BROMSGROVE COURT LEET
Members of the Bromsgrove Court Leet
Bromsgrove Court Leet members each take on various roles and responsibilities within the Court, all of whom uphold the traditions of this ancient organisation.
​
The Court is answerable to the Lord of the Manor of Bromsgrove, who in medieval times was directly responsible to the King of England. The head of the Court is the Bailiff with the Reeve as second in command. The Lord of the Manor is represented by his Steward and the Court has a Marshal, Chappelyn, Bellman & Towncrier, Custodian of the Records & Herald, Treasurer and Market Master. Members of the Court Jury act as officers of the Court who are co-ordinated by the Foreman of the Jury and have roles such as Ale Taster, Breadweigher, Searcher and Sealer of Leather, Carniter, and Brook-looker – modern day trading standards.
The Jurymen swear an oath to take on the roles of Reeve and Bailiff in the future. The Headborough and Constable of the Court leads the Tythingmen who each have responsibility for their tything area (yield). Within the Manor of Bromsgrove there are thirteen tythings. Past Bailiffs of the Court are known as Ealdormen and three Ealdormen are elected as Affeerors to sit on the Inner Court and ensure the traditions are upheld. New members are nominated by existing members and elected to the court at the Great Autumn Court or the Spring Court meeting, both held annually.
​
At the Autumn Court in November 2025 Robert Spittle was elected Bailiff. Robert declared charities for the year would be St John's Church, Avoncroft Museum of Buildings and Primrose Hospice.
Pictured above left to right:
Tythingman - Mike Adams
Reeve - Jonathan Till
Immediate Past Bailiff - Mark Robinson
Bailiff - Robert Spittle
Tythingman - Pete Gale
The Court for the year from November 2025 looks like this:
Chris Bird – The Lord of the Manor since 1972 when the title was passed down from his grandfather.
John Fisher – The Steward, represents the Lord of the Manor in the Court.
Robert Spittle - The Bailiff. Rob was elected to the Court November 2018. He served on the Jury as Senior Ale Taster and was elected Reeve in 2024
Jonathan Till - The Reeve, second in command. Jon Was elected to the Court in November 2018 and has served on the Jury as Searcher and Sealer of Leather and Senior Ale Taster.
Mark Robinson - Immediate Past Bailiff of Bromsgrove Court Leet. Mark joined the Court as the Tythingman for Gannow in November 2013 and became a Member of the Jury at the Autumn Court in November 2020 where he served as the Brook-Looker. He was elected Bailiff in 2024.
​
Joanne Slade – Ealdorman, Custodian of the Records & Herald. Jo was the first female to be elected Bailiff of our Court in November 2019. She is daughter of the late Ealdorman David Slade, Bailiff in the 800th Year of the Court. Jo served as Bailiff for a second year following re-election at the Autumn Court on 6th November 2020 due to the cancellation of events caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Richard Harper – The Marshal; responsible for keeping the Court in order at Court meetings and events.
John Burman, T. Matthew Horton, John P Rogers, Jeremy Sharp – Affeerors. The senior members of the Court who sit on the Inner Court and are called upon to confirm correct procedures and protocols.
Roger Weaver – Affeeror Emeritus and longest serving member of the Court. Roger was Bailiff in 1973.
Kevin Ward - Bellman & Towncrier “Oyez, oyez, oyez!” Kevin has been the Bellman to the Court since 1985, celebrating 40 years in the role in 2025. Kevin's great, great, great grandfather was the last Town Crier in Birmingham from 1827 til 1882 when he died.
John Wheatley – Court Treasurer. John served as Bailiff, elected in 2015
Philip Thomas - Deputy Treasurer, Phillip was elected Bailiff in 2023.
Rev'd Ray Khan – Chappelyn, Ray is Vicar at the Parish Church of St John’s. The Court attend the Patronal Service annually on the Sunday after Fair Day.
Charlie Ayres - Constable & Headborough.
​​​Geoffrey A Evans - Honorary Constable. Geoff served as Headborough from 6th November 2003 until 6th November 2020
Bill Tucker - Foreman of the Jury, elected Bailiff in 2018
Neil Beaumont - Deputy Foreman of the Jury, elected Bailiff in 2021
​
​
​​​
Rod Laight – Senior Ale Taster, elected to the Court in November 2023
Robert Pryde – Senior Ale Taster, elected to the Court in November 2023
Ray Giles – Brooklooker, elected to the Court in November 2011
Jamie Leavesley – Juror, elected to the Court in November 2022
Cyril Day - Market Master, elected to Jury at the Spring Court 2024, previously Tythingman for Burcot
Michele Ford - Carnitor of Flesh and Fish, elected to the Court in November 2024
Michael Webb - Searcher & Sealer of Leather, elected to the Court in November 2024
Paul Goodwin - Breadweigher, elected to the Court in April 2025
John Messore - Juror, elected to the Court in November 2025
​
The Jury
Ealdormen with year elected Bailiff
Roger Weaver Affeeror Emeritus 1973
T. Matthew Horton Affeeror 1984
Kenneth Pinfield Ealdorman 1989
John Morris Ealdorman 1990
John Burman Affeeror Emeritus 1994
Richard Wilkinson Ealdorman 1997
Graham Boyles Ealdorman 2003
Jeremy Sharp Affeeror 2004
Dr Barrie Fischer Ealdorman 2005
Dennis Norton Ealdorman 2007
Group Captain John P Rogers Ealdorman 2008
Martin Connellan Ealdorman 2011
Richard Harper Ealdorman 2013
John Wheatley Ealdorman 2015
Philip Harper Ealdorman 2016
Nick Pinfield Ealdorman 2017
Dr William Tucker Ealdorman 2018
Joanne Slade Ealdorman 2019 & 2020
Neil Beaumont 2021
Robert Bird 2022
Philip Thomas 2023
Mark Robinson 2024
The Tythingmen and their yields
Bonehill Yield - Tythingman Terry Bacon
Buntsford Yield & Deputy Ale Taster - Tythingman Adrian Smith
Burcot Yield - Open
Catshill Yield & Market Master - Tythingman David Coulson
Chadwick Yield - Tythingman David G Thomas
Dodford Yield - Tythingman Richard Abbotts
Fockbury Yield - Tythingman Richard Nokes
Gannow Yield - Tythingman Peter Gale
Lickey Common Yield - Tythingman Michael Adams
Padstone Yield - Open
Shepley Yield – Tythingman Geoff Hawkesworth
Timberhonger Yield – Tythingman Jeff Evans
Town Yield - Tythingman Susan Norton
Tutnall Yield - Michelle Holsey-Sheppard
Willingwick Yield - Vacant
Woodcote Yield - Vacant
Autumn Court 2024
Pictured left to right:
New Juror - Michele Ford
Bailiff - Mark Robinson
Immediate Past Bailiff - Philip Thomas
Reeve - Robert Spittle
New Juror - Michael Webb
​