A Chartered Surveyor and a Chartered Engineer have been elected to key roles at a medieval charity in a tradition that stretches back more than six centuries.
Russell Cooper is the new Senior Warden of the Rochester Bridge Trust, a position he formerly held from 2017 to 2021. He is joined by Junior Warden John Farmer.
The two Wardens lead the board of unpaid charity trustees who comprise the Court of Wardens and Assistants, the body that governs the Rochester Bridge Trust.
A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Russell Cooper was appointed from the community in 2007. He has twice served as Junior Warden and is an expert in construction costs, contracts and construction dispute resolution.
He said: “It is a great honour to be elected for the second time as the Senior Warden of an organisation that has served the public and provided free crossings of the River Medway at Rochester since the 14th century.
”The Trust has deep roots in the past but has its eyes very much towards the future, as witnessed by our extensive community education programme, our range of scholarships and our ambitious carbon reduction targets.”
Junior Warden John Farmer was appointed to the Trust in 2023 and is a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers with extensive experience of major highway and development projects.
The Rochester Bridge Trust was established in the 14th century, to take on the responsibility for the maintenance and provision of crossings of the River Medway at Rochester – at no cost to the public. Six of its trustees are nominated by local authorities, with three by Medway Council, two by Kent County Council and one by Maidstone Borough Council.
The rest are appointed from the community, based on their experience in engineering, education, estate management, finance or other areas useful for the business of the Trust. The Senior and Junior Wardens are elected by the members of the Court.