At the Annual Meeting on the Council on Tuesday 24 May 2022 Councillor Christopher Turner was elected Worshipful Town Mayor of Deal for a second term, (municipal year 2022/2023). The Deputy Mayor was also elected for a second term (municipal year 2022/2023) Councillor Sue Beer.

After signing the declaration of acceptance, the Mayor announced that his wife, Kate Gatti would be his Mayoress. The Deputy Mayoress will be Mrs Laura Newing, who is the daughter of the Deputy Mayor.

During the year the Mayor will be raising money for local charities - Deal Music and Arts and Deal Speaking Up Group.

The Mayor of Deal holds events during their Mayoral year to raise money for their chosen charities.

Please click on this link to view the Deal Town Council Mayor's Civic and Ceremonial policy.

For further information click here to contact the Mayor's Secretary . 

Charity Christmas Party

Town Mayor of Deal, Cllr Christopher Turner said; "The two charities I am supporting this year - Deal Music and Arts Music School, and the Speaking Up Group - will benefit from funds raised at a fun Christmas Party at The Court Yard in Deal. My thanks to all at The Court Yard for looking after us so well, and to all who attended and made it such a pleasant evening."

An Act of Remembrance

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sue Beer, laid a wreath at The Royal British Legion Downs Branch's Act of Remembrance.

 Welcoming our friends from Saint-Omer

The Mayor welcomed our friends from Saint-Omer, marking the first visit between our twinned towns since the pandemic.

Guests from our sister town spent a day with their English hosts in and around Deal, enjoying a round of adventure golf on The Green, a guided tour of our Town Hall and reception at Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club.

There was friendly tournament between a team from Saint-Omer and a team from Deal, won (just!) by the Deal team. Here's looking to a re-match in Saint-Omer!

The Deal and Saint-Omer Twinning Society was established in 1973 and continues to build links and friendships across The Channel.

Floral tribute for Her Majesty The Queen

The Mayor laid a floral tribute on behalf of the people of Deal outside St George's Church on Sunday, accompanied by the Mayoress and Deputy Mayor. They then signed the book of condolence.

Caesar Court Open Day

The Mayor and Mayoress visited Caesar Court in the summer and were given a tour of the gardens by two special residents.

Royal Marines Concert 11th July 2022

The Mayor lay's a wreath from Deal Town Council and the people of  Deal as part of the rededication ceremony of the bandstand at the Marines Concert.

Rotary Pirates Celebration 

The Deputy Mayor of Deal, Cllr Sue Beer, sported a jaunty pirate outfit, at the Rotary Pirates celebration of being awarded the Rotary Charter. With her is Laura Newing, who has taken on the role of Deputy Mayoress for a second year

The Mayor Presents The Mayor’s Shield

The Mayor of Deal Cllr Chris Turner presented the winners Victoria Park Bowling Club with the Mayor’s Shield.

The competition is held annually between the three clubs, Victoria Park Bowling Club, Deal Bowls Club and Betteshanger Bowls Club.

The Mayor’s Shield was presented as a trophy in 1991 by the then Mayor Cllr David Reid and the venue rotates annually between the 3 grounds.

The Mayor congratulated all 3 clubs for their continued provision of bowling facilitates for the people of Deal.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Sue Beer recently attended the unveiling of the new Goodwin Sands information board on the sea front on Marine Road.

The board, provided by the Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust , was unveiled by famous local author Deborah Moggach, seen here with Cllr Beer

Private Tour of Deal Castle - Friday 29th April

Breast Feeding Support Group 10^th Birthday

The Worshipful Mayor of Deal Cllr Chris Turner visited Deal’s Breast-Feeding Support Group on Walmer Green recently to help celebrate their 10^th Birthday.

The support group meet in St Georges Church on Mondays between 1pm and 3pm.

104^th Anniversary Service of the Zeebrugge Raid

The Worshipful Mayor of Deal Cllr Chris Turner attended a service held at Dover’s War Memorial on St Georges Day for the 104^th Anniversary of the Zeebrugge Raid.

The Raid which took place in 1918 included the 4^th Battalion Royal Marines Light Infantry based in Deal which was formed and trained for the raid and disbanded afterwards and never to from again.

The Mayor laid a Poppy wreath on behalf of the People of Deal.

RBL Dover Falklands Memorial Service

The Worshipful Mayor of Deal Cllr Chris Turner joined The Dover White Cliffs Royal British Legion and other local dignitaries on Sunday 3^rd April at their Falklands Memorial Service in Biggin Street Dover.

