List of chairmen of Wiltshire County Council

The 4th Marquess of Bath, first Chairman of the County Council, by "Ape", 1874

Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice (later created Baron Fitzmaurice), second Chairman of the County Council, by "Spy", 1906

This is a list of the Chairmen of Wiltshire County Council and its successor, Wiltshire Council.

Indefinite term of office

• 1889–1896: John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath
• 1896–1906: Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice MP ^[1]
• 1906–1946: Thomas Henry Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath ^[2]
• 1946–1949: Colonel R. W. Awdry CBE
• 1949–1960: Alderman J. L. Calderwood CBE
• 1960–1969: Major S. V. Christie-Miller CBE
• 1969–1973: Sir Henry Langton, later Calley DL DFC DSO ^[3]
• 1973–1980: Group Captain Frank Willan CBE DFC DL
• 1980–1985: Nigel James Moffat Anderson MC DL
• 1985–1986: Captain P. S. Beale RN
• 1986–1989: Mr J. B. Ainslie OBE
• 1989–1992: Mrs Mary E. Salisbury CBE DL

Chairmen for one year

County Hall, Trowbridge, the council's headquarters, before 2012 refurbishment

• 1992–1993: Mrs Marjorie Whitworth
• 1993–1994: Mrs Patricia Rugg
• 1994–1995: Mr Percy L. Jefferies
• 1995–1996: Mrs Dorothea Joan Main
• 1996–1997: Mrs June Wood
• 1997–1998: Mrs Grace Hill
• 1998–1999: Mrs Beryl M. Jay
• 1999–2000: Brigadier Robert Baddeley
• 2000–2001: Lt. Colonel D. B. W. Jarvis
• 2001–2002: Mr J. P. Johnson
• 2002–2003: Mrs Carole Soden ^[4]
• 2003–2004: Mr Jerry Willmott ^[5]
• 2004–2005: Mr Allan Peach
• 2005–2006: Mr Bill Moss ^[6]
• 2006–2007: Mr Kevin Wren ^[7]
• 2007–2008: Mrs Judy Seager ^[8]
• 2008–2009: Brigadier Robert Hall ^{[9] [10]}

Chairmen of Wiltshire Council

• 2009–2012: Brigadier Robert Hall ^[11]
• 2012–2014: Mrs Christine Crisp ^[11]
• 2014–2015: Roy While ^[12]
• 2015–2017: Richard Britton ^[13]
• 2017–2019: Alison Bucknell ^[14]
• 2019–2020: James Sheppard
• 2020–2021: Richard Gamble ^[15]
• 2021–2023: Stuart Wheeler ^[16]
• 2023–2024: James Sheppard ^[17]
• 2024–2025: Bridget Wayman ^[18]
• 2025– : Laura Mayes ^[19]

References

The County Council's banner

1. 'Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron' in Who was Who 1929–1940 , A. & C. Black, London, 1967 reprint: ISBN   0-7136-0171-X
2. 'Bath, 5th Marquess of' in Who was Who 1941–1950 , A. & C. Black, London, 1980 (reprint) ISBN   0-7136-2131-1
3. 'CALLEY, Sir Henry (Algernon)' in Who was Who 1971–1980 , A. & C. Black, London, 1989 (reprint) ISBN   0-7136-3227-5
4. New Council Chairman is sworn in ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Press Release 741 dated Tuesday 14 May 2002 at wiltshire.gov.uk
5. New council chairman sworn in ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Press Release 1148 dated Tuesday 20 May 2003 at wiltshire.gov.uk
6. New county council Chairman elected ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Press Release 1800 dated Wednesday 18 May 2005 at wiltshire.gov.uk
7. New county council Chairman elected ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Press Release 1783 dated Wednesday 17 May 2006 at wiltshire.gov.uk
8. New County Council Chairman Elected ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Press Release 3034 dated Tuesday 8 May 2007 at wiltshire.gov.uk
9. New county council chairman elected ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Press Release 2251 dated Tuesday 13 May 2008 at wiltshire.gov.uk
10. Also first chairman of new Wiltshire Council, for 2009—2012
11. New Wiltshire Council chairman dated Wednesday 16 May 2012 at wiltshire.gov.uk, accessed 29 May 2012
12. Minutes of Wiltshire Council meeting on 13 May 2014 at wiltshire.gov.uk, accessed 30 April 2015
13. Joe Riddle, Wiltshire Council elects new chairman from south of county in Salisbury Journal dated 13 May 2015
14. Joanne Moore, Three new faces join Jane's top team at Wiltshire Council in Gazette and Herald dated 17 May 2017
15. McLaughlin, Matthew (29 June 2020). "Wiltshire Council shows its support for the Armed Forces". Wiltshire Gazette & Herald. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
16. @wiltscouncil (18 May 2021). "Cllr Stuart Wheeler is appointed as Chair of Wiltshire Council for 2021/22" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
17. "Cllr James Sheppard". Wiltshire Council. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
18. Peter Davison, "More details on how Wiltshire Council leader will be chosen", Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, 19 May 2025, accessed 20 June 2025
19. "Wiltshire Council announces new Leader", wiltshire.gov.uk, 20 May 2025, accessed 20 June 2025

• Wiltshire County Council, Clerk's Department at nationalarchives.gov.uk