Cllr Claire Martin was invested as Mayor of Faversham on Monday 11th May 2026 at Mayor Making, which took place in the Assembly Rooms.
Cllr Ben Martin became Deputy Mayor of Faversham.
The Mayor’s speech in full:
I don’t think anyone sets out to be mayor, it was certainly not on my bucket list, I think it’s just something that when you become a councillor you grow into. I ran on a whim way back in 2015 and I was first elected to the Town Council for Priory Ward. I had been inspired by the late Mike Henderson, Brenda Chester and Hilary Whelan. Who probably twisted my arm but it was their examples which motivated me to stand and to do what I could to improve Faversham.
I have lived in Faversham all my life, I love this town, and for me there is no better place to live. I was schooled in the town and have brought up my 4 children here as well as working locally.
For a while now my eldest son, eldest sister and I have been doing our family tree and we can currently trace our family back, in Faversham to the 1600s. It came as a bit of a surprise when my son discovered that we are in fact direct descendants of Samuel Shepherd, from, you guessed it, Shepherd Neame! I am his 6 great granddaughter and he served as mayor no less than 3 times, as did 2 of his grandsons Samual and his brother James both of whom also served 3 times each (a bit of a pattern emerging there! But have no fear once will be enough for me)
Samual Shepherd senior was generous enough to gift 2 staves of office to the Town, the beadle stick and a walking stick which are both on display this evening.
But my family is not unique, looking at past census’s and wandering around the graveyards, you can see the family names of many whose descendants still call this town home, because Faversham is a special place to live, it’s a place where people put roots down some deeper than others and I think that sometimes we have to remember, when we are all having a bit of a moan on social media, about how special and beautiful Faversham is.
But the town is changing. It is probably going through its biggest change since the Railway was built. Our young people are being pushed out finding it harder not only to buy in the town but also to rent as house prices and private rent sores. We have got to insist that if we have to take these new developments as the government want us to then the developers have to provide the maximum of social and affordable housing. We can’t just be a town for newcomers, otherwise the things that make Faversham special will be lost.
I am not going to make any grand gestures, but I will say this: I will do the very best I can for this town and for everyone who lives here.
Over the next few years we have to complete work on the Guildhall, begin the restoration and repurposing of the listed town warehouse, TS Hazard, cope with local government reorganisation, continue to fight for an opening creek bridge and address planning applications at Abbey Fields and Ham Marshes.
My vision for the year is about the fabric of Faversham:
Our Heritage, we must ensure our historic buildings are preserved for future generations.
Our Environment, we must protect our unique surroundings and habitats, home to some of the countries rarest species of flora and fauna.
Our Social Fabric, we must not ignore the needs of those so often left behind in our community, many of whom are the natives of this town. Inclusion and equity are for all, not just those with money and influence.
Our Economy, supporting and promoting our independent shops, brewers, craftspeople and our wonderful markets
And with that the most important-
Community, because Faversham is not just a collection of beautiful buildings, it is a community that looks out for its own, from all the volunteers at our different organisations to the organisers of our famous festivals. You the community are the heartbeat of this town. We shall likely need to find people with time, energy and commitment to stand for election in 2027 – the work of being a town councillor is a vocation, one that should not be undertaken lightly.
I step into this role with humility, a touch of nerves and a lot of excitement so let’s make this a year where we celebrate what makes Faversham unique whilst building a future that is inclusive, vibrant and above everything else, kind.
