At the Mayor Making ceremony on May 15 Mervyn Hall will swap his Deputy Mayor blue robe for a red one.
He will be sworn in as Marlborough’s 707th Town Mayor – if, that is, he is re-elected earlier in May by Marlborough voters.
He told Marlborough.News that “being the 707th Mayor brings a great sense of tradition and appeals to my interest in history, in addition to the serious role of chairing the council.”
For the past four years Mervyn Hall has served as Town Councillor for Marlborough East where he lives.
With a background as an electronic engineer, one of the first things he did as councillor was to replenish the IT in the council offices and advise on CCTV for the town.
He helped set up the Marlborough Community Youth Club, has chaired the Planning Committee and is a member of the Marlborough Neighbourhood Plan steering group.
Mervyn Hall was born and brought up in Leicester so unsurprisingly the whole family, apart from Welsh wife of over 40 years, Cath, support Leicester FC! Mervyn and Cath, a retired teacher, have three sons, who all live locally, and six grandchildren.
They moved to Marlborough in 2003 from near Chelmsford, Essex when Mervyn became Head of Design and Development at Boscombe Down.
Mervyn Hall’s interest in electronics began at Gateway Boys Grammar, Leicester when, in 1970 he won Young Scientist of the Year, by designing an electronic finger printing scanner. Coincidentally, he is not the first mayor of Marlborough to have attended Gateway Grammar. Former mayor Graham Francis also attended the school.
Now retired, Mervyn Hall, plays an active part in Marlborough life. He is secretary of the Marlborough History Society. He has a keen interest in history and has traced his East Leicestershire farming ancestors back to 1750. He is a trustee of The Merchant’s House and is looking forward to the opening of the town’s museum.
He is secretary of the Marlborough Duplicate Bridge club, and belongs to the Marlborough Tennis Club and Savernake Badminton Club. “For a small town, Marlborough has a lot to offer.”
As Mayor, Councillor Hall can expect to attend over a hundred engagements during the course of the year. His aims for the year include the production of a Marlborough and the Surrounding Area Neighbourhood Plan. He hopes the plan will address the two major concerns: affordable housing for young people and parking. As a first step a housing needs analysis has been completed and a parking analysis is underway.
He would also like to see a community centre established in St Margaret’s Mead.
Following Marlborough Town Council elections on May 4 , next year’s council may have some new faces. Mervyn Hall told Marlborough. News, “Being the first Mayor after an election is challenging as it will be my role to build a strong team and manage opposing views. I feel a little bit of trepidation but I am looking forward to it.”