The Mayor took the opportunity to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Deal.

This year was the 40^th Anniversary of the conflict.

Deal Museum Re-Opening

The Worshipful Mayor of Deal Cllr Chris Turner was delighted to cut the ribbon at the Re-Opening of Deal Museum in St Georges Road Deal ready for the new season. He was accompanied by the Mayoress Ms Kate Gatti.

The museum is celebrating 50 years since it first opened in 1972. As part of the 50^th Anniversary celebrations, the Museum is running a Blue Plaque programme for the shops and important buildings. Following extensive research, the team have designed a Blue Plaque decal to commemorate the history of each building. You will soon be seeing these around the Town. Contact the Museum if you would like to know more.

The Museum is open Friday to Sunday, 1pm to 4pm each week until mid October. Admission is free with donations welcome.

Cllr Christopher Turner, Mayor of Deal said: "It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of our monarch, Queen Elizabeth II and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

“It does not seem too long ago that we were celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, marking her faithful service to our country. Today, we fly the Union Flag with a black ribbon attached.

“As we come together as a town, sharing our loss, a Book of Condolence has been opened at Deal Town Hall for those wishing to pay their respects and floral tributes will be welcomed at St George’s Church.”

The Book of Condolence will be housed in the lobby, accessed via the Town Hall Undercroft between 9am and 6pm. As protocol dictates when a flag is flown on a 45° flagpole (as it is at the Town Hall) it is not to be lowered but to have a black ribbon tied to the end.

Condolences can also be expressed on the website www.royal.uk

Published: 22 January 2022

We’re 22 days into 2022. After the trauma of the last couple of years we are looking optimistically to a brighter 2022 and there seems to be a glimmer of light at the end of this dreadful pandemic tunnel.

If anything shows us the character of Deal, it is that during these terrible times we have supported each other, been innovative and resourceful.

Despite the virus, there’s other work to be done in 2022. Two years after the first High Street survey, a second one will be out next month asking everyone their views on continuing the pedestrianisation on Saturdays. In spring a new Town Plan will be taking shape created from the views of hundreds of you. June sees another royal milestone as we all celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In autumn we are hoping that the Braderie will be able to return. Towards the end of the year, Southeastern Railway will begin work on improving access for everyone to the station.

Our independent High Street remains vibrant, but the impact of the closing of national brands like HSBC, Barclays and M&Co is painful. Whilst the Town Council does not have any direct influence over retail property, we will work with partners to encourage the filling of these units as quickly as possible.

There’s also serious work to be done to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis. We have to ensure that our historic Town Hall is fit for the 21st century and not a burden as we push forward on the Council’s ambition to be Net Zero by 2025. Thermal improvement work at the Town Hall should begin in February. In the wider community, our tree surveying will restart in May which ultimately will enable us to understand the real benefit of our green infrastructure and ensure that the right trees and shrubs are planted in the right places.

I hope our example will encourage people to consider their own carbon footprint, in the home and in the workplace. We are going to have to pull together on this one.
Finally, it has been my pleasure and privilege to meet so many people of Deal as Mayor. I hope the demands on my time do not diminish.

Published: October 2021

Two topics seem to be dominating our conversations and thoughts at the moment. We are approaching the time for a major conference on the climate emergency – COP26. We are also still in the grip of a pandemic that at the moment shows no signs of weakening.

COP26 is important because the context for the conference is the latest IPCC Climate Change 2021 Report – which is a very sobering read. Once again, it feels as though we are at an important crossroads, and the right choice of direction cannot be delayed any longer.

Apart from following the outcomes of the conference in the news media, we should also start the process of reviewing what we as a Town Council have committed to do as part of our response to the declaration of a climate emergency.

In other words, can we do more? And will COP26 inspire and encourage us all to do more? As individuals, we need leadership from nations across the globe, so that we feel that our individual efforts are not in vain.

Alongside the climate emergency is the pandemic. I write this the day after the Health Secretary’s press conference (20 October) in which he urged us to be vaccinated and to accept the invitation to receive a booster injection.

On both issues – climate emergency and Covid – there is a role for strong leadership and for leaders setting an example.

As Mayor and Chair of the Council, I want to be able to say, when asked, that Deal Town Council is playing its part in keeping people safe. Some of the decisions we have made have not been popular. For some we are too cautious; for others, we do the right thing by erring on the side of caution.

But we have always put the safety of the people of Deal first. I would urge everyone to take care of yourself and others. As someone who caught Covid, I would not wish it on anyone.