Welcome to the Staff Section.

Mr Freddy Davey: Sergeant at Mace for Beccles Town Council

Have had the pleasure of carrying out the duties of Sergeant at Mace for Beccles since May 2009, when my predecessor John Allport retired, and I was aware that John would be a hard act to follow.

I have enjoyed living in Beccles for over 35 years, and I have spent much of my career in uniform as a Police Officer, although it was not as grand as the uniform which I now wear as Sergeant at Mace.

I have found that the duties of the Sergeant at Mace are very agreeable, especially as I am interested in social history and tradition, and it had led to me meeting many interesting people both within Beccles and at civic functions in other areas.

It is an historic post going back some 800 years, during which time our towns and cities have been overseen by Councils led by Mayors.

Mace Bearers have been appointed to attend upon the Mayor at civic functions, parades, etc and to bear the mace.

In the case of Beccles, unusually we have two identical maces which are quite small but very attractive. They include the town's seals, and they were given to the town when the Charter was granted by Queen Elizabeth I in year 1584, so it is a privilege to bear these maces which are part of the history of the town. Rest assured that I guard them very carefully when they are in my care !

Mrs Bernie Broom: Town Clerk

I joined Beccles Town Council on 1st December 2003, working part time as the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer, having worked all my life with accounts.

On 1st November 2006 I was promoted to Town Clerk which includes the role of Responsible Financial Officer.

The new post has been very different from anything I have undertaken before but I enjoy working with the Deputy Town Clerk and have also gained the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) which means the Council can now work towards Quality
Parish Status.

I was born in Leicester but have lived in Suffolk since 1968. I am married with three children and four grandchildren. My eldest daughter lives in Calgary, Canada, my youngest daughter in Oulton Broad and my son, due to get married this year, near Beccles.

Mrs Jula Janney: Deputy Town Clerk

I was born and bred just up the road, in Lowestoft. I worked as Secretary of a welding business based at Ellough Airfield before my marriage in June 1973 after which I became a permanent resident of Beccles. I also worked at Wm Clowes in the Production Planning Department.

I have worked for Beccles Town Council since 1987 when I started as Secretary for 8 hours per week under the guidance of the then Town Clerk, Fred Leah. I had been at home looking after my husband and bringing up our three children for 12 years and was
extremely nervous, but soon got into the swing of things. As I had worked in local government after leaving Lowestoft college, MAFF, I thought it wouldn’t be too different, how wrong was I?

The workings of a town council are very different from anything I have experienced before in my working life. Having 16 bosses (+ the Town Clerk) to work for and also dealing with the general public was a real learning curve, but I have felt quite at home and have made many, many friends and associates during the 20 years behind my desk at the Town Hall!

I remarried in June 2006 and in November I was promoted to Deputy Town Clerk. I undertook and passed the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) in March 2008 , which will mean that, through this qualification, achieved also by the Town Clerk, Beccles can look forward to becoming a Quality Parish Status council.
I have three children all living in Beccles, and 6 grandchildren, all of which I am extremely proud.