A new Mayor of Poole is chosen each May, a tradition that goes back at least 800 years. The previous mayor becomes the deputy, and the prospective next mayor becomes Sheriff.
Pete is the Mayor for 2024/5, a Poole People Councillor for Oakdale, pictured below with Mark Howell, one of our Poole Town Councillors, on the day of his inauguration, known as Mayor Making day. Standing with them on the steps of the Poole Guildhall are two Hamworthy Councillors, Brian Hitchcock (Poole People) and Pete Cooper (Labour)
The role of Sheriff is to provide protection the Mayor, thankfully ceremonial now. The Sheriff has a staff, and hold the keys to the Town Jail, which is attached to Poole Museum, but these days is full of heating equipment.
Since the merger of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in 2019, the ancient Charter of Poole, and the historic roles have fallen to the Poole Charter Trustees, which consists of all the current Councillors elected in the area of the former Borough of Poole.
Pete has thrown himself into the role, pictured here at the start of the Distinguished Gentlemen’s ride, a motorcycle run from Poole Quay to New Milton, raising money for charity. He brought along his own vintage machine.
He also hitched a ride, with Kate, his mayoress, in an American jeep during the D-Day 80th celebrations on Poole Quay. Poole was the third largest embarkation point for the D-Day landings.
The Mayor receiving a copy of the Winchelsea Certificate of 1364 presented at the Beating of the Sea Bounds in July.
You can keep up with the many events that the Mayor attends on his Facebook page.