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Mayor

The Mayor of Melksham

Mayor Rabey

Councillor Rabey

The current Town Mayor of Melksham for 2026/2027 is Councillor Saffi Rabey, who was elected at the Annual Council Meeting held on 11th May 2026.

Councillor Rabey has served as a Town Councillor representing the North Ward. Her appointment as Mayor marks a continuation of her commitment to public service and community leadership in Melksham.

“I am honoured to be serving as Mayor of Melksham and proud to be in my second term as a Town Councillor, having first been elected in May 2021 to represent the North Ward—a community I care for deeply. Being re-elected by local residents is a privilege, and I remain dedicated to working hard on their behalf.

My focus continues to be on making Melksham a clean, vibrant, and welcoming place to live. I’m passionate about fostering a strong sense of community through fantastic local events, supporting well-maintained play areas for children, and championing initiatives that improve daily life for everyone.

On the Council, my key interests lie in economic development and planning—ensuring that future growth is balanced and responsive to the needs of our town. I believe strongly in listening, collaborating, and delivering meaningful results.

Outside of civic life, I enjoy live music, walking in the countryside, and swimming in the sea whenever I can. At home, I’m kept on my toes by my three cats, who make sure there’s never a dull moment.”

What Does the Mayor Do?

The Town Mayor of Melksham serves as the civic figurehead of the Council and plays an important ceremonial and representative role throughout the year. Responsibilities of the Mayor include:

  • Attending civic and community events in Melksham
  • Recognising and celebrating the achievements and contributions of local residents and organisations
  • Promoting civic pride and encouraging community engagement
  • Representing the town at formal events, celebrations, and commemorations

In addition to ceremonial duties, the Mayor also serves as Chairperson of the Town Council. In this role, the Mayor:

  • Presides over Full Council meetings and the Annual Town Meeting
  • Upholds the Standing Orders (rules) of the Council
  • Ensures fair and orderly debate during meetings
  • Works closely with the Town Clerk to facilitate good governance

If the Mayor is absent, the Deputy Mayor may preside at meetings and attend functions on their behalf.

The office of Mayor is ceremonial and non-political. It carries no additional authority or advantage beyond the honour of representing the people of Melksham with dignity and impartiality.

 

Ian Pugh, Melksham’s Town Crier

I’m Ian Pugh, and I’m proud to serve as the official Town Crier for Melksham. It’s an honour to carry out this historic role bringing tradition, colour, and a strong voice to community events and public occasions across the town.

My journey into public speaking began over 30 years ago when I was encouraged to try hospital radio. That first experience sparked a real passion for communication and community involvement. Since then, I’ve continued to develop my skills, and went on to train as a professional toastmaster in London. This opened doors to a wide range of formal and ceremonial events, from stately homes to historic venues in the City of London.

As Town Crier, I aim to be an active and visible presence in Melksham. One of my key goals is to visit local schools sharing the history of the role, talking about my experiences, and maybe even showing a few students how to ring the bell with style.

It’s a privilege to represent our town in this unique way, and I look forward to meeting many of you at events throughout the year. If you see me out and about, do stop and say hello!

Mayoral Cadet

The Mayor has appointed Lance Corporal William Watters from the Army Cadet Force as this year’s Mayoral Cadet. This honour recognises his dedicated service to the community, his commendable efforts in raising funds for charity through writing his own cookbook, and the high praise he has received from his commander.

Throughout the year, William will accompany the Mayor at various civic events, proudly representing the Army Cadet Force and supporting the Mayor in their official duties.

Book the Mayor

Book the Mayor

Who would you like to book?
Would you like the Mayor’s Cadet to accompany the Mayor?
Would you like the Mayor to wear chains?

Event details

If the event is located outside our parish boundary, we need to ask permission for the Mayor to attend, particularly if they’d like to attend wearing chains. It’s best practice to invite the mayor or chair of the parish the event is located in first. You’re welcome to fill out this form if you haven’t done so, however we will need to get in touch to establish why that is the case.
Can you confirm that this event is at a location within Melksham Town Council’s parish boundaries?
Will there be food or alcohol served at your event?
If yes, please include any specific topics you’d like them to mention.
You can leave this blank if there isn’t anything you’d like to add.
If yes, please briefly describe it.

Your details

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Name
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Man Down logo - a drawing of a man’s head with beard.

Man Down

Mayor’s chosen charity

Man Down UK is a non-profit Community Interest Company with a Wiltshire branch and a local group in Melksham, dedicated to supporting men with mental health challenges.

They run informal, peer-led talking groups across the UK, providing a safe, judgment-free space for men to share their struggles and connect with others who understand. The Melksham Man Down group meeting is held fortnightly on a Tuesday, 19.00 – 21.00 pm at Bowerhill Village Hall.

By fostering open conversations, they aim to break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and reduce the number of male suicides.

Man Down Wiltshire

TeenTalk

Mayor’s chosen charity

TeenTalk provides a confidential counselling service to young people aged from 10 to 25 within North and West Wiltshire run by Wiltshire based charity 4Youth (South West).

Initially serving only young people from the Melksham Community Area, the service has been expanded to support young people across North and West Wiltshire and to offer a 1-2-1 counselling service in Melksham, Chippenham and Westbury.

TeenTalk