Ashbourne Town Council

14/10/2026

******SAVE THE DATE******
It's official The Mayor's Recognition Awards will take place in The Ballroom here at The Town Hall on March the 17th 2027. You can download a nomination form by visiting www.ashbournetowncouncil.gov.uk/mayors-recognition or by emailing [email protected] to either request a form by email or to collect a hard copy from The Town Hall.

In 2025 we decided to revamp and refresh our awards and we now have seven categories

Outstanding Community Champion Award
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award
Art and Culture Award
Outstanding Young Person
Environment Champion
Wellbeing Award
The Mayors Award for Unsung Hero
Please read the awards criteria on the attached application form.

We look forward to receiving your applications and hearing all about Ashbourne's unsung hero's.

13/10/2026

Tonight was the re-opening of the freshly refurbed Ashbourne Historical Centre. Sir Andrew Walker Okeover was welcomed by Ashbourne Town Mayor, Cllr Phil Chell and cut the ribbon in front of current councillors, Historical Centre staff and supporters of the centre

13/10/2026

We are here at Ashbourne Historical Centre with our Mayor Cllr Phil Chell to do the draw for who will be turning Ashbourne’s Christmas lights on during the festivities on the 21st of November. Good luck 🍀to all the nominees 🎄

13/10/2026

Ashbourne Town Mayor, Cllr Phil Chell will be doing the draw live tonight to choose who will be on stage with him on Saturday the 21st of November turning on Ashbourne’s Christmas lights, we hopefully will be going live around 5.30pm just before the re-opening of the new look Ashbourne Historical Centre
Good luck 🤞 to all those who have been nominated to assist Cllr Chell with this very important duty 🎄🎅

13/10/2026

I met with Tim Baker the Curator of Ashbourne Historical Centre here at the Town Hall ahead of tonight’s re-opening of the new look space. We are looking forward to welcoming our distinguished guests Sir Andrew Walker-Okeover and our Mayor, Cllr Phil Chell and here’s what Tim had to tell me and why we should visit.

12/10/2026

Ashbourne you have until noon tomorrow (13.10.26) to nominate Cllr Phil Chell will choose the lucky child from the box on a live stream on Tuesday night - good luck and if you can't get into The Ashbourne Historical Centre please email admin@ashbournetowncouncil with your name, the child's name and age along with a contact telephone number 🎄

🎄🎄Parents, Grandparents, Carer's, Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles, friends, group leaders, sports leaders and anyone else who can help us!! - We really do need your help, Ashbourne Town Council are asking you to nominate a child to switch on our Christmas Lights 🌠and light up our magnificent Christmas Tree 🎄🌠on Saturday the 21st of November 2026. 🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄
The event will take place at Ashbourne Market Place at 5.30pm and the winner will be drawn live on our page on the 13th of October 2026.
Before the Switch-On the winning child will be invited to meet The Mayor and local dignitaries (along with three members of their family ) to enjoy refreshments🍰🥤
To enter a child (ensure they are willing to switch on the lights) complete a nomination slip, which can be picked up from Ashbourne Historical Centre Mon - Sat 10.00-150.00 and post it in our sealed box and on Tuesday the 13th of October just before our Council Meeting, The Mayor, Cllr Phil Chell will pull one lucky winner from the box. Last date for nominations is the 13th at 12.00 noon. Please ensure the child you are nominating is willing to turn on the lights and you are willing to have your name and the child's name on social media and our website pages. If you are unable to pop into Ashbourne Historical Centre please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] for a nomination slip ✊

07/10/2026

On the 04th of October Cllr Phil Chell welcomed local dignitaries, fellow councillors, family, friends and colleagues to his Civic Service at St Oswald's Church. Sunday was the perfect Autumn day bright and sunny and The Reverend Dwayne Engh welcomed all the honoured guests to St Oswald's, the service was a celebration of Ashbourne, featuring the children's choir, MyForte and Ashbourne Town Band

After the service The Mayor welcomed everyone to The Royal Oak Mayfield , where a superb afternoon tea was served and enjoyed.

Cllr Chell stated that " being the Mayor is an honour, but also a great responsibility, and he is most grateful for all the support of fellow Councillors, family and friends".

All donations made on the day will go to The Mayor's chosen charities Ashbourne Stay and Play and The British Heart Foundation.

06/10/2026

Don't forget you have until the 13th of October at noon to get your nominations in, if you cannot get to Ashbourne Historical Centre you can email [email protected] for a nomination form- we look forward to hearing from you 🧑‍🎄🎄

🎄🎄Parents, Grandparents, Carer's, Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles, friends, group leaders, sports leaders and anyone else who can help us!! - We really do need your help, Ashbourne Town Council are asking you to nominate a child to switch on our Christmas Lights 🌠and light up our magnificent Christmas Tree 🎄🌠on Saturday the 21st of November 2026. 🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄
The event will take place at Ashbourne Market Place at 5.30pm and the winner will be drawn live on our page on the 13th of October 2026.
Before the Switch-On the winning child will be invited to meet The Mayor and local dignitaries (along with three members of their family ) to enjoy refreshments🍰🥤
To enter a child (ensure they are willing to switch on the lights) complete a nomination slip, which can be picked up from Ashbourne Historical Centre Mon - Sat 10.00-150.00 and post it in our sealed box and on Tuesday the 13th of October just before our Council Meeting, The Mayor, Cllr Phil Chell will pull one lucky winner from the box. Last date for nominations is the 13th at 12.00 noon. Please ensure the child you are nominating is willing to turn on the lights and you are willing to have your name and the child's name on social media and our website pages. If you are unable to pop into Ashbourne Historical Centre please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] for a nomination slip ✊

05/10/2026

🎄🎄Parents, Grandparents, Carer's, Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles, friends, group leaders, sports leaders and anyone else who can help us!! - We really do need your help, Ashbourne Town Council are asking you to nominate a child to switch on our Christmas Lights 🌠and light up our magnificent Christmas Tree 🎄🌠on Saturday the 21st of November 2026. 🧑‍🎄🧑‍🎄
The event will take place at Ashbourne Market Place at 5.30pm and the winner will be drawn live on our page on the 13th of October 2026.
Before the Switch-On the winning child will be invited to meet The Mayor and local dignitaries (along with three members of their family ) to enjoy refreshments🍰🥤
To enter a child (ensure they are willing to switch on the lights) complete a nomination slip, which can be picked up from Ashbourne Historical Centre Mon - Sat 10.00-150.00 and post it in our sealed box and on Tuesday the 13th of October just before our Council Meeting, The Mayor, Cllr Phil Chell will pull one lucky winner from the box. Last date for nominations is the 13th at 12.00 noon. Please ensure the child you are nominating is willing to turn on the lights and you are willing to have your name and the child's name on social media and our website pages. If you are unable to pop into Ashbourne Historical Centre please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] for a nomination slip ✊

30/09/2026

Now we are in the Brrrrrrr Months it's time to start thinking about Appeal, please keep hold of those shoeboxes and next time you are out shopping, maybe pop something into your basket for the box?? Below is a list of suggestions for the box and also definite NO's! we will be sharing drop off locations nearer to the time 🧑‍🎄🎄🎁👨‍👩‍👧‍👦