Council bestow Honorary Alderman title on former councillors

Horsham District Council has bestowed one of the highest honours in its gift in conferring four former councillors as Honorary Aldermen for their outstanding service and dedication to the Horsham District.

Mr Brad Watson OBE, Sheila Van Den Bergh and John Bailey were all conferred with the title of Honorary Alderman at an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 11 December 2019. Vivien Lyth-Coates was also conferred with the title but was unable to attend the event.

Brad Watson OBE was a Member of Horsham District Council from 1977 to 1991 for Riverside Ward, and he was Chairman of Council for the civic year 1983/1984. He was also a member of Policy and Resources Committee, the Finance & General Purposes Committee and the Planning and Development Committee. He was also a councillor for West Sussex County Council from 2001 – 2017.

Sheila Van Den Bergh was a councillor for Horsham District Council from 1983 to 1995 and 1999 to 2011 for Billingshurst Ward. She was Chairman of Council for the civic years 1991/1992 and 2004/2005. She was also a member of the Planning and Development Committee, the Recreation and Environment Committee, the Policy and Resources Committee, the Housing Committee and the Leisure Committee.

John Bailey was a councillor for Horsham District Council from 2003 to 2019 for Rudgwick Ward. He was Chairman of the Council for the civic year 2008/09. He was a member of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee and the Planning Committee (North).

Vivien Lyth-Coates was a councillor for Horsham District Council from 1996 to 2007 for Steyning and Ashurst Ward. She was Chairman of the Council for the civic year 2003/2004. She was a Cabinet Member from 2004 to 2006 and was a member of the Policy and Resources Committee, the Housing Committee, the Standards Committee and the Development Control (South) Committee.

“With so many years of service between them, they have contributed greatly to the work of the Council through their wisdom, knowledge and vast experience. Between them they have undertaken the various roles of Cabinet Member and Chairmen of numerous committees and the office of Chairman.

They have served the Council and people of Horsham District with enormous dedication and the Council agreed that they each be honoured by the conferring of the title of Honorary Alderman.

Chairman of the Council Cllr Kate Rowbottom