Parish Clerk Wins Prestigious National Award

Published: 01 November 2026

Robert Pritchard, Clerk to Drayton Bassett Parish Council, has been honoured with a top national award from the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC), his professional body. Representing clerks from over 5,000 town, parish, and community councils across England and Wales, SLCC awarded Robert the New Clerk of the Year Award at its National Conference Annual Award Ceremony on 13 October 2026.

Congratulating Robert, Rob Smith, SLCC Chief Executive, remarked, ‘Robert has made an exceptional impact in a remarkably short space of time, helping to strengthen governance and financial management while supporting councillors to build their confidence and knowledge. His calm and professional approach has helped the council navigate challenging situations and, importantly, refocus on delivering practical improvements for residents.'

In response, Robert said: ‘‘I’m truly honoured to receive this recognition. It has been rewarding to work alongside councillors and colleagues to strengthen the council and make positive changes for the community. I’m pleased to have played a part in that work and to see some of those improvements taking shape.’