The Mayor
The Town Mayor is elected annually in May by the Town Council. The Mayor presides over meetings of the council, as well as attending civic and ceremonial functions, such as the Remembrance Sunday parade and Chesham’s Civic Service. The Mayor also represents Chesham at functions outside the town, including visits to Archena, Friedrichsdorf and Houilles, the towns that Chesham is twinned with in Spain, Germany and France.
- Current Mayor: Cllr Francis Holly
The Town Mayor's Welcome
As your newly elected Town Mayor, I would like to tell you a bit about myself.
My name is Francis Holly. I grew up in North London, the son of Irish immigrants. My parents and I gave a lot of time to Church outreach activities. I helped to run the Youth Club and I organised events and trips for our disabled parishioners. I was always interested in the matters of the local council and I also served as a school governor at both a Primary and a Secondary school.
In 2006 I moved to Chesham, with my wife Caroline, who is a professional classical musician. Almost immediately I became involved in the local community. I became a director of the Citizens Advice Bureau, something which continued for several years. I also served on the Town Council during this time.
More than ten years ago I started volunteering at the Helen and Douglas House charity shop. This has provided a wonderful opportunity to become involved at the heart of our community and become a familiar face. My wife’s first child spent her last days at the Helen House Hospice, so it has a special place in our hearts. For this reason, I have nominated Helen and Douglas House as my Mayoral charity.
I am hugely honoured to be chosen to serve as the Mayor of Chesham. I am passionate about our beautiful town and its wealth of diverse and energetic people. I will work hard to support all the community groups who do so much. I have been working closely with the Chesham Environmental Group, aiming to raise awareness of the challenges we face from the impacts of climate change. This volunteer group works tirelessly to keep Chesham safe and beautiful. I will also be supporting Chesham in Bloom as much as I can this year to help improve biodiversity and wildlife habitats in and around our town.
Along with my Deputy Mayor, Councillor Joseph Baum, I am planning, and will be supporting many community events for the coming year. My aim is to bring together the people of Chesham, to give businesses and community groups the opportunity to display their strengths and talents, and to raise money for my Mayoral charity.
It is my intention to perform my duties as Mayor to the best of my ability. I intend to be visible and involved, getting to know as many residents as possible. Please feel free to send me ideas and invitations, or to make donations to my charity via Chesham Town Council. You can email me at [email protected]
Councillor Francis Holly, Mayor, Chesham Town Council.
Inviting the Mayor to Your Event
The Mayor is delighted to receive invitations from local organisations to attend functions and fundraising events. The Mayor also represents Chesham at functions outside the town, including in our twin towns in Europe. If you would like to invite the Mayor to your function, please contact him directly:
When introducing the Mayor at your event, please address him as “Town Mayor of Chesham, Francis Holly”.
If the Mayor is unable to attend your event, you may wish to invite the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Joseph Baum.
