New Mayor Derek Mortimer Takes the Helm in Maidstone
The new Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Derek Mortimer, was officially elected at the Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Annual General Meeting on Saturday 21 May. The ceremony took place at Maidstone Town Hall, where Derek received the mayoral chain from outgoing Mayor, Cllr Fay Gooch.
From BT Apprentice to Borough Leader
Derek Mortimer has deep roots in Maidstone, having moved here with his wife Sally in 1978. A family man with two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren, Derek built his career at British Telecom, working his way up from apprentice to lecturer in telecommunications over 23 years. After BT, he ventured into various business roles, sharpening his leadership skills.
Champion for Community and Housing
Derek’s political journey began in 2007 on the Tovil Parish Council. By 2010, he was a Borough Councillor, eager to broaden his impact. He’s served on multiple MBC Committees, including a three-year stint as Chair of the Communities and Environment Committee. Derek proudly backed council efforts to tackle homelessness, pushing for prevention programmes and the development of temporary accommodation and new housing to ease the nation’s housing crisis.
A Voice for Neighbourhoods and Nature
Breaking new ground, Derek introduced the first neighbourhood plan for the North Loose Residents’ Association, giving locals a formal say in planning decisions. He’s also a Trustee of the Hayle Park Nature Reserve, overseeing 52 acres of green space since 2015, and has been dedicated to Maidstone YMCA for twelve years. Driven by a passion for community wellbeing, Derek has championed the creation and improvement of play areas, footpaths, and nature reserves across Maidstone.
