Hungerford residents turn out to vote as Town and Manor elects new Trustees

Six candidates were standing at the election, which was held at Hungerford Town Hall on Thursday 16^th June.

The five successful candidates, who will formally take on their new roles at this week’s Trustees Meeting on Tuesday 21^st June, are:

Alistair Fyfe, a member of Hungerford Town Council, where he holds the post of Chair of Planning
Geordie Taylor, who has lived in Hungerford for 35 years and is a former chairman of the town’s cricket club
Julian Dickins, a solicitor who lives locally and has worked in Hungerford for 26 years
Kate Edwards, a recently retired teacher who has a long history of volunteering and fundraising
Simon Lee-Smith, who has worked in the telecoms industry, primarily in procurement and sales

The new Trustees will join the board for a term of six years, working alongside five existing board members, who will remain in office until 2025.

We would like to thank all of those who stood at the recent elections and extend a very warm welcome to our newly elected colleagues. Becoming a Trustee offers a superb opportunity to not only help us continue to uphold the historical traditions of the Town & Manor, but also make a positive difference to the future of Hungerford and the communities we support.

Peter Joseph, Constable of the Town & Manor of Hungerford

“We would also like to take this moment to thank those Trustees who are standing down from their role, including Barbara Barr, who became a Trustee in October 2006, and has been involved in the Town & Manor since 1981 when she became a Commoner. Barbara was also the first female Constable when she took on the role, in 2007, for three years.”

The last Trustee election was held in June 2019, when ten members were elected to the board for terms of either three or six years. Five of those 10 are standing down in rotation for a new six-year term. Voting was open to a select group of the town’s electorate, living in what the charity defines as the ‘Area of Benefit’ within the former ancient parish boundary.

Eligible voters live in the Hungerford Town tithing and tithing of Sanden Fee, which covers the majority of Hungerford, excluding an area to the north of the River Dun. Each eligible voter can vote for up to five candidates in the election.

The election process is unusual as the majority of charities appoint their trustees via an internal selection process rather than through a public election. The Town & Manor sees holding a public vote as a vital part of ensuring it has a democratic mandate to continue its work.