About the mayor
Councillor Martin Round, Mayor of Maidstone 2025-2026
Councillor Martin Round has been a Headcorn "man and boy” since 1963. Although born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1955, he has long considered Headcorn his home. He attended both Maidstone Grammar School and later Cranbrook School. While at Cranbrook, he found a love for history, geography and languages. He earned several O levels and played many sports at a high level. He always says that he is a "rugby man who loves his cricket."
Martin’s passion for food began early, inspired by time spent living across various parts of Europe. He pursued this interest professionally, having completed a management diploma in catering and hospitality at Hastings College. He then travelled throughout Europe working in roles ranging from a chef, a waiter and grape picker in France.
Returning to the UK in the 1970s, Martin worked at the Royal Victoria Hotel in St Leonards as Assistant Restaurant Manager and took on various roles in other hotels within the group, as well as helping out friends in the industry when needed. He worked in several locations across Sussex, including Brighton and Eastbourne. During this time, he developed a strong interest in local community life and charitable causes. He joined the newly established Rotaract Club, essentially a junior version of Rotary, and became deeply involved in its activities. From conservation and land management projects for the National Trust to organising fundraising discos, Martin played an active role and eventually became president of the club.
Meanwhile, he also moved to the Borough Council as Assistant Catering and Entertainment Manager for Hastings Council, overseeing theatres, bars, catering suites, and booking high-profile entertainment acts including David Essex and the Bay City Rollers, and acts like Tommy Cooper and BBC sitcom casts to perform.
Martin later joined Pepsi Co, where he rose to the position of Regional Operations Manager responsible for developing food concepts and franchises. He is especially proud of his time in Northern Ireland at the height of the “troubles”, when the food business supported jobs for divided communities and stimulated economic development for the area. After working in the chicken business, he then moved on to the egg business. It was during this time that something catastrophic happened.
In December 1989, Martin was involved in a very serious road traffic collision. The accident left him in a coma and resulted in multiple fractures, breaks, internal injuries, and severe blood loss. He spent three months with both legs in traction and, throughout late 1990, relied on a wheelchair, crutches, and a Zimmer frame for mobility. Though he eventually recovered and returned to work and public life, Martin continues to suffer from severe back pain and limitations in his walking ability.
A man of diverse experience, Martin also participated in various medical trials including those that supported the development of MRI technology in Nottingham. He then went into Local Government, becoming an Economic Development Officer in one of the largest cities. There, tasks included setting up technology parks, creating a new tram system using fibre and early digital inclusion initiatives to connect people to the World Wide Web in the 1990s.
Throughout his roles, Martin was very involved in politics, which included campaigning for environmental and social causes such as “Keep Britain Tidy” and the Disability Discrimination Act. He also helped improve access to sport for young people.
In 2002, Martin concluded his professional career as a tutor and lecturer at Mid Kent College. He became a Headcorn Parish Council Member in 2004 and was elected as Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Councillor to the Headcorn Ward in 2014. The ward has since expanded and now includes Sutton Valence and additional parishes.
Martin remains passionate about representing the area he loves. He dedicates much of his time to resolving issues related to planning, conservation and heritage matters. He also uses his knowledge to resolve issues about the landscape, rivers and flooding, trees and wildlife and enforcement. He has served as both Vice-Chair and Chair of several MBC committees, as well as being a cabinet member.
Despite a strong professional background in high-tech and development, Martin values face-to-face conversations above all and continues to enjoy engaging directly with residents to serve the community.
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