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I moved back into Woldingham in early 2020 having lived here from 1968 – 1980. During my teens I ran WAG, the local youth group, appeared in many pantomimes and play readings and helped organise the Silver Jubilee village celebrations. My background is public relations and marketing and I’ve delivered programmes for technology, not for profit and pharmaceutical clients. My 20-years of being a chief executive officer means I bring a variety of skills to my current role as vice chair of the Parish Council where I have volunteered for almost four years.

I was elected as the Woldingham Ward Councillor for Tandridge District Council from 2021 to 2024 and worked with the Parish Council to ensure Woldingham stayed an independent Ward managed by one Councillor. Without a Local Plan, Green Belt in Tandridge is not safe from development and, as a statutory body, the Parish Council plays an active role in planning issues to ensure we retain the unique Woldingham culture and character, support the Neighbourhood Plan and protect the village.

I moved to Woldingham from London with my husband and little boy in the summer of 2020. Having historically spent most of our weekends travelling out of the city to go trail running and enjoy the countryside, it just made sense to move here for good! We moved during lockdown, and daily walks meant we quickly got to know all our neighbours, who all made us feel so welcome straight away. We’ve never looked back – not only do we love the beautiful setting of Woldingham but we also count ourselves especially lucky to have landed in a village with such a strong sense of community. I’m keen to keep giving back wherever possible, so in addition to joining the Parish Council I coordinate and help run the Woldingham 123 Club, as well as being a Community Speedwatch volunteer.

I’m passionate about protecting our environment, raising awareness and engagement in terms of looking after local wildlife, and ensuring Woldingham’s children always have this beautiful and green space to grow up in. I hope that my keen interest in these issues can stand me in good stead to make a strong contribution to the Parish Council and its role in protecting the village and its countryside. According to the WPC’s own Climate Emergency Plan, Woldingham’s carbon footprint is even higher than the national average, and there are so many opportunities to bring about change and make a significant difference – but of course this can’t be done without local involvement and engagement.

I first moved to Woldingham, with my wife Nicola and our three young children, around 20 years ago, attracted by the beautiful setting and the challenge of bringing a special house and its surroundings back to life.

I originally qualified as an accountant, then worked as an international tax consultant before becoming a partner at Arthur Andersen and then spending a further 10 years as an M&A partner at Deloitte, one of the world’s leading professional services firms. Whilst still retaining some business interests I now spend more time working towards becoming (almost) self-sufficient with home grown fruit and vegetables and maintaining and managing the woodland and grassland that we are so fortunate to have as our fantastic backdrop up here on the North Downs. I also enjoy playing racket sports, music and am a member of the Woldingham Association and Wine Society.

Whilst being somewhat on the periphery of the village geographically we have always very much appreciated Woldingham’s unique village character and it would be a privilege to now contribute as a member of the Parish Council. What makes Woldingham such a special place is not just the beautiful setting but also the people that give so much of their time and energy to village life. Whilst we must retain Woldingham’s historic character, it’s equally essential to move with the times to ensure that all we love about where we live, the village and the community not only survives but is also able to thrive.

I was born in Purley and have lived in this part of the country all my life. My wife and I moved to Woldingham almost nine years ago. After leaving grammar school I studied Structural and Civil Engineering at Brixton School of Building for which I was sponsored by Higgs and Hill, who at the time were one of the best construction companies in London. After 8 years with them various job opportunities arose which allowed me to work for Percy Bilton and John Laing.

In the mid-seventies there was a strong draw to join the family business. Holbrook Construction has been building in the Croydon area for over 150 years and it was a privilege for me to work within the company set up by my great grandfather.

Having recently retired I decided to look for something to help occupy my time and felt that becoming a Parish Councillor would enable me to put some of the skills and knowledge I have acquired over the years to good use and help to protect the wonderful environment we live in, here in Woldingham.

I joined the Parish Council in 2019 and find it rewarding in helping to try and make the village a nice place to live. My background in building construction helps with the various applications for house improvements and extensions where we try to honour the original concept laid out by Gilford. The other area I’m keen to monitor is the ever-evolving flight paths and noise from aviation and its effect on Woldingham.