Olney Town
Council Elections
As seen in Phonebox Magazine
The time has arrived! In just a few days (6 May) Olney will be one of more than 50 Milton Keynes parish councils holding an election to determine its new group of councillors.
This usually happens every four years, but last May’s election was postponed because of the Covid pandemic.
Now, with 15 places available for election to Olney Town Council, it’s going to be an exciting and interesting contest. Remember, you don’t have to vote for just one favourite – you can mark your voting card with up to 15 names, so you really do have a chance to get the councillors you want.
But who is on your watch list? How many potential councillors gets your interest going? Which candidates promise to deliver the important changes that you want for Olney? And who has the town’s best interests at heart? Still not sure where your crosses are going on the ballot paper? Let Phonebox Magazine help you come to a decision, with our easy-to-follow guide on all of next month’s candidates.
There’s some detail about each, along with their past experiences and a vision of what they would like to achieve for Olney. They have all had their say here, and now they’re waiting for your vote.
Who will be elected? It’s in your hands…
I am the President of Newport Pagnell and Olney Lions and have led the club through a number of difficult changes including migrating it to become a Registered Charity. I am comfortable and proficient in chairing the club’s regular business meetings.
I am also the Chairman of the Olney Youth Centre (OYC) and have worked with my team to turn the Centre around – re-building relationships, systems and processes.
I am now looking to enhance the way the council works. My many years’ experience in business processes, change management and ‘best practice’, is highly relevant and allows me ‘to know what good looks like’! It means I am very well-equipped to bring about the necessary cultural and systemic changes.
I was a member of the council until last year when I resigned, with other councillors, as I felt I could no longer continue. I think and hope things can change. If elected I will encourage respectful and lively debate and work towards a unified council body, emphasising collaboration, openness and transparency. We need to be open to change and where necessary admit mistakes and correct them. We need to stop the current blame culture and get on with providing the town with solutions to its needs. I want to work towards a sustainable infrastructure for Olney as part of the neighbourhood plan, recognise the town’s declared climate emergency and provide it with the opportunities it requires.
22 candidates, 15 votes. Your choice.
I grew up overseas but settled in Olney 20 years ago. During that time, I have enjoyed raising our own five children and have been a foster carer for a lot more.
I have worked at some local businesses and owned a couple. I have been involved in several of Olney’s sports clubs, NCT, Pre-School committee and Olney Is Kind. I want to make a difference within the community. With my business experience and compassion, I hope to bring that voice to the council.
I want to bring peace of mind that there will be an approachable member on the council for all ages, and I’ll be someone with passion, drive and willingness to deliver change and make a difference.
I have worked at some local businesses and owned a couple. I have been involved in several of Olney’s sports clubs, NCT, Pre-School committee and Olney Is Kind. I want to make a difference within the community. With my business experience and compassion, I hope to bring that voice to the council.
I want to bring peace of mind that there will be an approachable member on the council for all ages, and I’ll be someone with passion, drive and willingness to deliver change and make a difference.
I’m currently 1st XI captain at the cricket club and passionate about all sport in Olney. I am standing for election to ensure that the council works for the benefit of our growing town. I want the town to have enough well-maintained recreational facilities to support our many sports clubs and social groups.
I want to look at how our town council can support local businesses who have been through an unbelievably difficult year and I’d like to make sure local traditions and events are well supported and preserved.
As a younger person with no previous links to the council, I hope to offer a new perspective and enthusiasm to the role. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
I want to look at how our town council can support local businesses who have been through an unbelievably difficult year and I’d like to make sure local traditions and events are well supported and preserved.
As a younger person with no previous links to the council, I hope to offer a new perspective and enthusiasm to the role. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
A taxation specialist who has worked in both government and industry, I’ve been an Olney resident for 45 years.
I’m a former Chairman of Governors of Ousedale School and am current Chairman of Trustees at the Cowper & Newton Museum. I was elected to the town council in late 2017.
