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Themayor of Wrexham is the civic figurehead and first citizen of the city andcounty borough of Wrexham in thenorth ofWales. It was established in 1857, upon the granting of aCharter of Incorporation to the town ofWrexham, resulting in the establishment of aborough and borough council.
The position is now elected by members ofWrexham County Borough Council at their annual meeting, and today, holders of the position conventionally serve a one-year term. The position is currently held by Councillor Tina Mannering ofGwersyllt for the 2025/2026 term.
Before the establishment of the position in 1857, the then town of Wrexham was largely administered by the manorial courts of thegentry and parishVestry.[1] The manorial courts became overwhelmed with the increasing local government responsibilities placed on them, with the Vestry increasingly adding secular matters to their originally religious operations to compensate the manorial courts.[1]
By 1848, concerns over the system of various local government in managing the growing town's sanitary conditions, in particular the public health threat ofcholera,[1][2][3] led to locals launching a petition to thePrivy Council in February 1857 for the town to beincorporated.[1] On 23 September 1857, the town was granted aCharter of Incorporation,[2][4] spanning the twotownships of the town, Wrexham Abbot and Wrexham Regis,[3] as well as part ofEsclusham Below. This charter lead to the forming of theborough of Wrexham, with aborough council (acorporation) and a position of mayor under the terms of theMunicipal Corporations Act 1835.[5][6][7][8] The position of mayor of the borough of Wrexham was first occupied by Thomas Edgworth.[1] In 1974, the post of Mayor of Wrexham Borough Council, was superseded by Mayor ofWrexham Maelor Borough Council withinClwyd.[9][10] Clwyd itself was abolished in 1996, following the enactment of theLocal Government (Wales) Act 1994,[11] with the position transferred to the newly established Wrexham County Borough Council, the council of the newly formed Wrexham County Borough.[8][11]
The mayor wears the "Mayor's Chain", dating to 1872. There are equivalent chains for the Mayoress, Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Mayoress. ACeremonial mace is carried in front of the mayor in civic proceedings, and dates back to 1866.[12]
Wrexham became a city in September 2022.[13]
The Mayor of Wrexham, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Wrexham, is elected by members of Wrexham County Borough Council at their annual meeting. Presently, the position is usually held for one year for the appointed councillor, although past mayors have held the post for more than two years.[1]
The mayor is theFirst Citizen of Wrexham County Borough and a figurehead for the council. Their position is to represent the entire county borough, acting as a link between the council and citizens, and symbolically represent continuity, an open society (by elected irrespective of class, gender, or ethnicity), and a figure in times of crisis, tragedy or triumph.[14]
Administratively, the mayor presides over council meetings and at civic functions, and acts as atiebreaker in the event of equal votes in the council. They have precedence at any function within the county borough, including over government ministers,MPs andMSs, but except in the presence of theMonarch,British royal family, or theLord Lieutenant of Clwyd.[14][15]
During their one-year term, the mayor is expected to contribute to five formal civic events through the year. The five events being; the council's annual meeting, civic visit to Church,Royal Welch Fusiliers Reunion Weekend, a charity ball, and the annualremembrance service.[14] Outside these more formal events, the mayor is expected to be attending 400 other engagements.[1]
Each mayor nominates a charity or charities to receive funds that have been fundraised during their term. The mayor may also request donations to other causes.[14]
The Wrexham County BoroughCoat of arms is inherited from Wrexham Maelor, which is itself derived from the two authorities preceding Wrexham Maelor, the borough of Wrexham and Wrexham Rural District.[14]
The current mayor for the 2025/2026 term is Councillor Tina Mannering of Gwersyllt East since 21 May 2025, with Jeremy Kent of Gresford East/West as deputy.[14][16] Previous deputy mayors are usually promoted to mayor the following year by convention in Wrexham,[17][18] however the 2022/2023 deputy mayor was suspended and withdrew their candidacy to serve as mayor for the following term.[19][20]
A list of the mayors of Wrexham County Borough Council and its predecessor councils is present on thecouncil's website.[21]
