New Harborough District Council Chairman Says Role Is “One of the Proudest Moments” of His Life

The new Chairman of Harborough District Council says taking on the role is one of the proudest moments of his life.

Buddy Anderson was elected as Chairman for the 2026/27 council year at the authority’s annual meeting and received the chain of office from outgoing chairman Councillor Peter James.

Cllr Buddy Anderson is the new Chairman of Harborough District Council (Photo courtesy of Andrew Carpenter @Carps23)

Councillor Anderson has chosen the LOROS Hospice in Leicester as his charity for the year in memory of his brother-in-law Dan Kettle, who died there in December aged 34, following a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Mr Kettle had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer last April, just nine months after marrying his wife Bethan and four weeks after the birth of their first child, Rex. Tributes described him as a “kind and incredibly caring” husband and father.

Dan Kettle

Councillor Anderson, who represents the Great Bowden and Arden ward in Market Harborough as an independent member, is one of the youngest people ever elected to the position and the council’s first openly neurodivergent chairman. He hopes to inspire others with autism or ADHD by showing public service is open to everyone.

He spoke to HFM about taking on the new role and his chosen charity:

Outgoing Chairman Cllr Peter James (centre), with the new Chairman Cllr Buddy Anderson (left), and Vice Chairman Cllr Peter Scott (Photo courtesy of Andrew Carpenter @Carps23)

The Vice Chairman for the coming year will be Councillor Peter Scott, who represents the Glen ward.

Outgoing Chairman Councillor Peter James, who represents the Little Bowden ward in Market Harborough, thanked those who supported him during his year in office. During his term, he raised £2,000 for his chosen charity, Smile Train UK.

Outgoing Chairman Cllr Peter James, with consort Chris Etherington (right), has raised £2,000 for Smile Train UK (Photo courtesy of Andrew Carpenter @Carps23)