As Chairman of Finance since July 2018, I’ve brought about significant improvement in the town’s finances – the net reduction in its general reserve of around £72,000 during the years 2016-2019, made good in the two years to 31st March 2021. If re-elected I will work constructively with fellow members of the council, continue to promote sound finance and value for money, and use my wide-ranging experience to represent the interests of all Olney residents.
I’m a former Chairman of Governors of Ousedale School and am current Chairman of Trustees at the Cowper & Newton Museum. I was elected to the town council in late 2017.
As Chairman of Finance since July 2018, I’ve brought about significant improvement in the town’s finances – the net reduction in its general reserve of around £72,000 during the years 2016-2019, made good in the two years to 31st March 2021. If re-elected I will work constructively with fellow members of the council, continue to promote sound finance and value for money, and use my wide-ranging experience to represent the interests of all Olney residents.
A professional chartered quantity surveyor with 47 years’ experience and a strong, independent, unbiased ethical background, I specialise in organising contracts and dispute resolution. Formerly a regional office director, I managed a team of surveyors on large overseas projects. Chairman of Recreation & Services since 2019, I focus on supporting physical activities and encouraging biodiversity and hope that the council and event groups can join forces in a progressive way after the release from Covid restrictions. I aim to ensure responsible competitive fiscal management of the Council’s expenditure. I’m a former Honorary Chairman of the Sustainability Committee for the Regional Development Agency’s ‘South East Centre for the Built Environment’ and former Honorary Secretary of Bucks RFU.
Experienced Public Health Professional, WI secretary and lifelong resident. In 2017 I stood for council to help bring transparency, straight talking and much needed reform. Three years on I am pleased to say the council has taken steps towards positive change.
Change, as we all know, can be difficult and often comes with fallout. At times, it has been hard for all involved but it has been necessary for Olney to have a properly functioning, resilient and financially sound council. I have firmly asked for transparency and repeatedly challenged those who ignore standard protocols, making me unpopular at times with those being challenged but I will continue to do my very best for the town and all its residents.
When I co-founded the Olney covid support group I little knew that the regard I already had for the town would be so greatly enhanced.
Within days over 300 volunteers came forward, ready to put their own safety at risk for the good of others. The strength of community spirit in our town was, and is, humbling. Olney gave me a home and made me welcome at a difficult time in my life, a debt I will never be able to repay. However if you entrust me with the honour of representing you I promise you openness, hard work, honesty, inclusivity and integrity. If you were to ask me to choose one quality which makes me worthy of your trust it is an enduring love of our town and those who live in it.
Within days over 300 volunteers came forward, ready to put their own safety at risk for the good of others. The strength of community spirit in our town was, and is, humbling. Olney gave me a home and made me welcome at a difficult time in my life, a debt I will never be able to repay. However if you entrust me with the honour of representing you I promise you openness, hard work, honesty, inclusivity and integrity. If you were to ask me to choose one quality which makes me worthy of your trust it is an enduring love of our town and those who live in it.
I have been a Town Councillor for nine years and a Councillor on Milton Keynes Council for 13 years. I am a farmer, born and brought up in Hanslope, and currently live in Emberton.
A report commissioned two years ago showed numerous serious failings in the way your Town Council was operating. Some of us worked quickly and hard to correct these failings, some did not like these necessary changes and resigned.
We cannot go back to the ways of the past. I want to see a properly functioning Council offering value for money for the tax it raises and delivering efficient services for the Town while being open and accountable to you, something that has only started happening recently.
I have lived in Olney for 34 years and my husband Ron and I have brought up three daughters here, who all still live locally.
I am perhaps best known for owning three local businesses in the town: Phonebox Magazine, Orchard Press and Orchard Wills Ltd. Communication and media are a particular interest while openness, accountability and fairness are important to me. I am also a trustee for the Olney-Newton link which raises funds for the community of Newton in Sierra Leone. One of my main focuses is to encourage economic activity in the town and in standing for the council, I have only the people of the town’s interests at heart and feel that I would bring an impartiality to this role.
