Mayor of Beverley Councillor David Boynton
Congratulations to Councillor David Boynton, who has been elected the 420th Mayor of Beverley for the 2024-2025 Municipal Year.
At the Annual Meeting of Beverley Town Council, otherwise known as Mayor Making, held on Monday 20th May 2024 at Beverley Guildhall, Councillor Boynton was nominated for the position of Mayor by Councillor Denis Healy and seconded by Councillor Paul Coe. The proposal was unanimously supported.
Councillor Boynton’s Mayoress is his partner Tina Wilson.
Councillor Alison Healy was elected Deputy Mayor. Her consort will be her husband Councillor Denis Healy.
The Mayor’s diary of civic engagements is managed by the Town Council’s Civic Office. Click here if you would like to invite the Mayor to an event.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Beverley, Councillor David Boynton and Miss Tina Wilson (photo courtesy of Just Beverley).
Mayor's Charity - The Cherry Tree Community Association
Councillor Boynton’s Mayoral Charity is the Cherry Tree Community 
Centre.
Cherry Tree’s mission is to meet the needs of the local community and surrounding area of East Yorkshire inhabitants and to provide top quality legal advice and assistance in welfare benefits, debt advice, consumer advice, employment advice and advocacy in order to set the best outcome for residents. They offer support on welfare benefits, housing, debts, employment and work in partnership with Pepperells solicitor for any legal enquiries.
The Centre also runs the Little Gruffalo’s Preschool, out of school activities, a youth club, Beverley Credit Union, a community pantry and much more.
Civic Office
Inviting the Mayor to Your Event
If you wish to invite the Mayor of Beverley to attend your event or you are seeking her support, please send a written invitation to our Civic Office by completing the attached form and sending it by post (12 Well Lane, Beverley, HU17 9BL) or email (clerk@beverley.gov.uk).
All invitations received will be discussed with the Mayor and a decision made depending upon the civic diary. If the Mayor is available to attend your event an acceptance letter or email will be sent to you. In the event that the Mayor is unable to attend, the invitation will be passed on to the Deputy Mayor for consideration, and the appropriate response sent.
In order that we may maintain a complete record of events in the civic diary, please do not contact the Mayor directly or send correspondence to their home. All communication must be done through the Beverley Town Council office.
Click to download: Mayoral Invite Form
When inviting the Mayor, please give some thought to what you wish to achieve by having the Mayor at your function and what you would like the Mayor to do. This may include giving a presentation, receiving a cheque, reading a lesson, making a speech or drawing a raffle. It would be useful if you could provide some background information about your organisation and the event. This is especially important if you wish the Mayor to make a speech. Please make someone available to greet the Mayor on arrival, and accompany them on their visit. Please also bear in mind that the Mayor often has several civic engagements throughout the day and will need to leave your event on time in order to maintain their schedule.
Photo courtesy of “Just Beverley“.
About the Role of Mayor and Chairman of Beverley Town Council
Every year at the Annual Meeting of Beverley Town Council, by law Town Councillors have to select a Chairman from their number. The Chairman has the right to stylise themselves with the ancient civic title of Mayor.
- The first recorded Mayor of Beverley was Edward Ellerker in 1573.
- Click here to see a list of Mayors of Beverley from 1573 to the present day
- Councillor David Boynton is the 420th Mayor (if a Mayor serves two consecutive years, they count as one Mayor, but if they serve more than once with a break between, each is classed as a numerically new Mayor).
- The role of Chairman of the Town Council is to ensure the orderly, lawful transaction of business at Full Council meetings, for which they receive advice and guidance from the Town Clerk. The Chairman does not act as a leader of the Council or have any more powers than any other individual Councillor.
- The role of Mayor is to act as a civic representative of the town and fulfil many traditional and ceremonial duties. The Mayor is often described as the “First Citizen of the Town”. Regardless of gender, the title is Mayor, not Mayoress is there is a female incumbent. The Mayor may select a Mayoress or Consort to accompany the to civic events, but this post has no legal standing or other duties.
- A Deputy Mayor / Chairman is also elected.
- The term “Chairman” is a legal one – the Local Government Act 1972, which directs how Town Councils are governed, makes no legal provision for the terms “Chairwoman”, “Chairperson” or simply “Chair”.
- The roles of Chairman and Mayor cannot be separated, making it a challenging but rewarding responsibility to keep Council meetings in check, whilst also being the official civic representative of the people of Beverley.