Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

The Mayor and Mayoress 2008/2009
Councillor Stephen Campbell
& Councillor Mrs Brenda Seaton

Councillor Stephen Campbell was elected as Mayor by his fellow Councillors at their Annual Meeting on May 12th 2008 and will serve as Mayor until May 2009. He served on the Borough Council from 1987 - 1995 and again from 1999 to the present date. He represents the Thurmaston ward on Charnwood Borough Council and is also a member of Thurmaston Parish Council.

Councillor Campbell was born in Leicester but has lived in Thurmaston since his first birthday! He worked for the family firm, Campbell’s Nurseries, until the business closed in 2000. The site of the former nursery is now a housing estate within Councillor Campbell’s ward. Since that time he has run his own business as a landscape gardener constructing and maintaining gardens for a range of local businesses and private houses.

In his spare time Councillor Campbell is a keen naturalist and bird watcher and enjoys walking, fishing and collects both coins and cigarette cards.

During his year of office Councillor Campbell will be supported by his friend and colleague Councillor Mrs. Brenda Seaton who will be his Mayoress.

Councillor Seaton became a Borough Councillor in May 2007. She was born in Birstall and has spent her entire life in the South of the Borough, living in Syston before moving to Thurmaston.

Councillor Seaton works part time for the Leicestershire and Rutland Fire & Rescue Service as a Fire Educator and spends much of her time talking to school children about fire safety and the dangers of hoax calls and arson.

The Deputy Mayor 2008/2009
Councillor Joe Tormey

Councillor Joe Tormey served on the Borough Council from 1983 - 1987 and again from 1991 to the present date. He currently represents the Lemyngton ward in Loughborough. He was Mayor of the Borough 2007 - 2008.

Councillor Tormey was born in Moate in the centre of Ireland and came to England in 1965. He spent 11 years working in the financial offices of William Cotton Ltd. before leaving to spend some time at Ruskin College, Oxford, studying Labour and Industrial Relations. In 1982 he started working at the Fearon Hall Community Centre in Loughborough, becoming the Centre Manager in 1995. He retired at the end of March 2007.

Councillor Tormey has two daughters, a son and a granddaughter. He has lived with his current partner for 22 years with whom he shares his love of folk music.

The Deputy Mayor is unable to attend events in their own right. Their role is to deputise for the Mayor in their absence and all invitations should be addressed to the Mayor.

Honorary Aldermen

The conferring of the title Honorary Alderman is the highest award that can be made to a former Councillor in recognition of exceptional service to the Council. Honorary Aldermen wear a dark blue robe and support the Mayor on formal ceremonial occasions. They occasionally undertake social duties at the request of the Mayor and are entitled to process in and take a seat at meetings of Council although they have no vote.

ALBERT DODD B.E.M. was first elected to Charnwood Borough Council on 6th May 1976. He represented both Lemyngton and Garendon Wards, being re-elected six times, until May 2003 when he did not seek re-election. He was Mayor 1985-1986 and Deputy Mayor 1986-1987 & 1995-1996.

At times during his twenty-seven year's service he was a member of the Standards, Plans, Health and Public Protection Scrutiny Committees, and represented the Council on various outside bodies including Charnwood Sports Council and Charnwood Road Safety Committee. He was also a trustee of Loughborough Welfare Trust and the Dawson Fowler Foundation Trust. He was a governor of Rendell Primary School and Boothwood Primary School and a patron of the Loughborough Male Voice Choir.

From 1951 to 1992 he was employed at the Brush Electrical Engineering Company, later to be known as Brush Electrical Machines Limited. He was elected as a shop steward of the Amalgamated Engineering Union (now known as AMICUS – AEEU) and then as the works convener. His Union representation extended to being a district and national committee member. In December 1983 he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to industry.

FREDA JANE HURST was first elected to Charnwood Borough Council in May 1983 as Councillor for Bradgate Ward including the villages of Anstey, Newtown Linford and Ulverscroft. She continued to represent this area, being re-elected four times, until May 2003.

During her twenty year service she was at some time a member of the Health and Housing, Housing and Public Services, Planning, Policy and Finance, Public Service, Recreation and Housing Scrutiny Committees. She represented the Council on various outside bodies, including Charnwood Environmental Action Group, Charnwood Health Forum, Charnwood Safety Committee, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Rail Action Committee, Leicestershire Museums, Arts and Records Services Forum, Outwoods Management Committee and the Police Community Consultative Committee.

Born into a family business of manufacturing children’s shoes, she worked in all departments, including design, and was well qualified to take over the running of the factory. Radio Leicester interviewed her regarding the various aspects of her life and a tape has been lodged with the British Library. She is well known as a Leicestershire Poet.

ANTHONY WILLIAM STOTT was first elected to Charnwood Borough Council at a by-election on the 13th February 1986 as the Councillor for the Birstall Greengate ward. He continued to represent this ward, being re-elected four times, until May 2003 when he did not seek re-election.

During his seventeen years of service he was Mayor 2001-2002 and Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Council 1986 - 2001. He was a Member of Cabinet December 1999 - May 2001 and Chair of Cabinet November 2000 - May 2001.

He was at various times a member of the Planning Committee and Plans Sub-Committees 1 & 2 and the Environmental Charter Sub-Committee. He also represented the Council on various outside bodies, including the Outwoods Management Committee and was a Governor of Longslade Community College and Highcliffe County Primary School.

He was a member of Birstall Parish Council 1987 - 2003 and was on the Charnwood Local Strategic Partnership Board. He has been Chair of Action for Better Charnwood (ABC)since 1999.

He lectures in Public Policy, Public Sector Management and Environmental Politics at De Montfort University.