Meet The Chilham Parish Council Team
Chilham Parish Council consists of 9 elected councillors. They are unpaid and volunteer their time to work on behalf of the parishioners of Chilham with the various agencies that affect the quality of life in the parish. The press should contact the clerk in the first instance regarding any parish council issue via the feedback form on the how are we doing page.
Councillors serve a maximum term of 4 years before they need to seek re-election to continue. The current 4 year term started in May 2023 and runs until April 2027. The first meeting of each council year (the AGM) is held in May and at this meeting the council elects a Chairman and Deputy Chairman, agrees the composition of its Committees and Working Groups and appoints representatives to various village or local organisations.
Parish Council meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month and are held in either Chilham or Old Wives Lees village hall. The public and press are cordially invited to attend but are not allowed to address the meeting unless - in special circumstances - the Chair adjourns the meeting to allow this. Disclosable Pecuniary Interests for all parish councillors are held on the Ashford Borough Council website and can be viewed by clicking here. If parishioners wish to bring an issue to the attention of the council they can either contact one of the councillors, or the parish clerk, and request that the issue be included on the agenda or discussed in the Parishioners Questions section during the metting. The clerk can be contacted using the form on our contact us page.
KIRSTY JEFFRIES
Co-opted 7th September 2023
Register of interests to follow
I enjoy working with the local community (I also have a job which mainly involves dealing with the public). My particular area of interest and activity has been supporting our youth club (C.O.S.Y.). I especially value time spent with family, and friends as well as dog walking and river jumping.
DR GEOFF MEADEN
Tel: 01227 752275
Geoff is a retired university lecturer whose main interests were Bio-geography, Climate Change and the geographic aspects of marine fisheries. He is now actively engaged with green issues, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), the Canterbury Society and local planning issues. His relaxation mostly involves cycling and supplying wood for a very hungry wood burning stove.
VANESSA HUTCHINSON
I have lived in the Parish (Old Wives Lees) for 9 years. I currently work for a sustainability consultancy based in Canterbury, and before that was a Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University. I am an active member of the Green Party, and am passionate about green issues and making sustainable living accessible for all. My goals are to help our community to continue to grow in a positive way for our environment, children, and everyone's future.
ANASTACIA WATKINS
Life long resident of Chilham Parish and busy mother of 4 children. Attended school in Chilham and subsequently went on to gain a college qualification in psychology. I believe I have good people skills with experience of working in a commercial environment. I am looking forward to participating in the work of Chilham Parish Council with integrity, embracing diversity in its membership, being open minded and prepared to stand up for my beliefs. My particular passion among Chilham Parish Council business is the Youth Initiative, working to establish a programme to engage and develop the citizens of the future.
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SHANISE BARRETT
I’ve lived and grown up in our Parish for 45 years. My early education was at the Rudolph Steiner School (Perry Court) and later in Chilham. Subsequently I became a college trained complimentary therapist and counsellor. I am immensely fortunate to have benefited from community activities and organisations which include the Girls Friendly Society (GFS), church choir and the Chilham Players. Work experience includes the Chilham Castle Tea Rooms and running the village pub in Old Wives Lees. I am passionate about creating a community like the one in which I grew up where we value voluntary service and opportunities for paid work. Finally, an interesting fact about me - I was Carnival Queen at the Chilham May Fayre for two years running. Looking forward to the future I want to work with Chilham Parish Council to deliver a programme of activities and events which will engage and challenge our young people to grow and develop as citizens of the future.
GILL SCHOFIELD (CHAIR)
Tel: 01227 732515 / 07779 539617
I am a retired Civil Servant and have lived in Old Wives Lees for 23 years with my husband Jim, and dog Teddy. I have served as a Chilham Parish Councillor for the last four years, and have been the Parish Council’s representative on OWL Village Hall Committee, and have helped with various community events they have arranged. My main aim is to help keep and maintain the villages as clean and safe environments for people to live in.
KEITH UNCLE (DEPUTY CHAIR)
01227 732489 / 07597 915825
I am a retired Emergency Ambulance Technician and have lived in Old Wives Lees for 8 years with my wife Margery. I have served as a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for 4 years, and have been on the Old Wives Lees Village Hall Committee for 3 years. My main reason for joining the Parish Council is to help build a community for all residents to enjoy and be proud of.
TONY WEBB
Co-opted 1st June 2023. I’ve lived in Chilham for 34 years. Having spent my working life as a veterinary surgeon in clinical practice as well as research and teaching, now I’m retired, I look forward to working with the Parish Council to support and build a community that is fulfilling and safe both to live and work in.
GREG TAYLOR
Co-opted 7th September 2023
Register of interests to follow
A British citizen, Greg is originally from Colorado and moved from New York City to London in 2000. After a decade of visiting friends in Chilham, Greg and his husband Christian Magg acquired Well Cottage on Taylors Hill adjacent to Chilham Square in August 2019. Since that time, he has taken a keen interest in the village, co-founding The Tudor Peacock wine shop last year in the hopes of improving the commercial life of Chilham Square. Greg rejoined the council September 2023, having previously served from the May 2021 election until May 2023