Each year the Council elects from amongst its Members a Town Mayor and a Deputy Town Mayor.
The Mayor is elected by Members of the Town Council at the Annual Council Meeting which takes place in May and the Office of Mayor is for one year. The Town Council Merit Awards are also handed out annually.
The Deputy Mayor will substitute for the Mayor when they are not available and is the Mayor Elect.
The Mayor of Littlehampton has a very active Facebook page highlighting their attendance at events and showcasing the many activities they participate in see www.facebook.com/littlehamptonmayor
Town Mayor 2023 to 2024 – Councillor Freddie Tandy
Councillor Freddie Tandy has lived in Littlehampton his whole life, growing up in Wick. Having attended local primary and secondary schools, he left briefly to attend university before returning to train as a teacher locally in Bognor. Following this, he has worked ever since at The Littlehampton Academy, first as a teacher, and now as a member of Academy’s Extended Leadership Team.
Councillor Tandy has been a Town Councillor since 2015, serving on a number of committees and working groups, allowing him to gain a deeper understanding and insight about the work of the council and the community it serves. Following his re-election in Courtwick with Toddington ward in 2023, the Mayor now chairs the Planning and Transportation Committee and the Community Centres Sub-Committee, which is currently overseeing the development of two brand new youth and community centres in Wick and North Littlehampton. He has also actively served on a number of the Council’s other committees, including as Vice-Chair of the Community Resources Committee, in which he regularly attends local events and groups.
A keen advocate for the voice and opportunities of young people, the Mayor is the Treasurer and Secretary of The Keystone Centre in Wick, working alongside Arun Youth Projects to ensure an attractive and sustainable youth service can be provided out of the centre for the benefit of the town’s next generation. The Mayor has also worked closely with fellow ward councillors in the area to ensure that the ongoing housing developments in the north of the town are accompanied by appropriate resources and infrastructure to support both the new and existing population, including health facilities and highway infrastructure.
The Town Mayor will be raising money for charities that are working to raise attention to and assist with men’s mental health during his mayoral year. Mental health has really come to public attention in recent years, and from his own life and experiences the Mayor has seen first-hand how so many men suffer alone and in silence, desperate to not reveal the struggles that they are facing. The Mayor has been encouraged to see local groups and charities emerging that are trying to help with this, and really hopes that he can help to make a contribution to this fantastic work. If you are an existing charity or group in Littlehampton that is working in this area, or thinking about setting something up, the Mayor would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact the Mayor via email
Away from work and his time as a Councillor, the Mayor can often be found enjoying the beaches and countryside of West Sussex with his friends, enjoying the town’s burgeoning hospitality offer, or making use of the excellent facilities at Littlehampton Wave.
The Mayor attends a variety of events throughout the year in and around Littlehampton. Events range from business openings to award presentations. If you would like to invite the Mayor to your function:
- Use the Mayoral Engagement Webform
The full correct description on letters and envelopes is - The Mayor of Littlehampton, Councillor and their first and last name. A letter should start with "Dear Mr/Mrs Mayor".
When greeting the Mayor it is correct to say, for example: "Good evening Mayor".
In speeches, one would say, for example, "We are pleased to have with us the Mayor of Littlehampton Town Council, Councillor and their first and last name". In the preamble to a speech being made in the Town one would say "Mr/Mrs Mayor". If it is the host who is making the speech he/she would refer to the Mayor first in the preamble unless a member of the Royal Family is present.
Unless in the Chair, the Mayor should be seated on the immediate right of the Chairman or host at any function in the Town. If other dignitaries are invited, such as the Chair of Arun District Council, please seek advice from Town Council officers on the correct protocol.
See our list of Past Mayors which starts in 1974.