Peer elected as district chairman

A BARONET has been elected as chairman of Rother District Council, whose annual meeting on Wednesday this week was the authority's first full gathering since local elections on May 5.

Councillor Lord Ampthill, whose name appeared on ballot papers as David Whitney Erskine Russell, a Conservative candidate in the Rye ward and in which he retained his seat with 620 votes, was proposed as chairman by Eastern Rother member and fellow Tory, Paul Osborne.

Clearly in a playful and punning mood, Cllr Osborne said: “As someone who grew up watching the Wacky Races on television - Penelope Pitstop, Peter Perfect, Dick Dastardly and Muttley - I rather like the idea of being part of the Ampthill Mob.”

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Cllr Lord Ampthill, who is 64 today (Friday)was the only nomination, seconded by Rye’s new Labour councillor, Sam Souster, and he was elected unanimously. He became a peer in April, following the death of his father, the 4th Baronet Ampthill, aged 89.

Thanking members for their support, the new chairman said he considered his selection to be “an honour and a privilege” and said he aimed to visit all corners of Rother during his term of office. Both he and the council paid warm tribute to his predecessor as chairman, Ticehurst and Etchingham member, Cllr Robert Elliston, who together with his wife, Margaret, had worked “tirelessly yet with great charm” on behalf of the authority throughout the past year. Elected as vice-chairman of the council, of which she has been a member since 2001, was Bexhill Central Conservative, Cllr Mrs Joy Hughes, proposed by Cllr Martin Kenward and seconded by Cllr Jonathan Johnson.

Cllr Carl Maynard continues as leader of the council, with Cllr Robin Patten as his deputy.