This month we say goodbye to Mark Beattie as National Chair – his three-year term comes to an end at our AGM on 22 November. During his time in the role, Mark has championed and supported the progress we’ve made, from improved communication on the issues that matter to our members, to stronger engagement with our branches.
From early on, Mark and his deputies David Ford and Jacqui Macdonald-Davis prioritised working with the Magistrates’ Association’s staff team and our Board of trustees to ensure we were giving members what they needed, as well as focussing on how the MA represented members externally. As the only collective and independent voice of the magistracy, Mark supported our push to improve our media profile, resulting in a huge increase in coverage and the formation of strong relationships between the MA and outlets including BBC Radio 2 and 4, LBC, and The Guardian.
Mark also supported our efforts to improve our membership magazine, Magistrate, including the recent introduction of an online version.
One of the key features of Mark’s time as national chair has been his enthusiastic engagement with branches. As a member-led organisation, branches are at the heart of the work we do, and in his first year, Mark initiated regional meetings with executive members of MA branches. Joined by his deputy chairs and other MA staff, these meetings brought us closer to members and helped build a stronger sense of shared purpose.
Mark’s ability to engage with people and listen has been invaluable in strengthening the MA’s relationships with the senior judiciary, government, and HM Courts and Tribunals Service, ensuring that our lobbying on key issues impacting the magistracy has been heard and acted on.
I’ve seen the change first-hand: deeper connections and a growing confidence in our collective voice.
The MA, and the magistracy as a whole, owes Mark a debt of gratitude for his remarkable service.
As his time as national chairs ends, Mark leaves a strong legacy at the Magistrates’ Association that will enable his successor, David Ford, to help us grow further.
