Your stories – Peter Chillingworth

Peter Chillingworth 
Mayoral year dates: 2018-2019 

How long did you service as a Councillor for Colchester?   

I served as a Colchester Councillor for 20 years, 2002-2022. 

Why did you choose to become a Councillor in Colchester?  

I was invited to stand by former Councillor and Mayor, Roger Browning and, as a former professional civil servant and Parish Council Chairman, felt I would like to see what being an elected politician would be like and have some influence and ability to help my local and the wider community. 

Describe your mayoralty year and the aims you had in 100 words? 

My year, supported by my wife Ann, as Mayoress, was the most exciting and eventful year of my life. The theme for my year, Town Meets Country, was unusual, but as a countryman, I felt appropriate. Hence my charities included Essex Air Ambulance and Essex Wildlife Trust, among other events, I walked the new Colchester Orbital route for charity, took a party of Colchester and refugee children on farms visit. 

I attended some 350 meetings and events, including in other parts of Essex, London and Sheffield, together with twinning visits to Wetzlar and Avignon and a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. 

What did you enjoy most about your mayoral role? 

Meeting so many interesting and inspirational people and learning about their work, in particular for charity. Attending events I would never have imagined and, as the first citizen of Colchester.

Throughout your year as Mayor of Colchester, what was your most rewarding moment? 

Re-enacting the speech given by the Mayor of Colchester on Armistice Day 1918 on Centenary Remembrance Sunday from the Town Hall balcony, with some 6000 people in the High Street below. 

As a former Councillor, Mayor and leader, what would you say to someone thinking about becoming a local Councillor? 

Go for it, if you have sufficient time to do the job properly. You will be frustrated at times, but you could make a difference and gain some satisfaction. There are 3 elements: serving your local community, serving the wider city and serving your Party. To me, as a local politician, the last is the least important and others are of equal importance. 

Describe the council (present day) in one word. 

Potential.