The words “Mayor” and “Major” derive from the same Latin word “Magnus”, meaning great. The office of Mayor, together with the Doomsday Book and the feudal system, were brought to this country by the Normans (the office has existed on the European continent since at least the fifth century).
The position of Mayor is one of the most ancient offices in British history and has undergone many changes in its role, importance, and public perception throughout the centuries. The first English Mayor was the Mayor of London, Henry Fitz-Ailwin, appointed in 1189 by Richard I.
A few important dates relating to the Mayor of Lowestoft:
The first Mayor of Lowestoft was William Youngman, elected in 1885 when the Lowestoft Borough Council was established.
In 1974 the Borough was abolished, by this time the Borough had been served by fifty-five Mayors.
During the First World War (1914-1918)the position of Mayor was held by J. W. Brooke (1913-1916) and Mayor F. Spashett (1916-1918)
During the Second World War (1939-1945) the position of Mayor was held by S. W. Humphrey
