New mayor and deputy mayor nominated

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Cllr Nick Daubney will be nominated as Mayor of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk and as Chairman of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk for the coming year at the mayormaking ceremony on Thursday 10 May at King’s Lynn Town Hall.

Nick Daubney was born in Holbeach hospital in 1950. He attended Pinchbeck Primary School and later Ashville College in Harrogate.

He left school after GCE O-levels wanting to pursue a career in motor manufacture. After much research, he applied for an apprenticeship with the David Brown Corporation in an attempt to fulfil his dream to build Aston Martin cars. His joy at succeeding was somewhat tempered when he attended the David Brown apprentice school and was handed a pair of overalls, the colour of which indicated that he was destined to be sent to the David Brown tractor works.

After the tractor division became part of a huge American conglomerate, Nick became sales promotions manager; a position he held until moving to King’s Lynn to join his father in business.

Nick developed a local personal finance company into one of the UK’s largest independent brokers.

More recently Nick worked with, and for, various business support enterprises and spent some really very satisfying years working with individuals starting their own business.

During his time in school, though the first to confess his rather lacklustre academic performance, Nick was very keen on scouting and outdoor activity, and in fact won the school scouting award and Harrogate patrol leaders competition. No surprise then that he went on to enjoy time as a part-time infantry soldier with the Yorkshire Yeomanry.

Nick caught his father’s bug for motor sport and entered his first major autocross event at 15 years old, scoring a second overall position. Later in life he joined the King’s Lynn and District Motor Club and enjoyed club rallying until quite recently. He and Cheryl now enjoy more leisurely motoring with their MGB, and Nick serves on the MG Owners Club committee.

Nick became interested in politics while still an apprentice and later became a staff representative and member of the TASS trades union. He was a keen member of the Conservative Trade Unionists. He joined the Conservative party at about 20 years old and was a branch chairman in Huddersfield. He has twice served as constituency chairman in North West Norfolk.

Nick was elected to the borough council in 1999, and was elected deputy opposition leader. Four years later he was elected deputy leader and regeneration and economic development portfolio holder. In 2007 he was elected leader of the council; a position he held until retirement two years ago.

Since moving to west Norfolk in 1981, Nick embraced the very strong local networks, and has served as president of the King’s Lynn Rotary Club and the West Norfolk Business and Professional Club. He also chaired Festival Too, an organisation he has been a committee member of since 1986. He has been a long-term member of the Chamber of Commerce, and served on the West Norfolk Chamber council.

Encouraged by the Mayor in post when Nick joined the council, and other local people, Nick applied for and developed King’s Lynn's membership of the Hanseatic League. The town joined in 2006 and Nick has served as the English Commissioner to the league since that time.

He has a daughter and is immensely proud of Kate who has achieved senior positions in primary education, and now he has a grandson, born just last year.

After moving to King’s Lynn, Nick met his wife Cheryl, then a hairdresser, and together they have developed local hairdressing businesses and latterly a ladies’ fashion business in Castle Rising.

Nick and Cheryl have shared a passion for west Norfolk for very many years. Cheryl was born in Railway Road in King’s Lynn and has introduced Nick to much of what west Norfolk has to offer. They both look forward to serving the borough as mayor and mayoress.

Cllr Daubney has chosen The Purfleet Trust and Night Shelter as the mayor’s charities for the year.

Cllr Geoff Hipperson and his wife Rose have been nominated as deputy mayor and deputy mayoress.

Geoff Hipperson was born in 1948, one of three children. His mother was from Derbyshire and his father a former Royal Air Force pilot. While attending Shouldham primary school Geoff was fortunate to be a pupil of an exceptional headmaster, David Johnson.

Now semi-retired, Geoff previously worked in a local farming partnership. Married to Rose since 1973 they have lived in Shouldham and have four children and a few grandchildren.

In addition to family commitments and farming, Geoff has been involved in several local organisations including Downham Market Young Farmers, secretary of the Pelicans Hockey Club, parish councillor and school governor.

Elected to the borough council in 1999, Geoff is a former cabinet member for the Environment, and was also a member of the original Freebridge Community Housing Board. He is currently on the resources and environmental panels and the planning committee.
More recently Geoff has helped with the opening of the King’s Arms community pub in Shouldham, and is a member of the management team.

Geoff is especially appreciative of being chosen as deputy mayor having unfortunately been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012. He asks that no one think any shaking, shuffling or loss of balance is caused by too much time in the community pub!

Geoff is looking forward to helping the mayor in the coming year and meeting even more of the fascinating residents and visitors to the borough.