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Mayor Council Member for Spital Ward |
Deputy Mayor Council Member for Glascote Ward |
Tamworth has a mayor and a deputy who are elected each year by councillors at the annual council meeting in May.
With a history dating back to 1835, the Tamworth mayoralty in its current form is steeped in history and the mayor making ceremony includes many traditions.
The mayor of Tamworth is the town’s first citizen and ambassador and represents the town at various events throughout the year. It is a ceremonial, politically impartial, role.
Inviting the mayor to events and functions
A key part of the mayoralty is to get out and about in Tamworth, meeting the charities, groups, businesses, schools and individuals who make the town such a great place to live.
If you’d like to invite the mayor to an event, please fill in this mayoral briefing form and email [email protected]. You can call 07583 557265 for more information.
Between them, the mayor and their deputy can attend hundreds of functions and are often very busy. Please give us as much notice as you can to invite them to an event – we need at least three weeks, but the more notice you can give, the higher the chance they will be able to attend.
The current mayor
The mayor for 2024/25 is Gareth Coates.
Gareth is a family man and currently works at The Works distribution centre at Hams Hall. He also sits on the regional council for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.
He was elected to serve as a Labour councillor for Spital in 2023.
Born in March 1983, Gareth is married to Sally and they have two children, one at secondary school and one at primary school.
Having grown up locally in Atherstone, Gareth would regularly get the bus to Tamworth to enjoy the town centre, Sega world and the bowling alley.
Having always had a passion for animals, his career started with a diploma in animal care which led to the role of zookeeper for 11 years! While not in the zookeeper business anymore, Gareth’s family does have a greyhound called Poach and he volunteers every month for the charity Home Run Hounds helping walk the dogs in the castle grounds.
For a short time, Gareth helped a friend set up a new business and in 2010 found another job he loved at the Co-Op Food national distribution centre in Coventry. Along with the day job, Gareth was also shop steward and health and safety rep; taking these roles to help fellow colleagues and help maintain a safe working environment. After 12 years, and the arrival of children, Gareth took a job closer to home to prioritise family time.
In his spare time, along with supporting Home Run Hounds, Gareth litter picks in his local Spital ward.
Family time is very important to Gareth, and he enjoys their Friday evening movie night with everyone taking it turns to pick a film. As you’ll know from his Mayor’s acceptance speech, Gareth’s favourite film is Die Hard!
You can follow the Mayor of Tamworth on Facebook.
Chosen charities: Tamworth Hygiene Bank and Changes.