Gloucester City Council has unveiled a new mayor and sheriff, with Liberal Democrat councillor Ashley Bowkett becoming the 545th mayor of Gloucester and councillor Linda Castle taking up the role of sheriff and deputy mayor.
Representing the council and city of Gloucester at civic, community and ceremonial events, the mayor is considered the first citizen of the city and also acts as chair of the council.
Mayor Ashley Bowkett was born in Hereford, has lived in Gloucester since 2011 and was first elected to the city council in 2019.
Having had a 20-year career in international television production and broadcasting, which saw him receive a Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood award in 2018, he now works as an artificial intelligence prompt engineer and is keen to share his skills and expertise with the younger generation.
The announcement of his appointment was made at Gloucester City Council's annual meeting this May 2025, where he said he was 'deeply honoured' to accept the role and made a promise to 'listen and act with compassion to carry the city forward', according to Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter.
Liberal Democrat councillor for Hucclecote, Declan Wilson, who proposed Ashley for mayor, said he 'represented the best of the city and what it can become'.
He added: 'Ashley has always struck me as someone who understands that listening is just as important as speaking. It’s all about helping people and bringing them together.
'Ashley brings a global perspective, technical knowledge, local dedication and a grounded human approach to this chamber.'
Describing how he lost his father at a young age, Ashley said his focus would be on standing up for young people, acknowledging the unique challenges they face from social media, digital overwhelm and anxiety about the future.
He said: 'The journey I’ve had so far compels me to pay it forward. It turns out one of my most important decisions that I made returning from an expat career abroad was to settle in Gloucester 14 years ago.
'And here we are today. It is a city like no other, rich in history, full of character and bursting with potential. It is a city of strong caring communities, bold ideas and a shared spirit that carries us through challenging times toward a future of opportunity.
'That future lies more than ever in the hands of young people.'
Sheriff Linda Castle declared it 'a great honour and privilege' to be appointed the 895th sheriff of Gloucester and thanked outgoing mayor Lorraine Campbell and sheriff Pam Tracey.
Liberal Democract councillor for Longlevens, where she was born, Linda was first elected as a city councillor in 2021 and worked at Nuclear Electric and within the NHS in complaints, blood services and clinical systems before she retired.
She said: 'Anything is possible, but you have to enjoy what you are doing. Believe in yourself, everyone has a strength of some kind.’
The mayor's chosen charities for the 2025 civic year are Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity and the James Hopkins Trust.
