Mayors and Chairmen
This is a full list of all of the Mayors who have presided over the Dacorum area. This included Mayors of the Borough of Hemel Hempstead from 1898 to 1974, the change over to Chairman of the Dacorum District Council from 1974 to 1984, and finally a return to the title of Mayor, as the Mayor of the Borough of Dacorum from 1984 until now.
Currently, we have on display, objects and information relating to some of the Mayors, which can be found in the upper corridor of the Hemel Hempstead Civic Centre, if you are interested.
Apart from this display, we have only a little information about some of the other individuals on this list, and would be grateful for the opportunity to fill in the gaps. Therefore, if you know of any useful information about any of the Mayors shown below please get in contact with us here.
1898 – 1900 – Sir Astley P. Paston Cooper, Baronet
In 1898 a charter was granted by Queen Victoria which made Hemel Hempstead a municipal borough. This allowed the town to elect the posts for a mayor, a bailiff and an alderman and Paston Cooper was the successful candidate. More information can be found about him here.
1900 – 1901 – Henry Balderson
We have, in our collection, an image of Balderson reading the proclamation of Edward VII as King, at Market Square in Hemel Hempstead, in January 1901.
1901 – 1902 – Adam J. Chennells
Chennells owned a grocers shop in Hemel Hempstead, we have stoneware jars from this shop in our collection.
1902 – 1904 – William Randall
1904 – 1905 – Maitland Thompson
1905 – 1907 – William J. Orchard
1907 – 1909 – John R. Drake
1909 – 1910 – Robert A. Hodgson
1910 – 1911 – Charles J. Austin
1911 – 1913 – Edward A. Mitchell-Innes KC
Mitchell-Innes family home was ‘Churchhill’ in Boxmoor, which is now the site of the Dacorum Sports Centre.
1913 – 1914 – Alfred Orchard
1914 – 1920 – Gustavus A. Talbot
Lived in Marchmont House in Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead.
1920 – 1921 – Walter Runham
1921 – 1923 – Arthur F. Pemsel
We have an image of Arthur F. Pemsel driving the first motor bus to serve Hemel Hempstead in February 1901 in our collection. The service was run by his company, Pemsel and Wilson Ltd. and the bus took passengers from the Posting House to Boxmoor Station.
1923 – 1925 – Henry F. Hebert
Before becoming Mayor, Hebert was involved with the Apsley Football Team, who were winners of the Herts Senior Cup in 1907 and 1908.
1925 – 1927 – Henry Anderson
During Anderson’s time as Mayor, the Prince of Wales visited Hemel Hempstead to lay the foundation stone of the new wing of West Herts Hospital.
1927 – 1928 – Fredrick S. Brereton
Brereton, born in Hemel Hempstead, was highly decorated in several wars and used these experiences to inspire a series of adventure books for boys. For more information about him please see this article on our website here.
1928 – 1929 – Maurice Alston
1929 – 1931 – Fredrick Stratford
1931 – 1933 – Henry Fletcher
1933 – 1936 – Arthur H. Jarman
1936 – 1937 – J. A. Marston
We have a book in our collection celebrating the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, which was gifted to the children of Boxmoor by Marston and the Hemel Hempstead Corporation.
1937 – 1942 – Henry Fletcher
1942 – 1945 – Horace Dive
1945 – 1949 – Alfred L Selden
Actor and radio star, Wilfred Pickles was invited to Hemel Hempstead by Selden to make a recording of his show ‘Have a go’ on October 12th 1948. We have an inscribed medallion in our collection which was struck to mark the occasion.
1949 – 1951 – J. P. White
1951 – 1953 – Herbert Christopher
Christopher met and welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to Hemel Hempstead during her visit in 1952, when she laid the foundation stone for St. Barnabas Church. For more information we have an article about this event here.
