Biography: The Lord Mayor's Consort
Councillor Margaret Wells is the Lord Mayor of York for the civic year of 2026 to 2027; Trevor Gant is the Lord Mayor's Consort, and has prepared the following summary of his life and career to date.
I was born and raised in York. Living in Huntington until I was 18 and then living in Haxby until I married Helen, the Lord Mayor’s sister, in 1981. We have 2 sons, who unlike us have moved away from York, living in Salisbury and Newcastle with their lovely wives and our 4 wonderful grandchildren.
As seems to be the tradition among recent civics I went to Nunthorpe Grammar school after passing my 11 plus at Huntington County Primary School.
Having left school with minimal qualifications I began working as a costing clerk for W J Glossop, a Road contractor, eventually moving to work for Rowntrees as a purchasing clerk in the Transport division and then Assistant buyer in the main factory. During this time I studied for an ONC and HNC in Business studies and then became a member of the Institute of Purchasing. I left just as Rowntrees was been taken over by Nestle. I’m still undecided whether that was a wise or foolish move.
However, in a complete shift, after completing an Access to Science course at York Technical College (as it was then) I went as a mature student to Leeds University to gain a degree in Molecular Plant Biology, a course of which I can recall very little.
Using my new found Biology knowledge I began working as a Laboratory Technician at St Peter’s School, where I remained for 25 years until retiring in the summer of 2022.
Whilst working at St Peter’s I began training as an Anglican Priest and was ordained Deacon in 2008 and Priest in 2009 in York Minster. As an unpaid priest I am ever grateful to St Peter’s for allowing me to carry out some Priestly duties at St Luke’s, Burton Stone Lane and Holy Evangelists’, Shipton by Beninbrough, whilst continuing to work as Lab technician. Being a priest meant being involved in local community life, including sitting on various committees and being a School governor.
I retired from Church work at Christmas 2023 and was then invited to be Lord Mayor’s Chaplain by Margaret for the 2024-25 year. A role I thoroughly enjoyed and so am delighted to be offered the chance to be Consort for the forthcoming year.
Of late hobbies have gone by the wayside but I used to go Horse riding and hiking, I enjoy cycling and have recently taken up swimming again. As a retiree I can spend more time reading both religious and non-religious books.
Although I went through a teenage phase of wanting to get away from York I realise it is a great place to live and study and work, with a rich history and heritage and am pleased to be able to serve alongside the Lord Mayor in promoting all its greatness.
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