Chairman of Council for 2010 to 2011

Epping Forest District Council, like many District Councils, has a Chairman rather than a Mayor. The Chairman is elected by their fellow Councilors each year in May and serves for a term of one year. The Chairman is the First Citizen of the District.

History of the Coat of Arms

Chairman Mrs Anne Grigg

The Chairman of Epping Forest District Council is an outdoor girl, originally from the Highlands of Scotland.

Councillor Anne Grigg became chairman at the Annual Council meeting on 25 May 2010.

Previously a member of the Council’s cabinet, she held the Planning portfolio. It has been a long journey for Anne who was born near Inverness but made her home in North Weald some 34 years ago.

“We have family in the north of Scotland. My husband Ian and I return each year to visit them and the Scottish lochs and mountains but we have made our home in Epping Forest District.” Says Anne. “We enjoy the semi rural life and country environment around North Weald and Hastingwood with fields close at hand. And I love growing things as a member of the North Weald Horticultural Society.”

Anne is also a member of the Royal British Legion and the local Preservation Society. She helps out each month at the senior citizens’ Ploughman’s lunch held in North Weald Village Hall and from time to time can be seen helping out in the Village Hall bar at local community events.

Since retiring from Essex County Council, Learning Services, Anne works two afternoons a week as a volunteer in the Cancer Research UK shop in Epping.

“Nearly everyone knows somebody who has suffered from cancer.” says Anne. “It is very important to raise funds for scientific research to find a cure. I have taken part in the 5km Cancer Research UK “Race for Life” on North Weald Airfield several times and hope to do so again this year. I am always impressed by the huge numbers of women who turn out, sometimes in very wet conditions, to raise money. The atmosphere at Race for Life is absolutely fantastic. Everyone feels they are doing something really worthwhile.”

Cancer Research UK is one of the charities Anne is supporting in her year of office. She found it difficult to choose just one charity from so many good causes and eventually decided also to support St Clare’s Hospice at Hastingwood, Chigwell Riding Trust for children and adults with special needs and the Air Ambulance based at North Weald Airfield.

Anne has enjoyed a long career in local government. She worked in the local library when she first moved to North Weald. 

She has served as a North Weald Parish Councillor for 19 years, having formerly been employed as its Parish Clerk for over three years.

It was a chance encounter with a former Parish Councillor that encouraged her to stand for the Parish Council where she has served as Chairman for 3 years.

This fired her interest in local politics and she successfully stood for election to the District Council in 1998.

Anne has represented the ward of North Weald Bassett for the past 12 years.

The ward originally included the villages of North Weald, Hastingwood and Thornwood but following a boundary change, Hastingwood and Thornwood villages were moved into other District wards.

Among Anne’s other interests outside Council activities are walking, reading, gardening and playing outdoor and indoor bowls. She is a member of North Weald Wireless Station Bowls Club. She said: “There is a wonderfully friendly atmosphere amongst the bowlers. I am currently ladies consistency champion and mixed pairs champion. We regularly compete against other clubs in Essex and East Herts. It’s great to look forward to a summer of blue skies and warm sunshine in which to play bowls.”

“The reality, of course, is that bowlers have to play whatever the weather - but even on the wettest of days the friendly atmosphere and banter remains.”

Vice-Chairman

Councillor Mrs Anne Grigg became the new Chairman of Epping Forest District Council at its annual meeting on Tuesday 25 May 2010. The Vice-Chairman for 2009 to 2010 is Councillor Ken Angold-Stephens.

Chairman's Charity

The Chairman selects a charity or good cause to support during their year of office.

• View the Chairman's Charities

Chairman's Diary

The Chairman attends a considerable number of events in the District during her term of office.

• View the Chairman's diary

Inviting the Chairman

The Chairman attends functions and events in the District.

• Invite the Chairman to an event

Past Chairman of Council

From 1974 to presesnt there have been 34 past Chairman of Council.

• Past Chairmen of Council

« back