Parish Councillors

Lesley Derry was co-opted onto the Parish Council in May 2019. She has lived in Chieveley since 2001 and is a keen supporter of village life and the local community.  Lesley has worked in the health sector for over 30 years, providing advice and support to members of a professional association. Good, effective communication has been pivotal to her working life; she hopes to use these skills in her role on the Parish Council.

No information available

Rob Crispin joined the Parish Council in 1980 with the aim of safeguarding the local environment in general and the quality of life in particular. He was elected Chairman for the first time a few years later, serving in that capacity for 10 years. As well as supporting the Parish Council at a Judicial Review in the High Court he has also represented the Parish Council on the Newbury By-Pass Liaison Group during the construction of the by-pass and he played a significant part in the Parish Council team at the A34/M4 Junction 13 Public Enquiry. In 2002 he began his second period as Chairman.

David Cowan has lived on the Berkshire Downs north of Newbury all his life and moved into Chieveley in 1994.He joined the Parish Council in 1995. David has professional experience of the town planning system and has a particular interest in major planning issues in the area. 

I was born, raised and educated in West Berkshire and moved to the hamlet of Oare 10 years ago with my family. I am a very active person attending a HIT session every morning and a keen walker. I love vintage, up-cycling and animals.

I have worked in the corporate environment for the past 30 years, the last seven of which as a Governance Senior Manager.  My responsibility was to develop, implement and enforce policies and processes to ensure a quality end result. This skill set and experience I believe is transferable to support the Parish Councillor role.

Oare is a very small community and I would like to ensure it has continued representation on the Parish Council.  I want to carry on the good work Mike Taylor has done for the past 30 years.  I want to ensure that as a community there is somebody who understands the issues we face on a day-to-day basis, someone who can help the community grow whilst maintaining the beauty of where we are, I am very passionate with regards maintaining rural village life as a whole.

I have lived in Curridge for nearly 30 years and my three children have grown up and been educated here. I was a secondary school teacher all my working life in London and locally. I served as Chair of Governors at Curridge School for over 15 years watching it increase in numbers and improve in many ways. So education and improving the opportunities for children is my passion. I have enjoyed owning a horse and riding locally so preserving our countryside is very important to me. I enjoy living in this beautiful area and I am determined that future generations will have the same enjoyment.

Maurice Beard is a newly co-opted Parish Councillor who has lived in Chieveley Village since 1970 with his family.   For most of his career he has been an academic, a university tutor working in the field of investment and finance in commercial real estate at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Matters that interest Maurice as a member of the Parish Council are local rights of way, pedestrian safety and peak- time traffic through the village.

For the past 49 years Curridge village has been my home, apart for 8-years, where with my family we were residents in Dubai, UAE.

My career background has been electro-mechanical.  Starting with a 5-year Admiralty apprenticeship, followed with a period of Merchant Navy service as a ship’s Senior Electrical Officer. Moving from Kent to Oxfordshire I obtained a post at Rutherford High Energy Laboratory, then on to Newbury College of F.E., as a College Lecturer, teaching electro-mechanical subjects. With my family I then took up residence in Dubai for an 8-year period, having been offered a post by the UAE Government as a Course Supervisor in the UAE technical-schools. On our return to UK until retirement, I worked as an MOD technical-Officer, serving on numerous USAF/MOD Bases. Principal tasks were ensuring compliance with safe-systems of work, contractual evaluation, financial controls & serving as a duty on-call officer for high-voltage & pressurised systems.

I served as a Chieveley Parish Councilor for a 10-year period up to June 2011, during which time I was able to provide input to the CPC regarding the non-compliance of contractor’s obligations working the sand-extraction around Curridge. I was able to initiate the provision of a footpath between the WI Hall to Crabtree Lane. This footpath has allowed a much higher degree of safety for families walking too & from Curridge School. Due to the speed of traffic, further footpaths are required.

Aims
Sand extraction areas surrounding Curridge, to ensure contractors carrying out remedial work to the sand extraction areas complete their tasks in compliance with their contractual agreements. Continued quest will be for enhancement of safety for walkers in the village. Ongoing support for Curridge School & the Curridge WI Hall, which is a main focal point for activities in the village.

No information available

Kim has a wealth of experience as a Parish Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer.  Currently works for other Berkshire Parish Councils and lives within the Parish so understands many of the issues faced locally.