The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress

Find out about the Lord Mayor, the Lady Mayoress and their responsibilities.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury is Councillor Jean Butcher.

Jean has lived in Canterbury all her life and loves it.

She became a councillor to actively improve the lives of the residents she represents. She is a mother and grandmother and family is very important to her, so she understands the stresses and worries other families might have.

Jean worked for the NHS for nearly 40 years, and is a healthcare assistant at her local hospice.

Her chosen charity for this year is Pilgrims Hospice.

The role of the Lord Mayor

The Lord Mayoralty is the highest office that the city council can bestow.

The Lord Mayor is elected annually from among the city councillors and is the 'first citizen' of the district, as well as the official representative of the crown.

In effect, this means that anywhere within the district, the Lord Mayor of Canterbury takes precedence over all others except for royalty or the Lord Lieutenant of Kent (if representing HM the Queen).

Apart from these duties, the Lord Mayor plays a big part in community life in Canterbury district, where they are often involved in a variety of historical, ceremonial and charitable activities.

The Lady Mayoress

The Lady Mayoress of Canterbury is Di Baldock.