Borough granted mayor for first time

Exit Havant council’s chairman and enter the mayor – because Havant had been granted a Royal Charter and would finally become a borough.

By a unanimous vote, Havant District Council decided to seek the charter in July to give the town ‘unity and dignity’ by changing its status from a district to a borough, and it was finally awarded.

One of the strongest campaigners had been Lt-Commander

T Williams, a former chairman of Havant and Waterloo Urban Council, who said: ‘I am delighted. ‘I feel that the powers-that-be have recognised the size and importance of Havant’s district and had granted us a status that has been long overdue.’ The man in the limelight was the present chairman of Havant District Council, John Derben, pictured, who would become Havant’s first mayor.