New mayor for Higham Ferrers to focus on community engagement in the coming year
The new mayor for Higham Ferrers for the 2026/27 civic year will be Cllr Chris O’Rourke.
Cllr O’Rourke’s formal mayor making ceremony took place on Monday (May 11).
The ceremony saw councillors and invited guests gather in the council chamber to witness Cllr O’Rourke take his oath and be declared the mayor.
He succeeds outgoing mayor Cllr Gary Salmon, who has just completed a term after a year of service to the community.
Cllr O’Rourke has a long history in the town, including being a town councillor and Bedesman since 2015 and he was the mayor during 2019/20.
During this time, he has enjoyed being involved in the community, representing and promoting all that is good about Higham Ferrers.
In his acceptance speech, Cllr O’Rourke expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him by his fellow councillors and outlined his priorities for the year ahead, including a focus on community engagement which will include welcoming representatives from the Twinning Group from Hachenburg in July.
The new deputy mayor for the coming year is Cllr Gerald Kelly, who will support the mayor in official duties and represent the town at civic events.
The new mayor’s first official fundraising event will be a three-course Sunday lunch at a popular and historical town pub, where he will dine with local residents.
Throughout the civic year, the mayor will be raising funds in support of Cando Care, a co-operative CIC formed for the benefit of elderly and vulnerable people in the local community, and Higham Gateway Club, a self-funding registered charity that provides social and leisure opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.
Cllr O’Rourke will be organising a variety of fundraisers throughout the year.
More details about attending these events will be posted on the town council’s social media pages or you can contact the Town Hall directly.
If you are part of the Higham Ferrers community and organising an event you would like the mayor to attend, contact the town council.
You can contact them at Higham Ferrers Town Council, Town Hall, Market Square, Higham Ferrers, NN10 8BT.
You can also email [email protected] or call 01933 312075.