At an extraordinary meeting of Hertfordshire County Council, held on 26 November 2025, 19 former councillors were appointed as honorary aldermen in recognition of their service to the county. The meeting, which was the last to be held in the Council Chamber at County Hall in Hertford, before meetings move to the Stevenage Campus, began with a brief introduction from Councillor Laurence Brass, Chairman of the Council, on the history and tradition of appointing honorary aldermen. The meeting concluded with the singing of the national anthem.

Honorary Alderman Appointments

In accordance with Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972¹, the council voted to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on 19 former members, recognising their eminent services to Hertfordshire. The nominees, all of whom had previously served as Hertfordshire County Councillors, were each proposed and seconded, with a vote taken for each appointment.

The newly appointed Honorary Aldermen are:

• David Andrews (served 2009-2025)
• Philip John Bibby (served 2009-2013 and 2017-2025)
• Stephen John Bolton (served 2017-2025)
• Anne Patricia Brewster (served 2017-2023)
• Robert Cyril Deering (served 2017-2025)
• Terence Liam Francis Douris (served 2009-2025)
• Lesley Jane Greensmyth (served 2018-2025)
• Teresa Catherine Heritage (served 2008-2025)
• Fiona Ronan Greenwood Hill (served 2009-2025)
• Nicholas Arnold Hollinghurst (served 2005-2021)
• Terence William Hone (served 2009-2025)
• Jeffery Richard Jones (served 2017-2025)
• Asif Kaleem Khan (served 2017-2025)
• David Edward Lloyd (served 1999-2017)
• Paul Vincent Mason (served 2013-2025)
• Mark Bevis James Mills-Bishop (served 2013-2025)
• Baroness Sharon Jane Taylor (served 2008-2024)
• Richard Arthur Charles Thake (served 2006-2025)
• Christopher James White (served 1993-2025)

Each of the new Honorary Aldermen was presented with an engraved pendant.

Many of those appointed gave a short speech, including David Lloyd, who said:

There is, by the way, no, no truth whatsoever in the scurrilous rumour that a box load of medals and badges was found in County Hall as they were clearing it out towards the new building. And that therefore they said, who will have that that take that on? That man Lloyd will probably have one. There's no truth whatsoever in that scurrilous rumour.

Background to the meeting

According to the Summons and Agenda - Extraordinary Meeting, the power to appoint Honorary Aldermen is granted to the council under Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Summons and Agenda - Extraordinary Meeting states that the title can only be conferred upon past members of the council who are not councillors at the date of the meeting, and that any such appointment must be made by a resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members voting at a special meeting of the council.

The Summons and Agenda - Extraordinary Meeting also notes that Honorary Aldermen are entitled to attend and take part in such civic ceremonies as the council may from time to time decide, but they do not have any specific right to participate in the ordinary business of the council.

Deferral of Minutes

Consideration of the minutes from the previous County Council meeting on 21 October 2025, and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 19 November 2025, was deferred until the next ordinary meeting on 9 December 2025.