Lord Mayors of Portsmouth since 1927

Portsmouth was granted Letters Patent in 1926, providing that Portsmouth would henceforth be a city and in 1928 further letters patent provided that the Chief Magistrate should be called the Lord Mayor.

Before local government reorganisation in 1974 any citizen could be Lord Mayor, although in practice it was usually a member of the council. After 1974 it was a requirement that the Lord Mayor had to be a serving member of the elected council. The Lord Mayor nominates the Lady Mayoress or Consort.

For centuries, Portsmouth’s First Citizen was the Mayor. Their names are listed on the council chamber boards in the Guildhall. Listed alongside many names the highlight of their mayoral year – a custom that still exists today. Below are the names of every Lord Mayor of Portsmouth since 1927.

To date there have been ten female Lord Mayors of Portsmouth.

Guided tours of the Guildhall are given to visitors or residents who wish to learn more about its history – the tour costs £35 and can be booked by contacting the visitor information service by phone on 023 9282 6722 or by email at vis@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

2020s

2025 – Gerald Vernon Jackson CBE
2024 – Jason Fazackarley
2023 – Tom Coles
2022 – Hugh Mason
2021 – Frank Jonas BEM
2020 – Rob Wood

2010s

2019 – David Fuller
2018 – Lee Mason
2017 – Ken Ellcome
2016 – David Fuller
2015 – Frank Jonas
2014 – Steven Wylie
2013 – Lynne Stagg
2012 – Frank Jonas
2011 – Cheryl Buggy
2010 – Paula Riches

2000s

2009 – Terry Hall
2008 – Richard Jensen
2007 – Mike Blake
2006 – Fred Charlton
2005 – Robin Sparshatt
2004 – Jason Fazackarley
2003 – Tom Blair
2002 – Elaine Baker
2001 – Elaine Baker
2000 – Barry Maine

1990s

1999 – David Horne JP
1998 – Pam Webb
1997 – Tony Golds
1996 – Mark Hancock JP
1995 – Malcolm Chewter
1994 – Dr A Burnett CBE, MA
1993 – A M Bentley
1992 – J Patey
1991 – B C Read
1990 – S N J Rapson BEM

1980s

1989 – Miss G I Howard
1988 – K W Hale
1987 – J G Lodge
1986 – Miss M Seaman
1985 – F A Warner
1984 – John S Marshall CBE
1983 – L A Kitchen
1982 – J W C Fisher
1981 – F H E Sorrell
1980 – Miss M W Sutcliffe MBE

1970s

1979 – R C Taylor
1978 – R E Sotnick
1977 – G H Austin
1976 – G Gibson
1975 – E H Taplin
1974 – A G Dann
1973 – J P N Brogden
1972 – Miss P Loe
1971 – A D Darby
1970 – J F Blair

1960s

1969 – W J Evans
1968 – F A J Emery-Wallis
1967 – D D Connors
1966 – C A Worley
1965 – Frank Lines
1964 – Joseph A Nye
1963 – H Sotnick
1962 – E O Bateson
1961 – R Bonner Pink
1960 – G J Horton

1950s

1959 – L J Evans
1958 – Sir Alfred Blake
1956 & 1957 – A G Asquith-Leeson
1954 & 1955 – G A Day
1953 – Frank Miles
1951 & 1952 – Albert Johnson
1950 – Sir Denis L Daley Kt

1940s

1949 – John Privett
1947 & 1948 – Frank Miles
1946 – Robert J Winnicott
1944 & 1945 – A E Allaway
1943 – Sir Denis L Daley Kt
1942 – Sir Denis L Daley Kt
1941 – Sir Denis L Daley Kt
1940 – D L Daley

1930s

1939 – D L Daley
1938 – L N Blake
1936 & 1937 – F J Spickernell
1935 – W J Avens
1934 – Frank J Privett
1933 – Sir Harold R Pink Kt
1932 – W A Billing
1931 – F G Foster
1930 – Walter Gleave

1920s

1928 & 1929 – J E Smith
1927 – Frank J Privett