MEET YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLORS!

Councillor Alison Rooke

Alison Rooke has represented the Abingdon Peachcroft Ward as an Abingdon Town councillor since 1999, and also a Vale of White Horse District Councillor since May 2003. Alison was born and brought up in Oxford and came to live in Abingdon in 1979. both her daughters, now grown up, attended Rush Common Primary and then Fitzharrys schools in Abingdon. She has attended the Vale Youth Forum meetings ever since first being elected to the Vale Council, and is Deputy Mayor of Abingdon for the year 2004/2005.

Councillor Joyce Hutchinson

Born in Hartleypool, County Durham. Went to Bishop Auckland Girls Grammar School and met her husband, who attended the boys grammar school 50 years ago. Married for 45 years – has two children. Qualified as a Dispenser and taught as a tutor at Oxpens College.

Joined Wantage Town Council and later became Mayor of Wantage. Has been a District Councillor for Segsbury Ward (Wantage) for 19 years. Was Chair of the council for 3 years. Is currently an Executive Member of the Council with a portfolio for Recreation, Leisure and Sport and Culture.

Councillor Janet Morgan

Janet Morgan has been a Vale of White Horse District Councillor since 1987. She has also been an Abingdon Town Councillor and for 8 years represented North Abingdon on the County Council where she was Education spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats.

She taught History, for most of her career at Matthew Arnold School. She was involved in setting up the Youth Forum and believes strongly that young peoples' voice should be heard and that they should be encouraged to take an interest in local and national issues.

She is married to a scientist and they have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.They have lived in Abingdon since 1957.

Councillor Jerry Patterson

Born and attended primary & secondary school in Pennsylvania, USA, university in Los Angeles, came to England with United States Air Force in May 1965. Met wife Sylvia in Oxford in 1966, married 1967, returned to USA (Hollywood California) 1998, returned to Oxford 1970, two sons born 1970 & 1972, worked in computer systems sector for 25 years, joined Office for National Statistics (ONS) in Feb 1995.

Lived in Kennington since 1976. Father was employee of Democrat party in Pennsylvania, always thought taking part in politics was “normal”, joined SDP & stood for Vale council in 1987 (lost), stood again 1991 as Liberal Democrat (lost again) and yet again in 1995 (won). Was Chair of Oxford West & Abingdon Liberal Democrat Constituency Party in 1997 when Lib Dem Evan Harris became MP, re-elected to Vale in 1999 (along with wife Sylvia), both re-elected again in 2003. Since 1995 has been Chair of Economic & Community Development Sub Committee (1996-1999), Vice-Chair of Planning (1997-1999), Chair of Planning (1999-2001), Executive Member (2001-2004) and currently Leader of Council (since 2004). Involved in Youth Forum since it started.

Councillor Laurel Symons

I represent Northcourt Ward, Abingdon for the Liberal Democrats and was first elected in 1995. I have been involved with the Youth forum since it started as I have 4 grown up children of my own, and continue to be very interested in young people and how they are thinking.

I also work as a Governor of Fitzharrys School and am very keen to see young people grow up doing the best for themselves here in Abingdon and the Vale.

To that end I am a member of the Management Committee of the Abingdon Bridge where young people needing advice can come for help.

I am Australian born and enjoy cycling, tennis and swimming. I belong to an informal book club where we have been discussing a book each month for nearly 3 decades!

Councillor Peter Green

Born 1941 at the height of the blitz and decided at the age of 21 to join the royal Air Force. After 30 years of flying as a signaller and Electronics Officer he joined the civilian world as an electronic Warfare Officer.

After 8 ½ years he decided it was time to retire and join the real world and has now reached the acme of his career as a RP, GOL (Retired Person, Gentleman of Leisure).

Has been a District Councillor for approx 3 ½ years and a Town Councillor for 6 years.

Councillor Peter Jones

He has been a councillor for the Dunmore Ward in Abingdon for 2 years. He decided to stand as a councillor to represent the views of people in his area to ensure fairness and good value from the council.

He worked at BMW for 33 years and took early retirement. He now works for the University of Oxford, Radcliffe Science Library.

He joined the Youth Forum working group 1 ½ years ago because the future is young people and it is important they understand how democracy works.

He is a D.I.Y. enthusiast and enjoys walking, cooking and going on holiday.

Councillor Terry Quinlan

Has been helping at the Youth Forum for the last few years and has found it interesting meeting with its members and hearing their views.

With Cllr Briony Newport he represents North Hinksey and Wytham Ward in the North East of the Vale. It was she who persuaded him to stand for election (successfully) for his first time in 1999. Being a District Councillor is interesting and challenging but he quickly realised that you can please some of the people for some of the time but never all the people all the time!

Married with two adult daughters Terry lives in Botley having come to Oxford in 1990. His experience is in Personnel and Health and Safety. He is a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church and enjoys reading, walking and the occasional bout of photography (usually on holiday and at family gatherings).

He has served on many committees for the Council and is currently Chair of the Personnel, Regulatory and Appeals Committee.

Councillor Tessa Ward

Cllr Tessa Ward is one of two Vale of White Horse District Councillors in the Sunningwell and Wootton Ward. She lives on Boars Hill with her 11-year-old son, Sam.

Elected onto the council in a 2001 bi-election and she was re-elected in 2003. This year (2005) she has also been elected for one year onto the Vale’s Executive and is portfolio holder for Communications and Environmental protection.

Tessa’s background work experience is mainly in newspaper and radio journalism. She was born in New Zealand and after gaining her post-graduate journalist diploma she worked as a journalist in South Australia and North Queensland. Later she worked in Timaru and Christchurch, New Zealand, before travelling to London.

After four years of working on newspapers and magazines in London, Tessa was married in Abingdon and moved to Boars Hill.

Her interests include music, reading, long walks and tennis.