor and the motion was seconded by Cllr Burridge-Clayton.
.SPOTLIGHT ON THE NEW MAYOR
Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge’s new Mayor, Derick Cooper, is 66 and has lived in Highbridge for 27 years. He is married to Christine and lives in Atlantic Crescent, near Marine Drive.
He has been a town councillor for the last six years and was a district councillor for eight years. He worked as Leisure and Tourism Officer at Sedgemoor District Council between 1982 and 1996.
Derick is a church warden at St John’s Church in Highbridge, is Chairman of Highbridge Memorial Trust, and is also the President of Burnham and District Pantomime Society.
