At the Annual Council Meeting held on Wednesday 13th May, Councillors elected Councillor Curtis Bihari to serve as Mayor of Ferryhill for the municipal year 2026/27. This will be Councillor Bihari’s second term as Mayor of Ferryhill, he also held this position in 2023-24. Councillor Craig Johnson was elected as Deputy Mayor.
After being elected Councillor Bihari thanked the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Angus Ferguson, for his hard work over the past year.
Ferryhill has been at the heart of Curtis’ life from the very beginning. Raised on Bertha Street, he attended Broom Cottages Primary School before moving on to Ferryhill Comprehensive, then Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form and Newcastle University, where he graduated with a first-class degree in Politics and Sociology.
After university, he returned home to work at Ferryhill Sport and Education Centre, helping keep an important community facility open alongside his family.
Curtis also served a term as a Durham County Councillor, a role he remains incredibly proud to have held and of what he achieved during that time.
Outside of work, Curtis enjoys playing sport for local teams. He has played cricket for Mainsforth CC since childhood and also plays football for Ferryhill Miners United.
Speaking after his appointment as Mayor, Councillor Bihari said “Ferryhill has given me so much throughout my life, from my childhood and education to my career and public service. To now serve the town again as Mayor is a huge honour. I’m incredibly proud of where I come from and I’m determined to give everything I can to the role and to our community.”
Councillor Curtis Bihari has chosen to support local charity, Bright Futures Ferryhill CIC, during his year in office.
The charity provides alternative provision for children, youth clubs, after school clubs and holiday clubs.
They also run a community pantry that has supported over 500 people since it was set up.
Councillor Bihari said “ I’m delighted to support this fantastic charity. I grew up in Ferryhill and I want to make sure young people have access to the best opportunities, which is exactly what this organisation is about.”
Hannah Wilkinson, founder said: “We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of the Mayor as his chosen charity this year. This partnership is a huge boost for our organisation and more importantly for the young people and families we support across the community.”
The Mayor will be organising fundraising events throughout the year, details will be announced shortly. If anyone would like to donate prizes for forthcoming events, these will be gratefully received at Ferryhill Town Hall during normal office hours.
Fundraising Events
Mayor Signs Up for Durham City 10K Run to Support Local Charity
The Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Curtis Bihari has signed up for the Durham City 10K Run on Thursday 16th July 2026 to raise money for his chosen charity, Bright Futures, Ferryhill CIC.
Curtis chose Bright Futures CIC as his chosen charity during his year as Mayor as they do outstanding work across our community, supporting people of all ages. From their free youth club and community pantry to their school holiday activities, they provide valuable services that make a real difference to local families and residents.
Mayor, Councillor Curtis Bihari said “I am excited to be joining thousands of people taking part in the Durham City Run festival. I said when I became Mayor, I wanted to do things differently and this is certainly a new way of raising funds for my mayoral charity. I’m looking forward to the challenge”.
If you would like to support the Mayor, donations can be made via Go Fund Me – The Mayor’s chosen charity – Bright Futures Ferryhill CIC
Any donation, no matter the size, will be greatly appreciated and will go a long way towards helping this fantastic local charity continue to serve our community.
Throughout the year, the Mayor be hosting a range of events and fundraising activities to help support the important work of Bright Futures CIC, keep a look out for details.
Mayor ‘At Home’
The Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor Curtis Bihari, is holding a Mayor ‘At Home’ event on Thursday 2nd July 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm at Ferryhill Sport & Education Centre, Lambton Road, Ferryhill, Co Durham, DL17 8TB.
Tickets are available from Ferryhill Town Hall at a cost of £10 each and will include light refreshments.
There will be a raffle and other fundraising activities at the event with all proceeds going towards the Mayor’s chosen charity, Bright Futures CIC.