Exactly 25 years ago, people living in Tonbridge and Malling woke up to a new council and their first mayor.

While neighbouring Maidstone council had had a mayor since the 16th century, the district of Tonbridge and Malling only became a borough in December 1983.

The change of status brought with it the office of a mayor - district councils do not have mayors - and the first person to hold the post, between December 1983 and May 1984, was Barry Hughes, who represented Borough Green.

Mr Hughes, 69, of Harrison Road, Borough Green, had previously been chairman of the district council.

He said: “We had to petition the Queen to grant us borough status. Despite the change in having a mayor there was technically no difference between a borough and a district.”

But he added that people soon noticed the new addition.

“When I turned up at schools as chairman that was OK and the children were happy enough.

“But when I was mayor it was completely different and there was a buzz and an excitement about it.”

One engagement that sticks in his mind was the opening of the Snodland bypass in early 1984.

Standing next to the then leader of Kent County Council, Mr Hughes made a successful case for some leftover cash from the project to go towards the Borough Green bypass.

Mr Hughes, who left the council in 1993, added: “The main change in 25 years has been communication. Mayors now keep web pages and respond to people via email, but back then the only communication you had with people was by letter, or by personal appearance.

“It was a very enjoyable period. As part of the 'chain gang' you got to know mayors from other areas and found out about their problems and issues.”

• Do you remember the first mayors of Tonbridge and Malling? Did one of them visit your school, club or business? Email messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Kent Messenger, 6& 7 Middle Row, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1TG.