15/05/2026
🎖️ We are delighted to welcome Cllr Maggie Fidler - Mayor of Christchurch as official Town Mayor for 2026–27, with Councillor Sandra Prudom stepping into the role of Deputy Mayor. The Mayor Making ceremony at Druitt Hall on 13 May was full of colour and tradition: Jonny the Town Crier led the procession of Scouts, Guides, and robed councillors making their way from the Old Town Hall.
Outgoing Mayor Viv Charrett - Christchurch Town Councillor welcomed guests and presented a cheque for £3,831 to the Mayor’s Charity for 2025–26, the Christchurch Carnival committee.
After the ceremonial robing and exchange of the Mayoral Chain, Mayor Fidler delivered an inspiring and heartfelt inaugural address, setting out her hopes for the year ahead, including championing community engagement, celebrating Christchurch’s heritage, and supporting her chosen charity for 2026–27: Christchurch International Scouting.
Here’s what she shared in her speech: “We have a lot of people in Christchurch who do feel underrepresented, and disconnected from the Council. There are plenty of people who don’t even know that we exist, let alone what we can do, and what we do do. So one of my priorities is to improve that, and to engage with the full range of people across Christchurch. I want us to be celebrating what Christchurch is and what we’re about: being a destination of choice for locals as well as visitors that want to come to our town, encouraging civic pride, recognising there’s so much knowledge of the history of Christchurch and the town council and the borough council and we need to start grasping that and appreciating it more … I want to make sure that we’re capturing that and sharing it with the next generation across Christchurch. We’ve got a fantastic heritage that we need to preserve, but all of this is about collaboration and now moving our town forwards.”
The Deputy Mayor was also formally introduced and welcomed, and she shared her thanks and support with fellow councillors and officers. The evening rounded off with traditional civic toasts, and informal photos with our new civic leaders.
✨ Please join us in congratulating our new Mayor and Deputy Mayor as they begin their year of service to our very special town. ✨
