Noel Barrett-Morton, Town Councillor for Marlborough West, and the last Councillor to have been elected as a representative to serve the residents in any area of the town will be standing down soon, attending his final full meeting of the Town Council on 25 March.
Noel will be missed. In many ways as his chair has been vacant in very few sessions of the full Council or sub-committee of the Council on which he sat. When asked, Noel told marlborough.news that following his election, “it was the start of many long evenings where I got to know about planning and all the various functions of Marlborough Town Council.”
Elected in October 2011, nearly thirteen years ago Noel’s period of tenure embraced a Mayoral role in 2016-17 with one of the highlights being the late Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration which, for (then) Mayor Noel, embraced taking what was (is still?) the only ‘Mayoral selfie’ anywhere (see above).
Noel settled in Marlborough in 2009 having lived nearby (just over the border) in West Berkshire for many years, although involved then in developing properties in the town so was also a regular visitor. Choosing to move to Marlborough wasn’t a difficult decision…..
When asked about his Mayoral year, Noel told marlborough.news: “It was a time I will never forget as in that year I completed one hundred and twenty official engagements to various Councils and outside bodies, including one to the Lord Mayor of the City of London in 2016 at the Guildhall to celebrate the anniversary of the Great Fire of London in 1666. Marlborough had sent funds to London in sympathy having endured a serious fire themselves where much of Marlborough High Street was destroyed by fire a few years earlier in 1653. One of the duties as Mayor is to take over the Chair of our local Mencap group for the duration of the Mayoral Year. I have continued with this and will only be standing down this year, both my wife and I have found this very rewarding and have met so many lovely people and enjoyed the various activities.”
With his wife Susan as Mayoress by his side Mayor Noel opened shops, visited care homes and attended civic services in Churches across Wiltshire including Marlborough College Chapel. Not least opening the annual Mop Fair, a traditional calendar event for every Mayor of Marlborough. A very active year.
In summary, Noel described his Mayoral year “as an interesting and memorable time as Mayor, all in all I have enjoyed my many years of service as a Councillor on Marlborough Town Council. I have learned a lot and would like to think I have served my Community well. Thanks Marlborough….”