New Mayor Elected

Beccles Town Council has elected its new town mayor. At the council’s Annual meeting on Tuesday 20th May 2025, Councillor Barry Darch (pictured below) was elected as Mayor for 2025-26. Councillor Chris Greenhill was elected as Deputy Mayor.

This will be Cllr Darch’s second term as Mayor, as he previously served in 2022-23. Cllr Darch is a former headteacher who has lived in Beccles for 30+ years. He is a prominent local historian and author of several books on the history of Beccles. Cllr Darch named his wife Faith as his mayoral consort.

Cadet Sergeant Holly Rowley-White took on the role of Mayor’s Cadet (see photo below of Mayor with Holly and Cadet Instructor Andy Buckingham).

Councillor Darch named Thirst Youth Hub and Beccles & District Museum as his Mayor’s Appeal recipients.

In the Mayor’s acceptance speech Cllr Darch said that his priorities would be to help implement as much as possible of the Council’s Strategic Development Plan, including supporting what Beccles has been for a thousand years: a successful market town that people want to live in, do business in and visit. He added that he aimed to be a good listener and a good learner.

 

Photo credit: Charlotte Moore