1953 – 1954 – William G. S. Crook
1954 – 1955 – Arthur W. Mayo
1955 – 1956 – William G. S. Crook
1956 – 1958 – Gilbert D Hitchcock, CBE
1958 – 1959 – Wyndham Thomas
1959 – 1960 – James F. Reynolds
1960 – 1961 – Gwendolyn D. Marshall
Marshall was Mayor during the Hemel Hempstead’s development as a ‘New Town’. Additionally, Marshall gave the speech during the opening ceremony of the Odeon Cinema in the Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead in August 1960. We have a draft copy of the typed speech in our collection and you can see where small amendments have been made in ink
1961 – 1962 – Olive Taylor
1962 – 1963 – James A. Graham
1963 – 1964 – Frank G. Edwards
1964 – 1965 – Robert L. Clark
1965 – 1966 – Alastair C. Melhuish
Melhuish officially opened the Pavillion building in Hemel Hempstead in 1966.
1966 – 1967 – Bertram Barrett
1967 – 1968 – Fredrick R. Mullin
1968 – 1969 – Maud A. Hannam-Clark
1969 – 1970 – John Doyle
1970 – 1971 – William M. Isbister
1971 – 1972 – Peter G. Wood
1972 – 1973 – John E. Wood
1973 – 1974 – John Hooper
Hooper was part of a procession through Hemel Hempstead streets which marked the end of the Borough of Hemel Hempstead in March 1974.
On 31st March 1974 the Borough of Hemel Hempstead, as such ceased to exist. The last Mayor and Bailiff being Councillor John Hooper, JP. The Dacorum District succeeded with the election of a Chairman of the Dacorum District Council.
1974 – 1976 – Jack Johnson
1976 – 1978 – Cyril Fowler
1978 – 1979 – Mary King
1979 – 1980 – Phyllis Courtnage
1980 – 1981 – Archie Toms
1981 – 1982 – Derek Townsend
1982 – 1983 – Ann Marie Barling
1983 – 1984 – Ann D. Janes
On 31st July 1984, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II approved the grant of a Charter conferring on the Dacorum District the status of a Borough.
Subsquently, the Charter of Queen Elizabeth II, dated 21st September 1984, was received and, at a Council Meeting on 10th October 1984, the District Council became the Dacorum Borough Council and the Chairman became Mayor of the Borough.
1984 – 1985 – Charles M. Barling
1985 – 1986 – Julian Taunton
1986 – 1987 – Peter Benton
1987 – 1988 – John Nichols
Nichols was later involved with The Dacorum Heritage Trust and became its first Chairman.
1988 – 1989 – Hazel Bassadone
1989 – 1990 – Betty Lees
1990 – 1991 – Kenneth Coleman
1991 – 1992 – Frank Seely
1992 – 1993 – John Buteux
The Mayor and Dacorum District Council were represented by Derek Townsend (himself Chairman in 1981 and Mayor 2001) during a visit to Hempstead, New York. This was to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Hempstead village and several items were presented to Townsend during the celebrations, including a bronze medallion which bears the Hempstead village seal.
1993 – 1994 – Catherine Appleby
1994 – 1995 – Janette Dunbavand
1995 – 1996 – Les Taber
1996 – 1997 – Mick Young
1997 – 1998 – Dick Dennison
1998 – 1999 – Maureen Flint
1999 – 2000 – Richard Jameson
2000 – 2001 – Herbert Chapman
2001 – 2002 – Derek Townsend
2002 – 2003 – Catherine Appleby
2003 – 2004 – Carol Green
2004 – 2005 – David Smedley
2005 – 2006 – Jane Hogg
2006 – 2007 – Catherine Appleby
2007 – 2008 – Brian Ayling
2008 – 2009 – Carol Green
2010 – 2011 – Roger M. Taylor
2011 – 2012 – Gillian Chapman
2012 – 2013 – Herbert Chapman
2013 – 2014 – Penny Hearn
2014 – 2015 – Allan Lawson
2015 – 2016 – Gbola Adeleke
2016 – 2017 – Robert Mclean
2017 – 2018 – David Collins
By the Dacorum Heritage Trust.
