The mayor of the council is elected annually and carries out our civic ceremonial duties and chairs meetings of the full council.
The Mayor of Chesterfield for 2026 to 2027 is 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).
The Mayor's Consort for 2026 to 2027 is 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.
Mayor’s charity
The Mayor’s Appeal will be raising funds for Chesterfield Royal Hospital Trust Charity, to raise money towards the Macmillan Ward in Chesterfield Royal Hospital, and to Arthritis UK.
You can donate to the Mayor’s Appeal by cash or cheque to:
Chesterfield Borough Council
Mayor’s Office
Town Hall
Rose Hill
Chesterfield
S40 1LP
Please address your cheques to Chesterfield Borough Council, and on the reverse, please state ‘Mayor’s Appeal’.
Cash and cheques can also be handed in or posted to the Town Hall reception.
Alternatively, you may contact the Mayor’s Office to organise a Bankers' Automated Clearing System (BACS) donation towards the Mayor’s Appeal. You can contact the Mayor's Office by phone at 01246 345239, mobile at 07497 913234, or email at mayors.office@chesterfield.gov.uk.