It is a great honour to be the mayor of Ashbourne for year 2023/24. My family have owned and worked in businesses in Ashbourne since the late 1800s and have contributed over the years to the community in many aspects of life, which I am honoured to be part of, from owning my own business (2003 - 2018) to being a local councillor and now mayor. I am very proud of the sporting achievements from both independent groups and the local school teams, having played for QEGS and Ashbourne RUFC for 15 years. It is going to be an exciting time for the town with the LUF fund being awarded to Ashbourne in 2022, which will invigorate the town centre with four key projects and traffic measures that will make it a more pleasurable shopping and dining experience for visitors and residents.

The Mayor of Ashbourne, Cllr Anthony Bates

If you would like to invite Cllr Bates to your event, please contact Ashbourne Town Council admin@ashbournetowncouncil.gov.uk or complete the attached form

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As part of their National Anti Social Behaviour Awareness week Derbyshire Dales held a community event at Ashbourne Recreation Ground and Ashbourne Town Council were there to meet the public, then it was onto The Sheep fair a popular event held in Ashbourne Market Square where crowds, not put off by a little rain were treated to all things sheep!

The Mayor Cllr Anthony Bates was invited by Captain Glynn Bevan to attend the 1st Ashbourne Boys Brigade and Girls Association Annual Presentation Evening at The Empire Ballroom on 04th July 2023, the event was also attended by The High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Theresa Peltier

Ashbourne Festival 2023 opened on Saturday with the incredible Street Fest. Three stages were scatted around the town with many acts for all the family, as usual The Warden's were out and about causing havoc and mayhem and met our Mayor, Cllr Bates and handed him an ASBO!!!

Photo credit Ashbourne Festival/Crowpie Marketing

Friday the 19th of May 2023 saw the official opening of Harrison Way, the Ashbourne Link Road.Cutting the ribbon was Sarah Dines MP.The Ceremony was also attended by the new Mayor of Ashbourne, Cllr Anthony Bates, Deputy Mayor Sandra Spencer and former Mayor Martin Spencer.

Photo Credit Three Six Seven Nine Photo

On Wednesday the 17th of May, Ashbourne Town Council held its Annual Meeting and during this meeting The Chain of Office was transferred from the outgoing Mayor, Martin Spencer to Councillor Anthony Bates, the meeting also welcomed the new Councillors in the Belle Vue Ward and St Oswalds Wardfrom left to right: Cllr Gustav Clark, Cllr Sue Moore, Cllr Phillip Chell, Cllr Barbara Michalek, Cllr Sandra Spencer, The Mayor Cllr Anthony Bates, his wife and Consort Mrs Jane Bates, Cllr Janet Keyne, Cllr Robin Currie, Cllr Denise Brown and Cllr Edward Brown.Unable to attend the evening were Cllr Ann Smith and Cllr Caroline Cooper.

Ashbourne Mayor, Cllr Martin Spencer along with his consort Cllr Sandra Spencer attended the prestigious reception and black tie dinner at Chatsworth House to raise over £16,000 for ABF The Soldier's Charity, which raises funds to ensure that veterans live a life of independence and dignity. The evening was attended by representatives of Derbyshire businesses and local dignitaries who were entertained by the Coldstream Guards and later enjoyed a fabulous dinner in the Carriage House Restaurant. The evenings speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Hill (now retired) who was a British Army Officer and brain injury survivor.

The £15-million transformation of Ashbourne town centre will start in 2023 after government today approved an exciting Levelling Up Fund bid.

"Ashbourne Reborn", led by Derbyshire Dales District Council, was developed through close working with local partners who brought forward project ideas, identified opportunities and raised match-funding for the bid.

The partners include Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council, AshCom, Ashbourne Methodist Church and Derbyshire County Council.

Across the nation King Charles III proclamation of becoming our new monarch was read to crowds, our Mayor, Cllr Martin Spencer read the proclamation from the balcony of The Town Hall to large crowds in The Market Place

The memorial gates in Ashbourne slowly filled with flowers on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, councillors, council staff and the Rev Duncan Ballard met for a short service, contemplation and to lay the wreath on behalf of Ashbourne Town Council.