List of mayors of Colchester

The mayor of Colchester sits as non-political chairman of Colchester City Council and serves as the civic representative of the borough. The mayoralty is customarily awarded to the most senior councillor of one of the political groups

Current mayor The incumbent mayor of Colchester - from 27 May 2026 - is Cllr Andrew Ellis (Conservative)

The role of mayor The mayor is the chief citizen and represents the city throughout their year of office. The Mace, carried by the Town Serjeant on ceremonial occasions and into the council chamber, is the symbol of that authority.

The mayor sits as non-political chairman of the council. The mayoralty is customarily awarded to the most senior councillor of one of the political groups, who take it in turn. The nomination is only rarely challenged. The mayor serves for a year as deputy mayor, usually in the municipal year prior.

The annual ceremony of the installation of a new mayor takes place each May, following the city council elections. The mayor's election takes place at the first meeting of the newly formed council.

The council, officers and members of the public gather in the Moot Hall to welcome the incoming mayor who takes the oath administered by the Town Clerk.

The mayor's parlour The mayor's parlour is the Colchester Town Hall office where the mayor works, as well as the reception suite for visitors. The borough regalia (including The Mace), is also displayed there, and represents gifts to the town as well as items of the borough's heritage.

The mayor's charities Throughout their year in office, the mayor organises events to raise money for their charities ("The Mayor's Charities").

List of Colchester mayors Since 1836 Mayors subsequent to the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act 1835.

2000–present 2026/27 Andrew Ellis (Conservative) 2025/26 Mike Lilley (Labour and Co-op) 2024/25 Lesley Scott-Boutell (Liberal Democrat-turned-independent) 2023/24 John Jowers (Conservative) 2022/23 Tim Young (Labour) 2020/22 Robert Davidson (Conservative) (from October 2020) 2019/20 Nick Cope (Liberal Democrat) (until October 2020) 2018/19 Peter Chillingworth (Conservative) 2017/18 Gerard Oxford (Highwoods Independent) 2016/17 Julie Young (Labour) 2015/16 Theresa Higgins (Liberal Democrats) 2014/15 John Elliott (Conservative) 2013/14 Colin Sykes (Liberal Democrat) 2012/13 Christopher Arnold (Conservative) 2011/12 Helen Chuah (Liberal Democrat) 2010/11 Sonia Lewis (Conservative) 2009/10 Henry Spyvee (Liberal Democrat) 2008/09 Margaret Fairley-Crowe (Conservative) 2008 Peter Crowe (Conservative) (died in office) 2007/08 Ray Gamble (Liberal Democrat) 2006/07 Richard H Gower (Conservative) 2005/06 Terry Sutton (Liberal Democrat) 2004/05 John Bouckley (Conservative) 2003/04 Chris Hall (Liberal Democrat) 2002/03 Nigel Chapman (Conservative) 2001/02 Mike Hogg (Liberal Democrat) 2000/01 Christopher Garnett (Conservative)

1990–1999 1999/2000 Martin Hunt (Liberal Democrat) 1998/99 David Cannon (Conservative) 1997/98 Jenny Stevens (Liberal Democrat) 1996/97 Wesley Sandford (Liberal Democrat) 1995/96 Mary Fairhead (Conservative) 1994/95 J Tony Webb (Tiptree Independent) 1993/94 Ivan Trusler (Liberal Democrat) 1992/93 Mary Frank (Labour) 1991/92 R Paul Spendlove (Conservative) 1990/91 Ken Cooke (Labour)

1980–1989 1989/90 John Sanderson (Conservative) 1988/89 Graham Bober (Labour) 1987/88 John Lampon (Conservative) 1986/87 Bob Russell (SDP), MP for Colchester, 1997-2015 1985/86 J Williams (Conservative) 1984/85 Janet Fulford (Conservative) 1983/84 John Bird (Labour) 1982/83 Eric L W James (Conservative) 1981/82 Roger Browning (Conservative) 1980/81 Frank Wilkin (Labour)

1970–1979 1979/80 Cyril Sargeant (Conservative) 1978/79 David Holt (Conservative) 1977/78 L Woodrow (Labour) 1976/77 Joyce Brooks (Conservative) 1975/76 W Ladbrook (Labour) 1974/75 James Jackson 1973/74 Arthur Parsonson (Conservative) 1972/73 Walter Buckingham (Labour) 1971/72 A Smith 1970/71 J Richard Wheeler (Conservative)

1960–1969 1969/70 R Hilham (Conservative) 1968/69 C Howe (Labour) 1967/68 Edward Duffield 1966/67 C Pell 1965/66 S Wooster 1964/65 W Willingham 1963/64 R Harrison 1962/63 W Porter 1961/62 D Panton 1960/61 I Brown

1950–1959 1959/60 A Kay 1958/59 May Cook 1957/58 C Wheeler (Conservative) 1956/57 C Child (Labour) 1955/56 Alexander Craig (Conservative) 1954/55 T Morris 1953/54 Kathleen Sanders (Conservative) 1952/53 W Lee (Labour) 1951/52 H Reid 1950/51 J Andrews