I am perhaps best known for owning three local businesses in the town: Phonebox Magazine, Orchard Press and Orchard Wills Ltd. Communication and media are a particular interest while openness, accountability and fairness are important to me. I am also a trustee for the Olney-Newton link which raises funds for the community of Newton in Sierra Leone. One of my main focuses is to encourage economic activity in the town and in standing for the council, I have only the people of the town’s interests at heart and feel that I would bring an impartiality to this role.
I have lived in Olney for six years. Before that were 35 years in Warrington – the last 10 as chair of the Parish Meeting.
I ran my own motor spares business in Newport Pagnell for 40 years, was a magistrate in Milton Keynes for 23 years and am still a volunteer with the Youth Offending Team.
Having been a councillor for 2½ years I have seen a lot of changes in the running of the council especially more open and transparent policies and procedures. I was happy to propose the community orchard which is now going ahead in time for the Amazing Grace 250 celebrations. If elected I will continue to support positive change to make Olney a better place to live.
Having been a councillor for 2½ years I have seen a lot of changes in the running of the council especially more open and transparent policies and procedures. I was happy to propose the community orchard which is now going ahead in time for the Amazing Grace 250 celebrations. If elected I will continue to support positive change to make Olney a better place to live.
I have lived in Olney since 1993 and was a police officer for 35 years before retiring in 2014.
In 1997 as local police officer for Olney I set up the Olney Police Office, Shop, Business, Church and Neighbourhood Watches and became a Town Councillor. In 2019 I re-joined OTC, serving on Recreation & Services, Planning & Development and HR Committees.
I seek re-election to help maintain all the positive aspects of living and working in Olney while helping to reduce or eliminate anything that may threaten the pleasant living and working environment that currently exists.
I want to ensure that a future council listens to the public and, with honesty and transparency, brings the town together to build a better future.
I live in Clifton Reynes, but my office is in Clickers Yard, Olney, where we operate a stage hire company (sponsoring BOFF, Riverfest and other Olney events that require staging).
We run the Arches Open Air Theatre and represent the rights for comedy scripts including ‘Steptoe and Son’ and ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’. I am also the director of a film and media youth school, opening a branch in Olney in the summer.
My reason for standing for OTC is to attempt to make it more accountable to the people of Olney. I’m ready to listen to the views of Olney residents and my main goal is to make OTC directly represent the town through transparency and public interaction in all aspects of council business.
I was previously a town councillor for Olney, pioneering the Olney Circular walk and Speedwatch while contributing to conservation work on the Goosey and Barnfield and working with local groups and schools. I stood down in disagreement with the way the council has recently been run. I feel I can still add value to the council and the Olney community. It’s important that as councillors we listen to residents and are accountable for our actions. Councillors need to work with MK council while maintaining our own town identity. For that, I aim to champion aspects such as our environment, the Neighbourhood Plan, sustainability and community groups. I ask for your vote so I can help the council be a positive, caring and proactive community asset.
I am a local secondary school teacher and have lived in Olney since 2018. I have played an active role in helping to improve local schools as NEU Health and Safety Officer and have recently been selected to serve as the MK NEU Branch Secretary.
I am a committed environmentalist and would take a keen interest in Green issues at a local level. Main concerns are wildflower meadow which some on the OTC are trying to turn into a football pitch and the new development near Sainsburys.
I would look forward to serving as your local Parish councillor to help make it more democratic and accountable to the interests of all who live here.
I’ve lived in Olney for over 30 years and all three of my children have gone to school in the town, with my daughter now teaching at the Infant Academy and my youngest son teaching at the Middle School. I’ve coached at Olney Town Colts FC for 22 years and will soon be starting my 15th year as club Chairman (25 youth and two adult teams and over 400 registered players).
Professionally, I’m a stadium consultant and university lecturer. I would hope that these skills and experiences, combined with a no nonsense, common sense approach, would add value to Olney Town Council.
If you can’t bring yourself to vote for me, please do vote for someone new, as Olney desperately needs some fresh faces on our Council.
