Meet the Councillors

Mike Allen

I have lived in Lindfield for about 20 years with Mary, our four children and probably better recognised around the village, our large dogs. Now in my third term as a Councillor, I have also been a school governor at Lindfield schools and Haywards Heath College for over 10 years. Currently I serve on the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Environment and Amenities Committee, as these committees reflect my local interests of finance, marketing and the environment. I have a varied work background encompassing several industries from the private sector and spent over 10 years working in local government. I can often be found fulfilling my ‘labourer’ duties on the Denmans Lane allotment site.

Will Blunden

I am proud to be the local lad on the Parish Council. Lindfield born and bred, I now live in Pondcroft Cottages with my wife Sue. We have two children and one granddaughter. I was elected on to the Parish Council in 1995 and currently serve on the Finance and General Purposes Committee, the Planning and Traffic Committee, and I am Vice Chairman of the Environment and Amenities Committee. I am the Chairman of the Lindfield Club and Vice Chairman of the King Edward Hall Management Committee. In the past I have served on the committee of the Lindfield School PTA, the Bonfire Society and the Horticultural Society. I am also the village Harbour Master. As a Parish Councillor I try to maintain a balance between upholding the traditions of the village and the development of new amenities for the benefit of all the residents. I work locally and in my spare time enjoy reading, gardening, walking and cycling.

Michael Davies

Recently elected to the Parish Council, I have been Chairman of the Lindfield Postal Address Action Committee for the past 3 years, having retired here in 1997 from Geneva, Switzerland, where I was for 7 years Assistant General Secretary of the World Council of Churches. Brought up in Middlesex, I trained in accountancy and company administration and then was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister. After serving local churches in Rustington and Wallasey I was for a while Secretary-General of ‘Help the Aged’, on the HQ staff of the newly formed United Reformed Church and then Provincial Moderator for North London, before going to Geneva

Alan Gomme

Alan and his wife moved into Lindfield fourteen years ago and he retired from the city after nearly 40 years as an IT Support Manager for a leading bank in 2001. Since then he has undertaken a number of roles in the voluntary sector, including being the Secretary of the Lindfield Preservation Society, Treasurer of Voluntary and Steam Preservation organisations and is a working member of the Bluebell Railway.

Margaret Hersey

I have been a Lindfield Parish Councillor since 1999, serving on the Planning and Traffic Committee during this time. My further commitment within the community of Lindfield village is through serving Coombers Charity, set up many years ago for the benefit of village residents. For 10 years I have been a school governor for Lindfield Primary School, serving on 2 committees. I also represent the residents of Lindfield as one of the District Councillors, which enables me to have a greater overview in respect of strategic planning issues for the benefit of Lindfield residents.

Derrick Johnson

I have lived in Lindfield for over 30 years and have been a member of Lindfield Parish Council since 1995. Currently I am Vice Chairman of Council, which means that I can sit on any of the Committees, even if I have not been formally appointed onto them. I am Vice Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and I am also a member of the Environment and Amenities Committee. I was formerly the Council’s representative on the Haywards Heath Police/Community Forum, and I continue to liaise with the local police on matters of interest to the Parish Council. I am also a member of the King Edward Hall Management Committee.

Michael Leach

Mike moved his wife and 2 children from Epsom to “this lovely village” in 1970. His third child, second son, was born in Cuckfield Hospital in 1973. He also moved his small electrical controls company from Mitcham in South London, to The Lindfield Enterprise Park in 1985. Sadly he lost his wife in 2004. During his time at the Enterprise Park, his company Switchpoint Ltd, sponsored the Lindfield Football Club for 6 years. He is a member of two local angling clubs and also of the Lindfield Village Club. He thinks that, as he is now fully retired, he would like to put something back into the village and so he is now a Parish Councillor.

Margaret Nicolle

I have been a member of Lindfield Parish Council since 1987. I have been Chairman of the Parish Council since 1999 and, as such, I am an ex-officio member of all the committees which helps me keep a close eye on all Parish Council activities. I am also Chairman of the Environment and Amenities Committee and am particularly interested in environmental issues. I played an active part in the restoration of the Horse Gin (now sited in the garden of the Red Lion). I was Chairman of the Millennium Map group and have recently been involved in the production of the Lindfield leaflet.

Roger Picket

I have lived in the village with my wife and son for about 30 years, and I own and administer a long established contracting business. I was elected on to the Council in May 2003, and serve on the Environment and Amenities Committee. I am also a Committee member of the Lindfield Club, but am not involved in any other village concerns at the moment.

Christopher Snowling

I have served on the Parish Council since 1995 and am currently the Chairman of the Planning and Traffic Committee. I have represented Lindfield on Mid Sussex District Council since 1976 and am at present the Cabinet member for Resources. My wife and I originally moved to Lindfield in 1967.

Valerie Upton

I was co-opted onto Lindfield Parish Council in May 2003 and currently serve on the Planning and Traffic Committee and the Environment and Amenities Committee. I have lived in Lindfield with my husband for the last 18 years, but have had connections here all my life as my mother was born in the village. I am a member of Lindfield Evangelical Free Church, where I am involved in many activities including running a children’s club as well as a Mums and Tinies group. I recently retired from a full time Nurse Practitioner post at the Princess Royal Hospital after working in the National Health Service for 39 years. I have returned to the hospital and I am now working as a Stroke Co-ordinator. I am also a school governor at Lindfield Primary School.

Stephen Willcox

Steve has lived in Lindfield with his wife Sue for the past ten years and they have three daughters and seven grandchildren. Recently elected to the Parish Council, he serves on both the Finance and General Purposes and Planning and Traffic committees. He is also on the management committee of the Lindfield Preservation Society. Most of Steve’s business life has been spent working within the international legal and tax marketing place for two Anglo Dutch organisations. In their leisure time both Sue and he enjoy reading, walking the countryside (sometimes with their manic rescued border collie) and going to the theatre, Steve is also a keen supporter of Watford football club.

Christine Irwin

Parish Clerk

Vera Grainger

Deputy Parish Clerk

Tree Wardens

We have 2 volunteer Tree Wardens who undertake valuable work on behalf of the Council in gathering information and encouraging practical projects relating to trees in the parish. To achieve this they liaise with the District and County Councils and report back to the Chairman of the Environment and Amenities Committee

Pond Warden

Although the pond in Lindfield is in private ownership and managed by the District Council, we do have a volunteer Pond Warden in conjunction with Southern Water and BTCV’s Pond Warden Scheme. The main duties are to remove any peripheral rubbish, to keep a general eye on the welfare of the wildlife and the water quality and to put forward suggestions for any improvements. Again, we are very fortunate in having an individual who is very keen and proactive

Village Archives

At present the Environment and Amenities Committee is responsible for the Village Archive collection, but the day to work involved in collecting and collating material is currently undertaken by Mr. Richard Bryant. Richard is keen to receive either the original, or copies of, any old documents, photographs, pictures, etc. relating to Lindfield. In addition, if anyone discovers any old artefacts that might be appropriate for display he would be pleased to hear about them. There has always been great interest in the archive collection whenever it has been on display, so we would ask everyone to bear it mind if they have any Lindfield memorabilia.

You can find out more about the Archive here