Councillor Sally Markwell was elected Mayor for 2024-2025 with Councillor Maggie Wearmouth as her Deputy.
Seaford Library are now exhibiting the Mayor’s Community Coat. The achievement totally belongs to Seaford Community, and I do hope you will all go and look at the amazing patches designed by YOU.
For those of you still wishing to contribute, there is an opportunity to add a patch if you wish by taking this into the Tourist Information Centre by the end of January 2025. It would be lovely to have more Seaford organisations represented on the coat – as this ’moment in time’ to celebrate Seaford Town Council’s 25 years!

Mayor’s Charity
The Mayor has chosen Seafriends as her charity this year, this Seaford charity is a befriending group, benefitting anyone in Seaford who feels lonely or isolated.
Keeping Updated
For updates throughout the year, please check the Mayor’s Facebook page, regular reports to Full Council meetings (linked below) or subscribe to email updates from the Town Council (on all of its news and activities) by emailing [email protected]
Mayoral Engagements
Details of the Mayoral Engagements and Events are reported in the Mayor’s Report at each Full Council meeting or can be seen on the Mayor’s Facebook page @mayorofseaford
Mayors 2023 – 2024 Reports: Council Meetings
If you wish to book the Mayor for an official engagement, please email [email protected]
Mayoral Activities
I had an awesome time with the Friends of Walmer Road, planting a variety of fruit trees recently 😊. I was amazed by the care and dedication the team from Brighton Permaculture who provided all the expertise and equipment for Friends to plant 16 plum, pear, cherry and apple trees.
My visit to the Sanctuary in Eastbourne filled me with awe at the amount of support this amazing group of volunteers provide to people seeking asylum. Recently in receipt of The Kings Award for Voluntary Service, led by founder and co-director Gill Caroe, these volunteers deserve all our thanks and admiration.
I visited Annecy Catholic Primary School last week. I was so pleased to be wearing the Community Coat. I was astonished by the level of engagement from all the pupils from Year 1 to year 6 with such important questions about the role of Mayor and also about the coat. Over 50% of the pupils in the school have already seen the coat in Seaford Library where it is currently on display.
Thank you to Cllr Dan Dunbar for hosting this wonderfully entertaining evening as Mayor of Polegate and sharing this fantastic production of Sleeping Beauty.
I was delighted to visit Year 12 at Seaford Head School this week. I was able to show off the wonderful Community Coat and thank in person those pupils who had contributed their patches.
Christmas Eve banquet at St Peter’s – so many thanks to SeaFriends and all involved.
Seaford Rugby Club provided the most scrumptious tea for 65 of our local residents on Sunday, December 22nd. There was wonderful music, laughter, and so much dancing!
I attended the Mayor of Polegate’s Civic Carol service on Monday 16th December. This was such a delightful event with the most amazing choral support.
Concentus Sings Christmas – Well on Saturday they jolly well did, equipped with angelic voices and some very crazy hats !
The Mayor’s Carol Concert – a huge thank you to everyone involved in our celebration that highlighted how Christmas is celebrated and faith interpreted across the world.
A heartwarming lunch at Seaford Golf Club.
I was amazed at the dedication of our RNLI volunteers at a recent visit to the Lifeboat Station in Newhaven.
Seaford Christmas Magic – the day was a festive celebration, showcasing a lively Christmas market brimming with local stalls, enchanting live performances on the main stage, and delightful activities for families.
Cllr Roy Galley, Chair of East Sussex County Council, had a wonderful time with me, meeting with Seaford Primary School pupils as they created some wonderful lanterns for the Seaford Christmas Magic parade.
Fantastic to be alongside the staff of Peacocks for their grand store opening.
I was delighted to attend the presentation of the Young Citizen of the Year Philip Moorey Award organised by Seaford Rotary at Mercread Youth Centre.
I was so excited to meet students from Yr7 from Seaford Head . All were sharing their creative skills to develop patches for the Seaford Community Coat.
I was privileged to attend our local commemoration of Black History Month this past week and so pleased to meet with our local “Annecy Family’ of schoolchildren who shared a couple of hours with me and other dignitaries, listening to the history of some of the 300 Commonwealth War Graves and those from the British West Indies Regiment.
St Leonard’s Vicarage Tea Party.
I always knew that having tea with the vicar would be delightful and charming, especially when James and Lucy were able to offer such friendship and tasty snacks to their neighbours. Thank you for a lovely afternoon – in between down pours!
On Saturday 7th September the Deputy Mayor of Seaford Maggie Wearmouth and Seaford Councillor Imogen Taylor joined Volunteers, Trustees, staff, friends and family of Lewes District Citizens Advice, to walk from our Newhaven office to The Salts in Seaford to raise £1105.00!! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk despite the wet weather.
I was so excited to be attending “A Night at the Musicals’ with Polegate Drama Group courtesy of the Mayor of Polegate, Cllr Dan Dunbar. I was completely blown away by the talents of all the cast members, the youngest taking a debut lead role at 14 years of age. This was an awe-inspiring
evening full of music and dance across the decades, with some very talented acting. I wish the group well and will be sure to return for their Annual Pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’, 18th– 26th January 2025!!
A delightful afternoon judging the Number 6 Summer Bake Off Challenge. Well done to everyone who took part in baking some delicious cakes.
I attended the 82nd Dieppe Raid Remembrance Service in Newhaven. This significant event commemorates the brave Allied forces who took part in the Dieppe Raid of 1942, a pivotal and tragic World War II operation.
I was delighted to attend the The Chair of East Sussex Summer Civic Reception at the wonderful Trading Boundaries, in Fletching. (photo credits to Randi Sokoloff #randisokoloff.com
I was so pleased to share the ‘Strawberry Fields’ afternoon at Westerleigh Nursing Home in Seaford
I’m extremely grateful to all who supported my Civic Reception which provided an opportunity for civic dignitaries and local groups to come together to share ideas and make connections with more vulnerable populations in Seaford.
Thank you to all that joined the Mayor of Seaford in celebrating #sussexday this morning. A huge thank you to our Town Crier, Peter White for leading us through proceedings, and Freeman of the Town, Laurie Holland for helping the Mayor hold the flag! (unfortunately the flag pole wasn’t behaving this morning!) #wewuntbedruv #sussexbythesea
I had an enjoyable time at Seahaven FM, to listen to my interview please click on the following link https://player.autopod.xyz/637984
I was honoured to attend the very moving commemorative D-Day 80th anniversary event at Splash Point. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together to take part in paying tribute to the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.
D-Day service at Seaford War Memorial
The Mayor at the reception with the Lord-Lieutenant
The Mayor attended the Sustainability Seaford Fair on Saturday 1st June 2024. www.sharingskills.co.uk
Past Mayors
Each year at its Annual Meeting the Council must elect a Mayor as first point of business; the Mayor then serves in office for the Municipal Year (May to May).
The Council is lucky to have had such a variety of Mayors since its formation in 1999, each with their own aspirations for their time in office and with unswerving dedication to their roles. Often, as the Mayor, they would receive an invite to an engagement on a weekly basis, some weeks as special occasions there may even be three or four engagements – this is on top of their duties and responsibilities as a Councillor, and all carried out voluntarily.
The Council offers its gratitude to those former Mayors of Seaford: