Local Government changes became effective on April 1st 1974, when the Parish Council became the Town Council with a Town Mayor as its Chairman. Since that date the following townsfolk have held the Office of Town Mayor:-
1974/75 and 1975/76 Mr. G. Mitchell,
1976/77 Mr. R. Thornhill,
1977/78 Mr. R. Rudling,
1978/79 Dr. R. D. Shanks.
1979/80 Mr. C. Cadman,
1980/81 Mr. 0. Adcock,
1981/82 Mr. N. Eldridge,
1982/83 Mrs. J. Crabtree,
1983/84 Mr. T. Turley,
1984/85 Mr. G. Rudkin,
1985/86 Mr. C. Cadman.
From the first elected members to Watton Parish Council in 1895 to the last elected in 1973, the council had the remarkable record of having only 3 Clerks and making this even more remarkable is that they all belonged to one family as follows: — 1895 to 1927 Mr. E. Harvey, 1927 to 1948 Mr. E. A. Harvey and 1948 to 1974 Mr. W. E. Harvey
