New Leighton-Linslade Mayor and Deputy for 2026-27!
‘It is a real honour to be re-elected for a second term of office’
At the Town Council meeting held on 18 May 2026, Councillor Kevin Pughe was elected Chairman (Town Mayor) of the Council until May 2027, with Councillor Nanci Hogan elected as Vice-Chair (Deputy Mayor).
As a long-term town councillor and former Mayor in 2023-24, Kevin is very familiar with the demands and privileges of being Mayor – from Chairing the regular meetings of Full Council to representing the Council, and the town, at a whole range of events, both locally and further afield.
In his last term as Mayor, Kevin raised £9,000 for local charities and is looking forward to doing the same in the coming year. “It is a real honour to be re-elected for a second term of office” said Councillor Pughe “and I can’t wait to get out into the community to find out more about the many fantastic projects, activities and services taking place and to thank all the volunteers who give their time so generously to benefit residents of the town”.
His new Deputy, Councillor Nanci Hogan, is relatively new to the Town Council having been co-opted to join last June. She and her husband moved to Leighton-Linslade 14 years ago, having been impressed by the community spirit in the town. With extensive experience in the public sector and a history of volunteering for charities, Nanci is thrilled to be elected Deputy Mayor and is looking forward to all it entails.
Working together, Kevin and Nanci are now developing a list of local charities and initiatives they would like to support, as well as drafting a programme of both civic and charity fundraising events for the coming year.
Councillors Pughe and Hogan joined with the whole Council in thanking outgoing Mayor and Deputy, Councillors David Bligh and James Emm, for their two years of hard work and service to the town, having attended a vast array of events and raising over £17,000 over two years for local charities and voluntary organisations.
The new Mayor and Deputy were honoured to be invited to attend the commemoration of 15 years since the end of the Iraq war on Friday, 22 May, organised by the Leighton Buzzard Branch of the Royal British Legion.
From July, Councillor Pughe looks forward to writing his monthly column for the LBO. In the meantime, do visit the Town Council website or social media channels for more information.