Councillor Shirley Niblock is set to become Chesterfield’s 385th Mayor and will lead a celebration parade on Saturday 16 May.
Councillor Niblock will be sworn in as civic head for the borough at Chesterfield Borough Council’s Annual Council Meeting on Wednesday 13 May.
Her husband, Paul Niblock, will take up the role of Mayor’s Consort. Councillor Nick Redihough will be appointed as Deputy Mayor with his wife, Yukashi Redihough, serving as Deputy Mayoress.
Chesterfield residents can come and celebrate Chesterfield’s new Mayor at the annual Civic Parade which will take place from 10.15am on Saturday 16 May in the town centre. The parade will include a procession through the town and a service at the Church of St Mary and All Saints (Crooked Spire).
Councillor Shirley Niblock said: "It's an honour to take on this role and I'm looking forward to meeting members of the community at events across the year. Throughout my year I will be raising funds for two fantastic charities that I have chosen to support through the Mayor's appeal."
The Mayor’s Appeal will be raising funds for Arthritis UK and Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity, to help raise funds for the Macmillan Ward at the hospital.
The Civic Parade is an opportunity to celebrate the new Mayor. The parade will leave from the Town Hall on Rose Hill at 10.40am and will head through the town centre to the Church of St Mary and All Saints (Crooked Spire) where there will be a service at 11am. At noon the parade will return to the Town Hall.
There will be several dignitaries from across Derbyshire in attendance at the parade, along with Aldermen and former Mayors of Chesterfield, and groups such as the Royal British Legion and uniformed youth organisations.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the parade and church service, with seats being allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Councillor Shirley Niblock and Paul Niblock replace Councillor Barry Dyke and Marie Dyke who served as Mayor and Mayoress for the 2025 to 2026 civic year.
About the Mayor, Councillor Shirley Niblock
Shirley was born in Ashbourne but lived in Quarndon as her father Charles Brown was the “Village Bobby” there. In 1960 he was transferred to Chesterfield and with mother Patricia and brother Tim, Shirley lived in a Police House on Foljambe Avenue, Walton.
She attended William Rhodes Junior School and then Manor Secondary School where she was the Head Girl. She was a Saturday Girl at Woolworths (on the fruit, veg and pet stall) where she met her lifelong friend Marian.
Shirley trained to be an Infant Teacher and during the summer holidays she worked at Robinson’s Portland Works. In 1974 she started at Whitwell Infant School where she stayed for 10 years before being transferred to Hady Primary School where she worked for 25 years becoming Deputy Head and, on several occasions, Acting Head.
In 1978, Shirley and her friend Clare formed Holywell Cross (Women’s) Morris, and they danced for several years either at events in Chesterfield or at pubs and well dressings in Derbyshire. They then joined up with the men to form Cock and Magpie Morris – named after the borough’s coat of arms. The group would dance around the world, including at Chesterfield’s four twin towns.
Through Morris dancing she met Paul and in August 1981 they were married in the Crooked Spire Church. They have a son, James, and two grandsons, Callum and Jude, who all live in Calgary, Canada.
In 2011 she became a Chesterfield Borough Councillor for West Ward, the area they have lived in for 45 years.
Shirley and Paul are members of Friends of the Inkerman (FOTi), and Spital Cemetery, Transition Chesterfield, Chesterfield Civic Society and Chesterfield Canal Trust and in Shirley’s case WASPi (Women Against State Pension Inequality).
About the Mayor’s Consort, Paul Niblock
Paul was born in Beckenham, Kent and grew up in South East London. His father David was a printer, mother Jose was a housewife and he has two younger sisters, Sarah and Jane.
After getting a degree in Chemistry and a PGCE, he taught science for a year. Paul decided on a career change in 1979. Moving to Chesterfield to become a trainee Trading Standards Officer with Derbyshire County Council. He thought he would move on when he qualified but discovered Morris Dancing, the Peak District and more importantly Shirley.
Paul worked for the council for 37 years and after retiring served as a Councillor at both the borough and county councils.
His love of walking led him to become a Walking for Health Leader, and he led walks in the Chesterfield Walking Festival. He enjoys cooking (Shirley has never cooked a family meal in their married life) and has trained as a barista, sushi chef and in numerous cuisines.
