On Tuesday May 18th, at the Annual Council Meeting of Trowbridge Town Council, Councillor Denise Bates (Drynham Ward) was elected as Town Mayor for the year 2021/22. At the same meeting, which was the first council meeting that councillors had been able to attend in person since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Councillor Graham Hill (Grove Ward) was elected as Deputy Mayor: Councillor Stewart Palmen (Central Ward) was re-elected as Leader of The Council.

On her election, Councillor Bates said “It is a great honour and privilege to be elected by my fellow councillors to serve as Mayor of Trowbridge for the forthcoming year. I would like to congratulate Councillor Graham Hill on his election as Deputy Mayor, and I look forward to our working together to represent our wonderful county town.” In tribute to her predecessor, Peter Fuller, who was Mayor of Trowbridge 2020-2021, she added “I would like to thank him for his many years of dedicated service to the Town Council. He has always been a well-respected Councillor and a strong advocate for our town: I would like to extend my very best wishes to him for the future.”

Councillor Hill added “I would like to echo the words of the Mayor in paying tribute to her predecessor. I anticipate a busy and rewarding year working with Denise as we emerge more and more from the pandemic, laying a foundation for better times in the future for our town.

Councillor Bates’ chosen charities during her tenure will be Dorothy House, and also Bath Cancer Unit Support Group.

Councillor Stewart Palmen said “I am pleased to have been re-elected as Leader as we make our way out of the Covid pandemic, and I look forward to working with all of our councillors to make Trowbridge a County Town we can all be proud of.”