Role of the Mayor
Every year a long serving councillor is appointed as the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane. The Mayor's term of office is one year and the Mayor changes in May.
The Mayor is the first citizen of the borough. This means that only HM The King, members of the Royal Family and the Lord Lieutenant take precedence over the Mayor at events in the borough.
The Mayor's correct title is 'The Worshipful the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane'.
Mayoress - The Mayoress can be the Mayor's wife, daughter, friend or whoever he chooses. The title has no official recognition and is a strictly honorary one given to the Mayor’s wife, daughter or friend.
If the Mayor is female, she will still be called the Mayor and her husband would be the Mayor’s Consort. If the Mayor is unmarried, her official escort is named Mayor’s Escort.
Deputy Mayor - The Deputy Mayor is there to deputise for the Mayor and represent him or her at engagements.
The Mayoral Insignia
Mayoral Insignia page
The Mayor's and The Deputy Mayor's Robes page
The Mayor's chain and badge page
The Mayoress' Chain page
The Mace page
Functions
The Mayor attends many different types of functions throughout the borough of Basingstoke and Deane, such as formal dinners, official openings of events or new facilities, talking to clubs and societies and visiting schools. The Mayor also hosts visits to the Mayor's Parlour from various organisations and is always happy to receive a request for a visit.
The Mayor is responsible, in a non-political way, for furthering the interests of the borough where an appropriate occasion arises.
The Mayor acts as host to distinguished visitors to the borough, including royalty, national representatives of various organisations and foreign visitors, especially those from our twin towns.
The Mayor can ask the Deputy Mayor to stand in if he or she is not available. If you would like to invite the Mayor to a function or event, please complete the request for Mayor's attendance form.
Civic occasions
On very formal occasions, such as the annual meeting of the Council, Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday Service, Civic Sunday, Armed Forces Day, Holocaust Memorial Day and Freedom of the Borough ceremonies, the Mayoral robes are worn. On these occasions, the chain of office is also worn with the Mayoral robes. The chain can also be worn on its own for other important engagements in the borough. When the robes are worn, the Macebearer is in attendance.
The Mayor's Chaplain
The Mayor's Chaplain is chosen by the Mayor. It is an honorary title and the Chaplain attends civic functions, for example Remembrance Day or any occasions when the Mayor is robed. He/she is responsible for prayers before council meetings and Grace at Civic Dinners where requested.
Twinning
Basingstoke and Deane is twinned with three towns in Europe:
- Alencon in France
- Braine-l’Alleud in Belgium
- Euskirchen in Germany
Visit our twinning pages for more information on our three twinned towns.
The Mayor's role is:
- to lead a Civic party to visit our twin towns when invited
- to host receptions as appropriate whenever twinning visitors are in Basingstoke