My wife and I moved into the parish in 2014 and were quickly made to feel very welcome. Throughout my corporate career I have relocated six times including Bristol, Staffordshire, Cornwall, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and now Dorset, which by far is the best move we have made and where we certainly intend to stay.
Wherever we have lived we have always tried to give something back to our local community and have previously done this by helping out in local sports clubs, rugby being my passion, volunteering in the community and also charitable work where we can. I see the role of a Parish Councillor as a servant to the community and am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead the team as Chairman.
I hope to represent a wide perspective of the community to help the parish retain its own identity as much as it can, ensure that inclusion is at the heart of the parish council and encourage some of the younger members of the community to engage and better understand what we can and are able to do. There are also many clubs and organisations within the parish that do a fantastic job individually and I would very much like to encourage a cohesive future for all.
I very much look forward to working with the team for the parish.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Councillor Robert Corben
Parish Council representative to the Poor Lands Charity Committee first elected in 1970’s
chair 1979 – 1983 and vice-chair 1983 – 1993
Councillor Stephen Corben
First elected September 2004.
Councillor R Rowe
I have lived in Okeford Fitzpaine since 2009 and originally came to Dorset to work with cancer projects across the county. I currently work full time at NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in Yeovil and am a programme manager for the major cancer,respiratory and cardiovascular projects and new developments in Somerset. This includes implementing ways of diagnosing cancer earlier and preventing people from having a stroke.
I’m originally from Cornwall and trained as a nurse in London specialising in heart disease. During my career I have worked as a ward sister in coronary care and accident and emergency in Birmingham, managed a national project on nursing, worked in a French speaking hospital in Switzerland,and implemented 24 hour heart attack and stroke centres across a county.
I enjoy walking, writing and travelling and have visited over 50 countries but nothing beats the view from the top of Okeford Hill. Okeford Fitzpaine is a wonderful village to live and I am looking forward to helping shape the future with the community.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
My wife, Sue and I have lived in Okeford Fitzpaine for 26 years. We have two children, Anna (29) and Harry (25). I qualified in the City as a lawyer in 1980. Most of my legal career was spent in the high tech world, negotiating and advising on the legal aspects of major contracts for the supply of computer systems and IT services to large international companies and Government Departments. It was a lot of fun with no two days the same! I retired last summer from 19 years working at Fujitsu Services Limited, where the majority of the operations involved supplying IT systems and services to the UK MOD. Since retiring, I have taken up golf again and I am a member of Rushmore Golf Club. I also play lawn tennis and real tennis. Sport is a passion for me and I am a great believer in the benefits that team sport or any sports give to children. I also enjoy working in the garden and am learning more about gardening as Sue’s assistant, my main role being to keep the grass and weeds under control! Over the years I have been involved in various village activities and challenges including:
- OFCHICS – Pressure group to remove Faccenda Chicken Factory from Higher Street.
- Village Tidy Up activities leading to the Village winning the 2018 “Best Large Village” in Dorset award.
- MUGA campaign for the installation of an AllWeather Multi Use Sports Ground on the Rec for the benefit of the Village and the Village School.
- A new recruit to “SLLUGS” and the Village Path Ways/ Stiles Maintenance team.
Now I am retired I have the time to become more involved in parish matters. What can I offer if you elected me as a Parish Councillor?
- I enjoy meeting people and finding out what makes them tick.
- Independence of thought and integrity.
- Legal skills and experience in handling complex business transactions.
- I pride myself in getting things done and “that contract signed”.
- A “fresh face” with new ideas and no “axe to grind”.
I am a passionate believer firstly, in protecting the Village and its surrounding environment from over development and its associated increase in traffic and secondly, in increasing the opportunities and facilities available to the Village and subsequent generations.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Councillor F Light
I was born in Exeter, Devon. I have lived in Okeford Fitzpaine with my partner, Vanessa, for 14 years. Many of you will know me from the Mud Pie Cafe. I served in the Royal Air Force for 12 years followed by 12 years in the Army. My first posting was to Blandford Camp with the Royal Corps of Signals. After my army service I bought a house in Poole. I became a driving instructor forming the New Driver Schools of Motoring in a partnership. After selling the business I became a bus driver working for Damory Buses where I met Vanessa with whom I took up residence in Okeford Fitzpaine in 2007. I fell in love with this beautiful village, joining the local u3a (University of the Third Age) and taking part in community activities. I feel that I can give good service to the parish and its residents of all ages. My concerns are;
- The state of hedges, pavements and roads,
- Planning and infrastructure (including large scale development),
- Public services (particularly bus services)
Councillor J Hunt
I have lived in Okeford Fitzpaine for 9 years with my wife who grew up in the village. Since moving to the village we got married at the local church and are now raising our two boys here, who both now attend the local nursery. I feel I can offer fresh new views, having a young family growing in the village. I have lots of friends in the village with young families the same as mine and I feel I can be a good spokesperson for all of their opinions too. I’m a committed, hard-working, family man, who cares about the place I live and where I have chose to bring my children up. This shows with my commitment to the play park project that I started a few months ago and I feel it is making huge progress already. I’m definitely a people person and work well in a team, I can also lead if need be.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Karen Rhys– Parish Clerk
You must be logged in to post a comment.