Henley Conservative Candidates for Town & District Council Elections ( From May 2011)
Joan Bland | David Nimmo-Smith | Lorraine Hiller | Samantha Evans | William Hall
Will Hamilton | David Silvester |
Joan Bland (District & Town)
joan@asquiths.com
In the past four years, as your Town and District Council Member, I have fought hard for Henley.
As chairman of the Community Investment Fund I have helped to secure over £700,000 for Henley.
D-Two Henley Baptist Centre £100,000, Upper Thames Rowing Club, £188,000, Henley Cricket Club £250,000, The Eyot Centre £12,000, Headway £41,000, The Chiltern Centre £10,000, I also voted for £400,000 to be spent on our Leisure Centre.
As a Member of the Henley Town Council Finance Committee I have thoroughly scrutinized spending and managed to make savings. I have monitored our investments, and they are doing well in these difficult times.
If you re-elect me, I will continue to put Henley first. Keep pushing our economic development, insure that our leisure facilities thrive, promote the Olympic initiatives with ‘Oxford Spires’ in Art and in Sport. For many years I was a trustee for the Citizens Advice Bureau as such I will fight to keep its funding. I will make sure The Henley Handibus is not affected by cut backs. Since elected I have been on the forefront of planning at SODC. At all times I have done my best to preserve Henley’s unique character and heritage but embracing new and quality design in housing and development. Henley is my home. I will serve it well.
David Nimmo-Smith (Town)david.nimmo-smith@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Over 30 years ago I chose to live in Henley. Since I was first elected to Henley Town Council in 1983 I have been closely involved with most of Henley’s organisations and societies. This continues to allows me to listen to, and act upon, local views and visions for the future of our Town. I am a former Henley Mayor and a former member of South Oxfordshire District Council. I have been a member of Oxfordshire County Council since 2005.
I am currently a governor of Henley College, and a former Governor of Gillotts and 3 of the Henley Primary Schools. Improving the quality of education is vital for today’s youth – the future adults of tomorrow. I have been a member of the Townlands Steering Group since it was formed, and I will continue to press the Health Service to provide a local Hospital fit for purpose for today and the future. I represent the Town Council at the River & Rowing Museum, one of the jewels of the Thames.
My career as a chartered Civil and Structural Engineer gives me an ideal insight into the delicate balance necessary for maintaining & protecting our historic heritage and building for future generations. Planning decisions today will affect the balance of the Town for generations to come – and we must get them right.
Lorraine Hiller (District & Town)lorraine.hillier@yahoo.com
I have lived in Henley for over 20 years and have been a Town Councillor since 1999 and a District Councillor since 2007.
I have owned and run The Hot Gossip Coffee Shop in Friday street since 2007, and set it up with the intention of making it a genuine meeting place for the community. We now run a wide range of clubs and activities including a Book Club, a Knitting Circle and an Art Group. My previous career was in graphic design.
Since becoming a Councillor I spent a term as Deputy Mayor (2003) and chaired the Town & Community Committee.
I have always been a trusted supporter of local traders, and championed their rights at Council, notably to A-Board advertising. I also supported having a Memorial to George Harrison, one of our most famous and respected local residents, and am exploring ways that we may create a Remembrance Maze for him in the town.
As a Councillor and local resident I am deeply concerned about good street lighting, which contributes to public safety, and to residents’ and shoppers’ ability to find appropriate parking in our town. I also believe that we can be more innovative in how we preserve and enhance Henley’s heritage, and believe we should be investigating options such as using Community Service participants in litter collection and other ways of keeping up the good standards of our town.
Samantha Evanssam-evans@mercuri.co.uk
I have lived in Henley for 11 years. I graduated from Leeds University with a degree in International History & Politics and, following a media career in London, have enjoyed a successful career as a Management Consultant for the last 12 years.
My role focuses on enabling her client companies to work more effectively and efficiently and, most importantly, to help the individuals to achieve their full potential. The ability to achieve targets, develop strong working relationships and understand people and their priorities will help me to contribute positively for the good of Henley. My role demands excellent communication skills, both talking and listening, which I will employ to good measure.
I have been an active member of the rugby club, supporting all of their events. I am passionate about the town, all that it currently has to offer, and all the potential that we can achieve. I will enthusiastically supports all of the festivals, markets, local retailers and events believing that we, as residents, have the responsibility to protect and nurture our precious market town.
William Hall (District)wahhall@gmail.com
William Hall has lived in Henley for the past eighteen years since he was 4 years old. At University he spent a year leading London student Conservatism as well as captaining his University debate team, prior to which he worked for a year as a policy intern for Michael Gove MP. Will has been heavily involved in setting up debating societies in deprived schools and spent a year mentoring inner-city pupils.
In the local area, Will has been active in local Henley life: he sang in the church choir, rowed for a local club, worked in a pub and tends a Waterman’s allotment. Will’s priorities for the town are ensuring that the Town Council remains a campaigning force for resident’s concerns, in particular working to improve policing, local services, potholes and litter. In general, Will aims to tirelessly campaign for local Henley business and work to ensure that local government reconnects with residents.
Will Hamilton (Town)willhamilton200@aol.com
I have lived in Henley for sixteen years – I am a Senior Marketing Consultant and the Chairman of Henley Conservatives. I am a keen sportsman, a member of the Rugby Club, having played for the Wanderers and a member of the Henley Golf Club. I have also run three Henley Half marathons for charity, and last year completed the Henley Swim over the famous regatta course.
I am passionate about our town and put myself up for the Henley North By Election in 2009, losing by just 75 votes. Never one to give up, I hope to be successful this time round, and I hope the electorate will come out and vote for all of us.
As Chairman, I am responsible for making sure you have a fantastic team of Conservative Councilors to work for you. A team that genuinely wants to give something back to Henley and look after its future. They can all be trusted to be open, honest, fair and do the job for you. I believe we should have Councils at every level, that work well together and give you good value for money. It is also important to support our local MP John Howell in Westminster and vote NO to the Alternative Voting System.
We will be spending our campaign time meeting people on their doorsteps and listening to all their needs. Councilors’ should always remember they have “two ears and one mouth” and use them in that proportion. We have put in place Market Place meetings so we can listen to your problems and deal with issues. Of course, we live in austere times, but together we will do our best to do what we can, being careful with expenditure so that the money that is available in the Town supports the good causes that now need it.
I believe our town is for our people, we should look after our town’s businesses, our welfare organisations and sporting amenities, and above all stop wasting money. If we have a Conservative controlled Town Council our lives will be so much easier.
David Silvester (Town)
davidmsilvester@tiscali.co.uk
I have lived in Henley for 18 years and my wife Irene for 37 years. We have 2 daughters and 3 sons respectively. I was educated at Uppingham before a Shell-sponsored Diploma in Commerce and later a London University Honours Degree in Economics. Elected Fellow of the Institute of Petroleum in 1975, I later moved into professional sport, first as a Sports Groundsman, during which I was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Groundsmanship, and then as an LTA and SRA professional Tennis and Squash Coach. Elected a member of the Bucks Professional Tennis Coaches Committee in 1993, I later formed the Henley School of Tennis and Squash.
I have been a Committee Member of the Reading Torch Trust for the Blind, Chairman of the Henley Toy Library, and was a volunteer for over 13 years in Henley’s Oxfam retail outlets. I am currently Treasurer of the Henley Sensory Room for Special Needs. I am an active tennis player and Treasurer for the Phyllis Court Tennis Club. I am also an earnest Christian and am part of the leadership at Henley Baptist Church where I work in the Christians Against Poverty Budget Management team. I also serve on the Henley Christian Aid Committee. My other interests include Music,as a keyboard player, and as a singer with the Henley Choral Society and the Phyllis Court Singers, plus art, ornithology and politics.
