MEMBERS OF THE COURT LEET
About The Members
The Court comprises 24 Jurors, including the Bailiff, the Low Bailiff, and the Foreman, Ealdermen, and Officers appointed to roles such as Steward, Beadle, Herald, Chaplain, and Sergeant at Mace.
Posts held by Jurors include Ale Tasters, Bread Weigher, Fish Taster, Flesh Taster, Cheese Taster, Town Brook Looker, Surveyor of Buildings, Overseer of Pavements, and Surveyor of Parks & Open Spaces. 10 Jurors also act as Constables for the North, South, and West Wards of Warwick.
Jury membership of the Court is open to residents of Warwick, or persons having a business connection within Warwick, who over a lengthy period have gained great knowledge of the town or significantly contributed to its betterment.
The Court is a self-funded organisation upholding English traditions and remains a legal body within English Law, with limited legal jurisdiction as specified by Administration of Justice Act 1977.
The Court Leet Jurors, from amongst its members, traditionally appoint officers who report annually.
The Court Leet of The Worshipful Town Mayor
and Chief Burgesses of Warwick
The Lord of the Leet
The Mayor of Warwick
The Mayor of Warwick is appointed Lord of the Leet at the Annual Court, held in the autumn, and chairs the meeting. The Mayor is invited to join all Court activities during their term of office.
Roles held by Jurors
The Bailiff
Roy Glassborow
Appointed annually, the Bailiff is the figurehead and the senior officer of the Court with special responsibilities for representing the Court at Civic and neighbouring Court events. The Bailiff chairs the Court meetings, apart from the Annual Court that can be chaired by the Mayor as Lord of the Leet.
The Low Bailiff
Mike Brittain
Appointed annually to support the Bailiff, and to act as successor when the Bailiff steps down.
The Foreman
Mark Robertson
As in the case of a legal Jury the Foreman is elected to act as spokesperson for the Jurors and ensures that the Jurors are kept up to date with information about Court and Civic business. The Foreman also receives and deliberates on any Presentments received by the Court.
The Ale Tasters
Simon Garwood & Keith Hinton
The Ale Taster and the Deputy Ale Taster are tasked with ensuring the supply of ale throughout the town is of sufficient quantity and quality to meet the needs of Warwick’s residents.
The Overseer of Pavements
Peter Knell
Responsible for reporting on any ‘decay of pavements’ either in repair or cleanliness inhibiting the free passage of the town’s residents.
The Surveyor of Buildings
James Mackay
Reports on buildings at risk within Warwick due to the decline in their condition to the detriment of the town’s heritage and environment.
The Town Brook Looker
Matt Halford
To report on any impediment to the free-flowing condition of the waterways through and around Warwick (an important function before the installation of modern sewage systems!).
Surveyor of Parks & Open Spaces
Mo Hooper
To monitor and report on the conditions and any matters of concern regarding green and open spaces across the town.
The Bread Weigher
Janet Shaw
Responsible for checking that the weight of loaves and butter being offered for sale in the Town is correct.
The Cheese Taster
Jonathan Wassall
Assesses the freshness, texture, and taste of cheese available to residents of Warwick to be sure it is good and wholesome.
The Fish Taster
Mark Davidson
They have the task of ensuring that all fish offered for sale in the Town is of good quality and is not “rotten or rancid”.
The Flesh Taster
Peter Round
The flesh taster will ensure that the meat offered for sale in the Town is of good quality and is not “rotten or rancid”
Ward Constables
North Ward: Janet Shaw, Mo Hooper
South Ward: Janet Honnoraty, Jenny Caborn, Peter Knell, Gail Warrington
West Ward: John Atkinson, Keith Hinton, Mo Sutherland, John Fletcher
Roles held by Officers
The Steward
Jayne Topham
In medieval times, the Steward was a legal executive and Judge to the Court. The Steward is the Lord of the Leet’s representative and acts in an advisory capacity to the Court.
The Beadle
Michael Reddy
The Beadle is the Court Crier and Usher, or Summoning Officer, charged with the duty of assuring the punctual appearance at the Court.
The Herald
Michael Honnoraty
Duties are maintenance of the Court diary, to include Civic and Court events and those of adjoining Courts, to seek to publicise any Juror vacancies.
The Digital Herald
Richard Eddy
Responsible for publicising and publishing the Court Leet and its activities on its website and social media channels.
The Court Leet Sergeant at Mace
Terry Gardner
The Sergeant bears the Town Mace, preceding the Mayor when attending Court Leet functions. He is supported by the Assistant Sergeant at Mace, Will Spraggett.
Chaplain to the Court Leet
Father Patrick Mileham
The Chaplain is a clergyman who gives religious blessings at functions and conducts services for the Court Leet.
If the Court Leet’s proceedings and terminology used sounds anachronistic in today’s terms, the Court’s existence is just as important today as it was in its origins. The Court is a non-political, independent advisory body of Jurors collectively with great local knowledge, seeking to improve matters considered amiss for the betterment and good governance of Warwick.