BROMSGROVE COURT LEET

Bromsgrove Court Leet members each take on various roles and responsibilities within the Court, all of which uphold the traditions of this ancient organisation.

The Court is answerable to the Lord of the Manor of Bromsgrove, who in medieval times was directly responsible to the King of England. The head of the Court is the Bailiff with the Reeve as second in command. The Lord of the Manor is represented by his Steward and the Court has a Marshal, Chappelyn, Bellman & Towncrier, Custodian of the Records & Herald, Treasurer and Market Master. Members of the Court Jury act as officers of the Court who are co-ordinated by the Foreman of the Jury and have roles such as Ale Taster, Breadweigher, Searcher and Sealer of Leather, Carniter, and Brook-looker – modern day trading standards. The Jurymen swear an oath to take on the roles of Reeve and Bailiff in the future. The Headborough and Constable of the Court leads the Tythingmen who each have responsibility for their tything area (yield).  Past Bailiffs of the Court are known as Ealdormen and three Ealdormen are elected as Affeerors who sit on the Inner Court and ensure the traditions are upheld. New members are nominated by existing members and elected to the court at the Great Autumn Court or the Spring Court meeting.

Reeve - Bird

Bailiff - Beaumont

 The Court for the year from November 2021 looks like this:

Chris Bird – The Lord of the Manor since 1972 when the title was passed down from his grandfather.

Neil Beaumont - The Bailiff of the Bromsgrove Court Leet, elected at the Autumn Court on 4th November 2021. Neil joined the Court in November 2012 as a Tythingman and was elected to join the Jury in November 2018.

Robert Bird - The Reeve, second in command. Robert is the son of the Lord of Manor. He joined the Court in October 2010 and has served on the Jury as the Brook-Looker for many years.

Joanne Slade – Immediate Past Bailiff, Custodian of the Records & Herald. Jo is the first female to be elected Bailiff of our Court in November 2019. She is daughter of Ealdorman David Slade, Bailiff in the 800th Year of the Court. Jo served as Bailiff for a second year following re-election at the Autumn Court on 6th November 2020 due to the cancellation of events caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

John Rogers – The Marshal; responsible for keeping the Court in order at Court meetings and events.

John Fisher – The Steward, represents the Lord of the Manor in the Court.

Kevin Ward - Bellman & Towncrier “Oyez, oyez, oyez!” Kevin has been the Bellman to the Court since 1985, his great, great, great grandfather was the last Town Crier in Birmingham from 1827 til 1882 when he died.

Barrie Fischer – Court Treasurer. Barrie was elected Bailiff in 2005

Rev'd Ray Khan – Chappelyn, Ray is the vicar at the Parish Church of St John’s. The Court attending the Patronal Service annually on the Sunday after Fair Day.

Charlie Ayres - Constable & Headborough.

Robert Richardson – Honorary Constable.

Geoffery A Evans - Honorary Constable. Geoff served as Headborough from 6th November 2003 until 6th November 2020

David Coulson - Market Master

Robert Moule - Foreman of the Jury, elected Bailiff in 1996

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Philip Thomas – Senior Ale Taster, elected to the Court in November 2018

Ray Giles – Deputy Ale Taster, elected to the Court in November 2011

Hans Rostrup – Breadweigher, elected to the Court in November 2013

Robert Spittle – Carniter & Fish Taster, elected to the Court November 2018

Jon Till - Searcher & Sealer of Leather, elected to the Court in November 2018

Mark Robinson – Brooklooker, introduced to the Court as Tythingman for Gannow, elected to the Jury in November 2020

Patrick Firminger –elected to the Court in October 2010

Ealdormen with year elected as Bailiff

Roger Weaver Affeeror Emeritus 1973

Keith Pinfield Ealdorman 1979

Gordon Jones Ealdorman 1982

Matthew Horton Affeeror 1984

Paddy Firminger Ealdorman 1988

Kenneth Pinfield Ealdorman 1989

John Morris Ealdorman 1990

Ted Keen Ealdorman 1992

Ian Hughes Ealdorman 1993

John Burman Affeeror Emeritus 1994

Richard Wilkinson Ealdorman 1997

David Slade Ealdorman 1998

Tim Harris Ealdorman 1999

John Weston Ealdorman 2002

Graham Boyles Ealdorman 2003

Jeremy Sharp Affeeror 2004

Dennis Norton Ealdorman 2007

Group Captain John P Rogers Ealdorman 2008

Martin Connellan Ealdorman 2011

Roy Thomason Ealdorman 2012

Richard Harper Ealdorman 2013

John Wheatley Ealdorman 2015

Philip Harper Ealdorman 2016

Nick Pinfield Ealdorman 2017

Dr William Tucker Ealdorman 2018

Joanne Slade Ealdorman 2019 & 2020

Adrian Smith Tythingman Buntsford Yield & Deputy Ale Taster

David G Thomas Tythingman Chadwick Yield

Geoff Hawkesworth Tythingman Shepley Yield

Richard Abbotts Tythingman Dodford Yield

Jeff Evans Tythingman Timberhonger Yield

Vacant Tythingman Burcot Yield

Michael Adams Tythingman Lickey Common Yield

Peter Gale Tythingman Gannow Yield

Rebecca Guest Tythingman Padstone Yield

Cyril Day Tythingman Woodcote Yield

David Coulson Tythingman Catshill Yield & Market Master

Richard Nokes Tythingman Fockbury Yield

Susan Norton Tythingman Town Yield