The Current council came into being in May 2024  following the local council election. Details of their Declarations of Interest are now held centrally by Dorset Council and can be viewed here 

_________________________________________________________________________

Councillor R Rowe  -Chairman

I have lived in Okeford Fitzpaine since 2009 and originally came to Dorset to work with cancer projects across the county. I currently work part time as a writer and am an NCTJ trained journalist. My work includes reporting on issues such as housing, heritage, science, local businesses, and rural issues which has given me significant insight into the challenges and opportunities of living and working in North Dorset. I’m currently commissioned to write non fiction books for a major publisher. I also help organise the annual Sturminster Newton Literary Festival.

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, and worked on major healthcare programmes including research, preventing cancer and diabetes, and setting up new services.

I enjoy walking, writing and travelling and have visited over 70 countries but nothing beats the view from the top of Okeford Hill. Okeford Fitzpaine is a wonderful parish to live and I am looking forward to helping shape the future with the community.

 

___________________________________________________________________________

Councillor Charlotte Read  Vice Chairman

 

I have lived in Okeford Fitzpaine since birth and purchased my house five years ago, my ancestors can be dated back hundreds of years in Okeford and my immediate family all live in the village.

I work full time as an accountant and am also the treasurer for St Andrews, I enjoy netball and play for a local netball club and am also the secretary for the league.  I enjoy country life and like many of the old traditions including hearing the church bells, I bell ring at St Andrews but I also travel to the other local village churches ringing.

I hope I can bring a younger prospective and different ideas to the parish council whilst maintaining the history and continuing to keep the community spirit alive, making Okeford a wonderful place to live.

_______________________________________________________________________

Councillor Stephen Corben

I was borne in the house that I now live in with my wife Helen in Castle Avenue. I attended the village school as did my six brothers and three sisters and also both my parents. My mu was born here and my dad came to the village when his dad was the village policeman I the 1930s.. My trade is cabinet making which I have done all my working life and I was first elected in  2004 . This parish is a lovely place to live as is many parts of our county and as a parish councillor I intend to do my best to keep it a nice place to live for everyone.

I am currently the Chairman of the village football club which was formed in 1900.

If any parishioners wish to contact me regarding any village matters please do I will do my best to give a fair balanced view .

__________________________________________________________________________________

Councillor Sophie Harvey

I was born and bred on a farm on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, where my family have farmed for many generations. I spent my entire childhood in welly boots, I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in.

After realising that herding cows and driving tractors was not my vocation in life, I worked for two years for a commodity broker on Wall Street in New York.  Returning to London, I worked for 6 years at a majorauction house.  After having 2 children, I went back to work locally and spent 17 very happy years in the NHS at Salisbury Hospital.

Since moving to Okeford Fitzpaine, I was the Clerk for the Parish Council, Secretary to St Andrew’s and am currently Secretary to the VCG. I volunteer at the Mud Pie Café, occasional church flower–arranger, cook curries for the curry and quiz evenings and am called upon to help when required. I love every minute of it.

I would hope I am seen as approachable, unbiased and honest.  I like to think I get on with everyone, am a very good listener and display sound judgement.  I certainly won’t have ALL the answers, but I am prepared to put in the work, research and thereby assist in making collaborative decisions – impartially and fairly – based on the best evidence and without bias. 

 

______________________________________________

 

Sam Smith Parish Clerk