Nick Gazzard, Founder and CEO of The Hollie Gazzard Trust is to be the Mock Mayor of Barton for 2024/25, writes Martin Kirby.
Nick is well known and respected in Gloucestershire and beyond for his devotion to helping victims of domestic abuse, something of which he has personal experience.
Following the murder of his daughter, Hollie, by her former partner in February 2014, he felt strongly that something positive should come out of Hollie’s death and so he created the Hollie Gazzard Trust.
His tireless hard work for the trust is expanding across the country and Nick is determined to try and prevent similar tragedies by increasing awareness of domestic abuse and stalking, and the devastating effect it causes.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Hollie Gazzard Trust and over the past decade, the Trust has blossomed into a powerful force for positive change.
Nick’s dedication came to the attention of The Court Leet of Barton St Mary and he was invited to take up the role of Mock Mayor of Barton by its members.
These days the role of Mock Mayor is strictly non-political and very much a ‘fun’ position but its origins lie in the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660.
Charles II was none too pleased with Gloucester because the city stood against his Father during the English Civil War. As a punishment, he reduced the city’s boundaries, thus leaving the area we know as Barton and Tredworth, outside the city. This meant the people living in what was then the parish of Barton St Mary were left without a Mayor, so they decided to make their own.
Traditionally, the position went to the person who had made the biggest fool of himself throughout the year! However, these days it is bestowed upon someone deemed to have done good work in the community.
Gloucester’s Town Crier, Alan Myatt, is full of praise for the way Nick has turned something so tragic into a positive force for good.
Alan said; “ Nick is exactly the type of person we need as an ambassador for the tradition of Mock Mayor and for Gloucester as a whole. I’m sure he will make an outstanding Mock Mayor.”
Through his work with the Trust, Nick has been instrumental in developing concepts including Hollie Guard, a next-generation smartphone personal safety app. Hollie Guard is recommended by many police forces, charities and algencies across the country for those experiencing domestic abuse and stalking.
“I feel honoured to have been chosen for the position of Mock Mayor,” Nick said, “and I will do my best to play my part in keeping this unique tradition going. The appointment came out of the blue and was a great surprise but I will certainly do everything I can to repay the Court Leet’s faith in me.”
At a time-honoured ceremony in the City Centre, Nick will be formally installed as Mock Mayor of Barton and meet the Mayor of Gloucester after leading a parade through the ‘Gate Streets’.
The Mayor of Barton’s parade sets off from Constitution Walk at 11.00am on Saturday September 7th 2024 and will make its way to King’s Square, where the ceremony will take place.
September 7th is also ‘Gloucester Day’ which celebrates the lifting of the Siege Of Gloucester in 1643. A second parade to mark this occasion begins at 2.00pm, also leaving from Constitution Walk