1940–1949 1949/50 P Warwick Bailey 1948/49 Leonard Dansie 1947/48 Leonard Dansie 1946/47 L Worsnop 1945/46 H Thompson 1944/45 Arthur Piper 1943/44 Maurice Pye 1942/43 Percy Sanders 1941/42 Percy Sanders 1940/41 Percy Sanders

1930–1939 1939/40 Percy Sanders 1938/39 H H Fisher 1937/38 Alec Blaxill 1936/37 G C Benham 1935/36 F MacDonald-Docker 1934/35 Arthur Cross 1933/34 William Gurney Benham 1932/33 Maurice Pye 1931/32 George Hazell 1930/31 William Harper

1920–1929 1929/30 C Jolly (Labour) 1928/29 John Russell 1927/28 Ernest Turner 1926/27 Charles Smallwood 1925/26 Arthur Piper 1924/25 Catherine Reeve Hunt 1923/24 Catherine Alderton (Liberal) 1922/23 Percy Alan Sanders 1921/22 Wasey Chopping 1920/21 Arthur Lucking

1910–1919 1919/20 Owen Ward 1918/19 George Wright 1917/18 Arthur Jarmin 1916/17 John Bailey 1915/16 Allen Aldridge 1914/15 W Coats Hutton 1913/14 Wilson Marriage 1912/13 W Coats Hutton 1911/12 Reginald Beard 1910/11 Frank Cant

1900–1909 1909/10 Alec Blaxill 1908/09 William Gurney Benham 1907/08 Wilson Marriage 1906/07 Walter Sparling 1905/06 Henry Goody 1904/05 Edwin Sanders 1903/04 Ernest Barritt 1902/03 Henry H Elwes (Conservative) 1901/02 Wilson Marriage (Liberal) 1900/01 C Egerton-Green

1890–1899 1899/1900 E Thompson Smith 1898/99 Edwin J Sanders 1897/98 James Noah Paxman, founder of Davey, Paxman and Co 1896/97 H G Egerton-Green 1895/96 James Wicks 1894/95 C E Egerton-Green 1893/94 Henry Goody 1892/93 William Gurney Benham 1891/92 Wilson Marriage 1890/91 Lent J Watts

1880–1889 1889/90 Asher Prior 1888/89 Edwin J Sanders 1887/88 James Noah Paxman, founder of Davey, Paxman and Co 1886/87 H G Egerton-Green 1885/86 Henry Laver 1884/85 H J Gurdon-Rebow 1884 J Harvey 1883/84 Alfred Francis 1882/83 J Harvey 1881/82 J Harvey 1880/81 Samuel Chaplin

1870–1879 1879/80 John Kent 1878/79 Thomas Moy 1877/78 Thomas Moy 1876/77 John Bishop 1875/76 P Papillon 1874/75 John Bishop 1873/74 Edward Round 1872/73 John Bishop 1871/72 Charles Hawkins 1870/71 Charles Hawkins

1860–1869 1869/70 John Bishop 1868/69 Francis Smythies 1867/68 John Bishop 1866/67 PO Papillon 1865/66 Charles Hawkins 1864/65 John Bishop 1863/64 John Bishop 1862/63 Edward Williams 1861/62 Henry Wolton 1860/61 Francis Smythies

1850–1859 1859/60 Edward Williams 1858/59 Arthur Laing 1857/58 Peter Duncan 1856/57 Henry Wolton 1855/56 Joseph Cooke 1854/55 Edward Williams 1853/54 Henry Wolton 1852/53 Francis Smythies 1851/52 Arthur Laing 1850/51 Joseph Cooke

1840–1849 1849/50 Edward Williams 1848/49 Charles Hawkins 1847/48 Henry Wolton 1846/47 William Bolton Smith 1845/46 Henry Wolton 1844/45 Henry Wolton 1843/44 Henry Vint 1842/43 Roger Nunn 1841/42 Henry Vint 1840/41 Thomas Turner

1836–1839 1839/40 Samuel Green Cooke 1838/39 George Bawtree 1837/38 Samuel Green Cooke 1836/37 John Chaplin 1836 George Savill

Pre-1835 Mayors prior to the passing of the Municipal Corporation Act 1835.

