Councillor Martin Horwood was sworn in as the new Mayor of Cheltenham during an inauguration ceremony held at Cheltenham Town Hall on Monday 18 May 2026. He succeeds Dr David Willingham, while Councillor Mike Collins has been appointed as the new deputy mayor.
The event marked a significant milestone for the town, as it celebrated 150 years of the local mayoralty tradition, which dates back to 1876. During his address, Councillor Horwood, who previously served as the Member of Parliament for Cheltenham between 2005 and 2015 and as a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020, paid tribute to the mayors who have served before him. As he begins his term, the new mayor announced that he will focus his fundraising efforts on three local charities: Art for All Mental Health, Young Gloucestershire, and ITSA Digital Trust.
The ceremony also served as an opportunity to recognise notable community contributions. Three residents were awarded the title of Honorary Freemen of the Borough: Dave Bath for his extensive community volunteering, Clare Seed for her work in establishing a network of 116 public defibrillators, and Steve Cotterill, the manager of Cheltenham Town FC. Mr Cotterill, who was supported by a petition of over 1,000 signatures, described receiving the honour as an incredible honour.
Additionally, the 2026 Medal of Honour was presented to Leigh Norwood in recognition of his service to the Cheltenham Samaritans. The outgoing mayor, Dr David Willingham, reflected on his successful year in the role, noting that he raised £6,000 for his chosen charities during his term. According to Cheltenham Borough Council, the local authority is currently composed of 35 Liberal Democrat councillors out of a total of 40.
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