George Ferguson (politician)

Ferguson was born on 22 March 1947, in Winchester, Hampshire. His father's military career took the family to Gibraltar, to the South and North of England and Norway before settling in Wiltshire.[10] While in Gibraltar, Ferguson contracted infant polio.[11]

Ferguson was educated at Wellington College.[12] Ferguson read architecture at the University of Bristol from 1965 to 1971.[13] Ferguson has been awarded honorary degrees from the University of Bristol[14] and the University of the West of England.[5][15] Apart from one year in London, Ferguson has lived in Bristol since beginning his degree in 1965.

Urban renewal and environmental sustainability were central elements of Ferguson's approach to design, exemplified by developments such as the Tobacco Factory. In 1978, Ferguson co-founded Ferguson Mann Architects and the practice won many awards for design.[3][5][16] In 1986, Ferguson founded Acanthus, a network of independent practices committed to design and conservation.

During his career, Ferguson has written and presented articles, broadcasts and lectures on planning and architectural matters and sustainability,[13] and appeared on the 2005 Channel 4 television series Demolition.[17] Ferguson fully stepped down from Ferguson Mann Architects after his election as Mayor of Bristol to concentrate on his new role within the city.[18]

The Tobacco Factory during cleaning work which saw a Union Flag covering scaffolding

Ferguson is noted for his role in the regeneration of the Bedminster area of South Bristol.[1] In 1994, he bought the last remaining major building of the old Imperial Tobacco Raleigh Road estate for £200,000 to save it from demolition and regenerate it.[19][20] The site, now named the Tobacco Factory, is a mixed-use development that includes the Tobacco Factory Theatre, bar, creative industry workspace and flats.

In 2003, Ferguson bought part of the long-closed Ashton Gate Brewery. The Bristol Beer Factory began brewing beer on the site in 2005 and has won national awards.[21] In 2018 Ferguson moved back to Clifton, having lived in the Tobacco Factory for a number of years.

City Hall, College Green

Ferguson was one of the first three Liberal Councillors elected to Bristol City Council, representing Cabot Ward from 1973 to 1979.[1] He stood unsuccessfully for the Liberals in the 1983 and 1987 general elections in Bristol West, after which he ceased any active political involvement.[22]

In March 2012, Ferguson confirmed speculation that he was planning to stand as an independent candidate for Mayor of Bristol if the referendum on 3 May chose to adopt the mayoral system.[23] Following the referendum, Ferguson resigned his membership from the Liberal Democrat party before announcing that he would stand for mayor, but explained that he had no intention to run as a party candidate.[24] Ferguson ran as an independent but registered his 'Bristol 1st' party to distinguish himself from other independents on the ballot paper.[25] In his campaign material, Ferguson stated "My only purpose is to make Bristol, the city I love, a better city for all. I have no political ambition beyond Bristol" and he set out his seven visions for Bristol.[26] Ferguson campaigned on a platform of anti-political parties, often alleging voting for a Labour candidate would be a return to party in-fighting.

The election was held on 15 November 2012. On 16 November 2012, Ferguson was declared Bristol's first elected mayor, beating the second-place Labour candidate Marvin Rees by more than 6,000 votes including second preference votes.[27] The election saw a low turnout of just 27.92% of the electorate participating.[28]

Ferguson became Bristol's first democratically elected mayor in November 2012. He ran as an independent and beat Labour's Marvin Rees by six-thousand and ninety-four votes.[25] During his tenure, Bristol beat Brussels to become the European Green Capital for 2015.[29]

George Ferguson and his wife Lavinia separated in 2000 following a well publicised affair with a BBC journalist, Helen Reed, although they remain married. They have three grown children.[30]

Ferguson has been involved in several local charities including the Avon Youth Association, Cruse, and Starfish. He was also a trustee of the University of Bristol Union.[31]

Ferguson was appointed High Sheriff of Bristol when that office was revived in 1996 and served for one year.[32] He was also previously a board member of the think tank Demos,[33] a trustee of the Arnolfini arts centre,[34] and was formerly a member of the private charitable organisation The Society of Merchant Venturers.[35]

• Ferguson Mann Architects
• Acanthus
• Tobacco Factory
• Bristol Beer Factory
• George Ferguson's blog
• Urban Design for Our Time, presentation for Urban Design Group by George Ferguson
• Satirical Song - Mad Mayor George