The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Bath
Councillor Colin Barrett
2009 - 2010

At their Annual Meeting and Mayor Making Ceremony in Bath Abbey on 6 June 2009 Councillor Colin Barrett was elected the 782nd Mayor of Bath.  

Councillor Barrett announced: ‘My theme is 'A Lifetime of Change' because I have witnessed so many changes in my life – professional, personal and political.  My professional career began in 1952 as a Junior Clerk in the Health Department of Bath City Council.  My duties included making the tea and delivering the post'. 

Colin’s Council work included reorganizing most of the departments in the local authority to improve efficiency along with making savings.  He spent a year in the City Engineer’s Department with responsibility for refuse collection and street sweeping.  As a very active Trade Union Officer he was Chairman of the Bath Branch of NALGO for 10 years, President twice and Branch Secretary too.  In 1984 he was appointed Premises Manager in the Department of Leisure and Tourism, responsible for the maintenance, hiring, administration and finance of all the authority’s civic buildings.  Retiring in 1991 Colin was employed as a Council Consultant advising on contract cleaning throughout the authority until 1997.

Photo by:  Sam Farr

Councillor Barrett’s political career began when he was elected to represent Weston Ward on Bath and North East Somerset Council in 2003 and has served as a Conservative Councillor on the Audit Committee, Corporate Performance Overview and Scrutiny Panel, Employment Committee as Chairman, Trades Union Joint Consultative Committee, and Education Major Projects.  

He also represents Bath & North East Somerset Council on: Avon Fire and Rescue, is a Director on the Board of the Regional Fire Control Centre, South Western Provincial Council, and Royal United Hospital Facilities Committee.  Councillor Barrett is a Foundation Governor of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Chairman of Weston Parish Hall and an Honorary Member of 'Access Bath'.