Meet the new Mayor

At 35, Richard Walters is thought to be Shipston’s youngest-ever Mayor. Since arriving in town five years ago, a place they felt they could ‘take root’, Richard and his wife Becky have thrown themselves into the civic life. Richard joined the Town Council where he has been an active member of the general purposes working group. His work has included helping secure official recognition of Shipston Cemetery as a Commonwealth War Graves site and supporting the installation of a new memorial commemorating one of the cemetery’s five world war casualties.

An ex-Reservist, Richard is a member of the town’s Royal British Legion, and Becky, who was a regular soldier specialising in bomb disposal, has organised the Poppy Appeal for Shipston and surrounding villages. In his day job, Richard is head of operational excellence at Shoosmiths solicitors having previously worked for the Ministry of Defence. Richard has a Masters in medieval history and an impressive wine qualification (WSET level three). He is also a keen rugby fan – supporting Gloucester, where he grew up – and is often to be seen out walking his two springer spaniels Leto and Freya.