A Borough councillor for 24 years, Alderman Andy Hutchings has been invested as Chief Ranger of Honorary Court Highclere No. 1 Weymouth of the Ancient Order of Foresters, founded in the town 128 years ago.
The Honorary Court has met in Weymouth four times a year since 17 October 1887, when it was founded by Pelly Hooper, Town Clerk of Weymouth & Melcombe Regis for over 20 years.
Born and bred in Weymouth, Andy Hutchings has lived all his life in the town, part of many local organisations, including chairmanship of the Over 50s forum. In June, he was re-elected as a Public Governor of Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust for a third three year term.
Andy worked for 34 years at Portland Naval Base, where he was a Stores Officer. He has a great interest in local history and has amassed a large collection of postcards from local photographer Edwin Seward, who was active from 1905 to 1955. He has co-authored two books of these Weymouth postcards with his friend Geoff Pritchard. He volunteers as a friend of Upwey railway station and with his colleagues, keeps the station platforms, bridges and car parks clean, tidy and free from litter.
“I am very honoured to become Chief Ranger of one of the oldest organisations in the Borough and will do all I can to promote the ideals of Honorary Court Highclere No. 1,” comments Alderman Andy Hutchings. “We open the court with the exact same form of words as my predecessor used in October 1887.”
The new Chief Ranger’s chosen charity for his year is the National Coastwatch Institution at Portland Bill.
Michel Hooper-Immins is the new Sub Chief Ranger and will take over the presidency next year. Munro Ross, formerly General Manager of the Crown Hotel, has been the Court’s Secretary since 1996 and the Treasurer is Tom Savage. Among the brethren, as members are known, are two Past Mayors- Alderman Peter Rendall and Freeman of the Borough Alderman Roy Gainey- who is also the longest serving member, having joined in April 1974.
Michel Hooper-Immins
