Green Party councillors Pauline Curran and Nicki Stuart have been chosen as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Hythe for the coming year.
Addressing the Mayor-making ceremony in Hythe Town Hall, Pauline (on the right in our photograph) said her aim was to follow “the three P’s — to Preserve the historic heritage of Hythe, to help Protect the borough’s residents from crime and social deprivation and to Progress Hythe’s future development as an attractive visitor destination.”
A native of Northern Ireland, Pauline trained as a teacher, then as a child and educational psychologist, before eventually moving into a management role establishing and managing training and resources for young people with SEBD (Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties). She also volunteered with the Samaritans in Belfast.
Having retired, she moved to Hythe from her native Northern Ireland with her husband Ed, also a Hythe town councillor, to be close to family. She is a keen gardener and participant in several sports.
Nicki Stuart is Hythe’s most recently elected Green town councillor, having won a by-election in April 2025. She is a longstanding resident and campaigner on local issues and was already well-known in the town for her community work. She has quickly become an invaluable addition to the town council, working hard to make the town a pleasant place in which to live and work.
Eleven of Hythe’s 16 councillors are Greens, three of whom, Cllrs Jim Martin, Anita Jones and Penny Graham have also been recent mayors of the ancient borough.
Each one has made an important contribution to Hythe. Jim, now also Leader of Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC), was at the forefront of the popular campaign to save Hythe’s picturesque seafront from the Conservatives’ development plans.
Anita, who recently completed a two-year term as Chair of FHDC, promoted a youth forum for Hythe and projects to improve leisure facilities for young people.
Penny raised funds to save Hythe Youth Club after Kent County Council removed funding and used her mayoral year to promote the theme of kindness and community respect in Hythe.
The new Mayor welcomed FHDC’s decision to fund a major multi-million refurbishment of Hythe Swimming Pool later this year, once Folkestone Pool has reopened.
Hythe’s Green-led town council has made constant improvements to sports and leisure facilities, from the soccer pitches on South Road to the pending resurfacing of tennis courts and a multi usage games pitch, as well as annually planting thousands of tree slips to ensure Hythe maintains its extensive outdoor gardens and walks.
In the run up to the 2027 elections, Shepway Green Party is actively seeking new candidates so it can contest all 16 town council seats. With the support of voters, Green councillors will continue their hard work for the community.
