Basingstoke's new mayor to support community swimming pool appeal
He'll raise funds to restore a pool in Whitchurch
Basingstoke's new mayor is to raise moeny during his yera in office to help restore a swimming pool in Whitchurch for community use.
Cllr Colin Phillimore was first elected as a borough councillor in 2015, representing the Overton, Laverstoke and Freefolk ward which later became Whitchurch, Overton and Laverstoke.
He's named the Whitchurch community swimming pool as one of his two official charities - the other being St Michael's hospice.
The pool has already been leased from Testbourne School but is in a poor state of repair.
Trustees of the Whitchurch community swimming pool say the finacial challenge is 'significant'.
Honoured
Cllr Phillimore said: “I am really pleased to be the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane for 2025/26. It is a serious role, steeped in history and I am honoured to be chosen to serve.
"Having lived in the area all of my life I have witnessed great changes, but my focus is, and always will be, the people in the communities that we serve. I am looking forward to getting out around the borough and meeting as many of them as possible during the year."
Cllr Phillimore has lived in the borough of Basingstoke and Deane all his life, either in Overton or Whitchurch and can trace his family history back to 1600 in Steventon.
He attended Overton C of E Primary School and later Queen Mary’s Grammar School in Basingstoke. After leaving school he had several local jobs, before settling on a career in accountancy. He has worked as an accountant in the motor trade for the last 40 years.
Cllr Phillimore’s charity appeal for 2025/26 will support two local charities that are very close to his heart.
The Whitchurch Community Swimming Pool, which aims to bring the pool located at Testbourne School back into operational use for the community.
St. Michael’s Hospice which supports local people with a life-limiting illness, facing the end-of-life, or experiencing bereavement by providing free, compassionate, palliative support and specialist care to patients either at the hospice or at home.
The Deputy Mayor for Basingstoke and Deane during 2025 to 2026 is Cllr Jacky Tustain.
More information on the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane is on the council’s website www.basingstoke.gov.uk/mayor