Councillor Tina Foster has stood down as Swanage town mayor and passed the chain of office over to councillor Mike Bonfield, who was elected for a fifth term as mayor.
Also at the Swanage Town Council annual meeting on Monday 19th May 2025, councillor Chris Moreton stepped aside as deputy mayor and councillor Chris Tomes was elected in his place.
Councillor Tina Foster transfers the mayoral chain of office to councillor Mike Bonfield, despite the height difference!
Election of mayor
At the beginning of the meeting, tributes were paid to councillor Bill Trite who sadly died recently, and a name card marked where he usually sat in the chamber.
Then it was on with the business and the election of the mayor and deputy mayor, along with the chairs of each of the five committees.
Mike Bonfield, a well known local taxi driver, is the only Swanage mayor to have served four consecutive terms, and now he has returned for a fifth year.
He was first elected as a Swanage town councillor in 2012 and then stepped up as mayor in 2017. He had intended to stand down as mayor in 2020 but delayed his departure for a year to provide continuity for the council during the pandemic.
Now he’s back to lead the council through the initial stages of the costly project of stabilising part of the Swanage seafront including Sandpit Field, among other challenges.
A name card marked councillor Bill Trite’s usual seat
New duo – Swanage town mayor Mike Bonfield (left) with Swanage deputy mayor Chris Tomes (right)
“Commitment to serve our community”
In his acceptance speech, watched on by his wife Audrey and members of his family, Mike Bonfield said:
“Thank you for the honour of electing me as your leader once again.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to councillor Foster and her consort Les for their unwavering dedication over the past three years. You have led by example and have worked tirelessly to keep us all on track. Sometimes that is not easy.
“Additionally, I extend my appreciation to councillor Moreton and deputy mayoress Liz for their invaluable contributions to our council and town. On behalf of the council and the town of Swanage, thank you all for your efforts.
“This past year has been challenging – we welcomed six new councillors after the elections, and I recognise the steep learning curve they faced. I appreciate the time and effort all councillors have devoted to getting up to speed with council matters. I want to reiterate that once elected, we are all Swanage town councillors, united in our commitment to serve our community.
“Looking ahead, we have exciting and challenging projects in the pipeline, including the multi-function centre at the football club, essential stabilisation works, and the flood alleviation scheme. I urge everyone to participate in the consultations designed to gather public input, as your views are vital in guiding the council’s decisions.
“These initiatives will require our collective engagement, along with other important tasks that await our attention. I also want to take a moment to acknowledge our council staff, who are a tremendous asset to Swanage. I kindly ask the town clerk and managers to convey our appreciation to them for all their hard work and dedication.
“Lastly, I must express my gratitude to my wife Audrey and my family for their continued support in all my endeavours. I cannot conclude without recognising the wonderful people of our great town of Swanage. We are truly fortunate to have such a vibrant community and I thank you all for your commitment and support. Thank you.”
The councillors elect a new mayor
The boards at the back of the chamber display the names of the Swanage mayors elected over the last 50 years
Deputy mayor
Newly elected deputy mayor, Chris Tomes first became a Swanage councillor in 2019 and chairs the Tourism and Local Economy committee.
This is the first time that Chris, who works at his family-owned business Costcutter, has been deputy mayor.
Councillor Chris Tomes (left) takes over as deputy mayor from councillor Chris Moreton (right)
Committees 2025 / 26
- Community Services – Chaired by councillor Chris Moreton
- Environment and Green Spaces – Chaired by councillor Cliff Sutton
- Personnel – Chaired by councillor Sarah Vile
- Planning and Consultation – Chaired by councillor Tina Foster
- Tourism and Local Economy – Chaired by councillor Chris Tomes
Further information
- More about Swanage Town Council is on its website
