John Pritchard takes over as Town Council Chair from Martin Thomas

John A T Pritchard has been appointed as Chair of Whaley Bridge Town Council with effect the May 2014 meeting. He was last chair in 1999-2000, and has served on the Town Council since it was created in 1974, and on the UDC before that. In 1997, John was made an Honorary Townsman of Whaley Bridge in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the Town. He has now served as a local councillor for 43 years!

John is also a Borough Councillor, as leader of the High Peak Independent Group, and is currently serving as Chair of Derbyshire Association of Local Councils.

John is a graduate from Oxford University in Mathematics, and spent much of his working life at the National Computing Centre. He is the author of many technical books. In 2006 he established the Friends of Whaley Bridge Station Group, and he is chair of Whaley Bridge Amenity Society.

John has a grown up son and daughter who both live in Oxford. His hobbies include walking, gardening and watching football and cricket. John also completed 53 marathons before retiring in 1992.