1830–1835 1834 Roger Nunn 1833 Win. Smith 1832 Edward Clay 1831 William Sparling 1830 William Smith

1820–1829 1829 Edward Clay 1828 William Sparling 1827 John Clay 1826 Edward Clay 1825 John Clay 1824 Samuel Clay 1823 John Clay 1822 William Smith 1821 James Boggis 1820 John Clay

1810–1819 1819 Frincis Tillett Abell 1818 William Argent 1817 Edward Clay 1816 William Argent 1815 Edward Clay 1814 John King 1813 William Sparling 1813 William Smith 1812 John Bridge 1811 Francis Smythies 1810 Francis Tillett Abell

1800–1809 1809 William Smith 1808 Thomas Hedge 1807 Thomas Hedge 1806 William Smith 1805 William Sparling 1804 Thomas Hedge 1803 William Bunnell 1802 William Phillips 1801 Thomas Hedge 1800 William Smith

1790–1799 1799 Robert Hewes 1798 William Phillips 1797 Thomas Hedge 1796 William Mason 1795 William Bunnell 1794 William Phillips 1793 Newton Tills 1792 Nathaniel Barlow 1791 John Gibson 1790 William Swinborne

1780–1789 1789 Edmund Lilley 1788 Bezaliel Angier 1787 Edward Capstack 1786 William Argent 1785 Edmund Lilley 1784 Samuel Ennew 1783 William Seabor 1782 Stephen Betts 1781 John King 1780 Thomas Boggis

1770–1779 1779 Thomas Clamtree 1778 John King 1777 Thomas Clamtree 1776 Thomas Boggis 1775 Thomas Clamtree 1775 John King 1774 John Bakers 1773 Thomas Clamtree 1772 Thomas Clamtree 1772 Thomas Bayles 1771 Solomon Smith. 1770 John King

1763–1769 1769 Jordan Harris Lisle 1768 James Robjent 1767 Samuel Ennew 1766 Thomas Bayles 1765 Thomas Wilshire 1764 Henry Lodge 1763 Thomas Clamtree 1740 to 1763: there being no Charter in existence, no Mayor could be appointed.

1730–1740 1740 Jeremiah Daniell 1740 G. Wegg, junior 1739 John Blatch 1738 Joseph Duffield 1737 James Boys 1736 Thomas Carew 1735 John Blatch 1734 Joseph Duffield 1733 James Boys 1732 Thomas Carew 1731 John Blatch 1730 Joseph Duffield

1720–1729 1729 James Boys (or Boyce) 1728 John Blatch 1727 Ralph Creffield, junior 1726 Matthew Martin 1725 Jeremiah Daniell 1724 Peter Johnson 1723 Samuel Jarrold 1722 Edmund Raynham 1721 Arthur Winsley 1720 Jeremiah Daniell

1710–1719 1719 Thomas Grigson 1719 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior 1718 Robert Clark 1717 Thomas Grigson 1716 Sir Isaac Rebow, MP for Colchester 4 times between 1689 and 1722 1715 Peter Johnson 1714 George Clark 1713 James Lawrence 1712 Peter Johnson 1711 James Lawrence 1710 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior

1700–1709 1709 Samuel Angier 1709 Nathaniel Lawrence senior, MP for Colchester, 1685 1708 John Pepper 1707 George Clark 1706 James Lawrence 1705 John Rainham 1704 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior 1703 Samuel Angier 1702 Ralph Creffield, junior 1701 Samuel Fetherstone 1700 John Potter

1690–1699 1699 William Francis 1698 William Boys 1697 Ralph Creffield, junior 1696 Nathaniel Lawrence, junior 1696 John Seabrook 1695 John Beason 1694 William Moore 1693 Samuel Mott 1692 John Stileman 1691 John Seabrook 1690 Benjamin Cock

1680–1689 1689 John Potter 1688 John Milbank 1687 John Milbank 1687 Alexander Hindmers 1686 Samuel Mott 1685 William Flannar 1684 John Stilleman 1683 Nathaniel Lawrence, senior 1682 Thomas Greene 1681 William Moor 1680 Ralph Creffield

1670–1679 1679 Nathaniel Lawrence, senior 1678 John Rayner 1677 Ralph Creffield 1676 Thomas Greene 1675 Alexander Hinmers 1674 Henry Lambe 1673 Ralph Creffield 1672 Nathaniel Lawrence, senior 1671 John Rayner 1670 William Moor

1660–1669 1669 Henry Lambe 1668 Ralph Creffield 1667 Andrew Fromanteele 1666 William Flannar 1665 Thomas Talbot 1664 Thomas Wade 1663 William Moor 1662 Thomas Rennolds 1662 Henry Lambe 1661 John Milbank 1660 John Gale

1650–1659 1659 Thomas Peeke 1659 Jonn Radhams 1658 Henry Barrington 1657 Nicholas Beason 1656 John Vickers 1655 Thomas Lawrence 1654 Thomas Reynolds 1653 Thomas Peeke 1652 John Radhams 1651 Richard Greene 1650 John Furlie

1640–1649 1649 Thomas Wade 1648 Henry Barrington 1647 William Cooke 1646 John Langley 1645 Robert Buxton 1644 John Cox 1643 Thomas Lawrence 1642 Ralph Harrison 1641 Thomas Wade 1641 Henry Barrington 1640 Robert Talcott

1635–1639 1639 John Langley 1638 John Firlie (or Furley.) 1637 Henry Barrington 1636 Robert Buxton 1635 Daniel Cole

Notes

References