I live in Olney with my wife Maria and four young children. I’m a Chartered Town Planner by profession and work for GL Hearn, a large property firm. I joined Olney Town Council in summer 2015 as a volunteer helping to shape the Neighbourhood Plan and was elected as a Councillor in November 2017.
I’m standing for re-election to continue advising on planning, development and environmental matters. I will continue to implement and update the Olney Neighbourhood Plan and work hard to enhance facilities for local people in our community including our health infrastructure, schools, homes, leisure facilities and play areas.
I want our beautiful town to be a wonderful place to live and work for years to come.
Dear Olney Residents, when you vote on 6th May you have two choices:
either elect the same individuals who led OTC to getting to the point of mismanaged finances and mass resignation, or vote for a reinvigoration and change. I believe I am part of that change.
My background is from the Royal Navy and, as a young veteran, I bring honesty, common sense, and a purpose to serve for the benefit of others. I now have my own young family in Olney and, working in the area with my own Cyber Security company, I am invested in Olney’s future. A vote for me is a vote for:
A voice for all, fiscal responsibility and a drive for change.
either elect the same individuals who led OTC to getting to the point of mismanaged finances and mass resignation, or vote for a reinvigoration and change. I believe I am part of that change.
My background is from the Royal Navy and, as a young veteran, I bring honesty, common sense, and a purpose to serve for the benefit of others. I now have my own young family in Olney and, working in the area with my own Cyber Security company, I am invested in Olney’s future. A vote for me is a vote for:
A voice for all, fiscal responsibility and a drive for change.
I have lived and worked in Olney for 34 years. What can I offer to benefit our town? My bid writing skills could help gain more money for our local activities. I manage an environmental business charity and could lead and advise on recycling, climate change and our natural environment. I have organised large events and would love to help the fantastic people who run our town celebrations.
Your Town Council should represent your interests, talk to you about your needs and wants, and – most importantly – involve you. It would be an absolute privilege to serve as one of your Councillors.
We have a wonderful community, and I believe we can work together to make it even stronger.
Having grown up in Olney I went on to work in a family-owned business. I have five wonderful children aged between 10 and 19.
I have a passion for sport and manage the Colts Under-15s football team.
I have an active interest in the provision of services to make them accessible and I strive to promote and support as much as possible.
I am often referred to as a ‘doer’ as I prefer action over words. If I am elected, I will bring enthusiasm, commitment and determination to improve all aspects of town life.
I will actively engage with residents ensuring their concerns and ideas are taken into consideration in every decision we make.
I am often referred to as a ‘doer’ as I prefer action over words. If I am elected, I will bring enthusiasm, commitment and determination to improve all aspects of town life.
I will actively engage with residents ensuring their concerns and ideas are taken into consideration in every decision we make.
After living here for 33 years, I now hope to use my skills to improve the Council’s people management, communication, and residents’ involvement in our rapidly growing town. Having worked successfully with small businesses in Olney, and larger businesses locally (including Milton Keynes Council), nationwide and abroad, as a senior HR strategist, change manager, lecturer, trainer and consultant, I want to help the council manage effectively and ethically. Understanding local government’s working is hard, so I want to improve debate, engage residents, and promote openness. I believe passionately that what we achieve is more valuable than how we achieve it. We need to change the Council’s culture, unite the town, improve facilities, and manage growth sustainably, Please help me do this.
I believe strongly that a councillors‘ role is to listen and engage with residents – particularly their concerns and aspirations – something I would wholeheartedly do and act on their views to the best of my ability.
I will work hard to identify the issues that are important to the lives of those living and working here. I will endeavour to promote a harmonious working relationship encouraging healthy debate where every Councillor and staff member is treated with respect and bring in public and experts to help deliver the fairest outcome for residents. Combining a practical approach to what works with mobilising support to implement realistic plans whether large, such as town plans, or small such as traffic concerns. This is your town, so please be assured that your views really do matter to me.
