“Lord” Frank Pennington stands for council – two years after quitting over “bullying”

FRANK Pennington, Frodsham’s first-ever Mayor and Freeman of Frodsham, is seeking re-election to the Town Council – almost two years since he resigned in a row over alleged bullying and politics.
Mr Pennington – he is legally entitled to call himself “Lord Frank Pennington” but has chosen not to do so on his nomination papers – is standing as an Independent in Waterside ward.
In total, six candidates are standing in Waterside ward – all as Independents or as individuals.
The others are: Patrick Thomas Eakin, Aidan James Holman, Richard Ian Lofts, Lucy Rebecca Sumner and Bernie Wade.
A number of other seats have not been contested so candidates have already been elected as councillors.
They include Judith Critchley, a former chairman of the council.
Councillors elected uncontested are:
Lakes Ward: Judith Critchley, Donna Critchley (both independent).
Overton and Five Crosses: Helen Anne Hayes (Independent Putting Frodsham First), Pauline Elizabeth Lowrie.
Castle Park Ward: Jason Moorcroft, Mark Andrew Nield (Independent), Graham William Wood.
Frank Pennington had served as a councillor at Frodsham for more than 45 years when he was one of five councillors who resigned in June 2021 amid allegations of “bullying and politics”
He said he was not prepared to sit at meeting listening to “bullying” by new councillors. He blamed Labour and Conservative councillors equally.
Mr Pennington has served as Mayor more than once – and was the town’s first Mayor. He also served on the former Vale Royal Council.
He became entitled to call himself “Lord” on the occasion of h is 83 birthday when a group of his friends purchased the title for him as a gift.
Thereafter, he was referred to in council documents as “Lord Frank Pennington.”
At the time, he joked that if he became Mayor of Frodsham again he would be the “Lord Mayor.”
He said he would use the title whenever it helped champion Frodsham.