Martin Barker
Born in Heswall at the Children’s Hospital, I have lived in the Neston area for most of my life, (with a brief spell in South Africa from 1980 – 1982), for the last 6 years in Parkgate, where I live with my wife, Cheryl.
I served as Mayor of Neston 2011/2012 having been a Neston Town Councillor since its inauguration in June 2009 and also serve on the Society and Culture and Finance and Town Centre Committees.
My background is in Mechanical Engineering, with 30 years experience working for many Blue Chip companies throughout the Northwest and nationally. I now work as an Area Sales Manager for Effective Air Solutions Ltd who specialise in the manufacture, supply and installation of Close Control and Comfort Air Conditioning products.
My ambitions as a Parkgate Councillor are:-
• Continuing our fight against the mosquitoes.
• Making a concerted effort to sort out the parking issues which blight the promenade area.
• Getting a facelift for Mostyn Square.
• Pressing ahead with working group plans to construct purpose-built viewing platforms for Bird Watchers at Parkgate.
• Bringing Christmas Lights to Parkgate.
• Take the lead in any project which may be of benefit to the local community.
Pat Hughes
Born in Liverpool in 1944 I was brought up in Childwall and educated at St Edward’s College. On leaving school worked as a technician at Liverpool University before joining Cable and Wireless and commenced a career at sea working as a transmission engineer on their vessels installing and repairing submarine cables around the world.
Married to Marie a librarian in 1970 my work took us to live for up to two years at a time in Bermuda, Hawaii and Fiji together with extended stays in other places but in 1973 we bought our first house in Parkgate as a UK base and have had a permanent home here ever since. Our son Alex teaches computing at a school outside Manchester and our daughter works for a packaging company. Retiring as Chief Cable Engineer in 1999 I continue to do occasional consultancy work in the submarine cable field.
After retiring I became involved in local affairs and campaigned for the formation of our own town council. I drive a bus one day a week for a local charity and lead a small team that looks after the station in Neston.
Outside my interest in local affairs I keep a small boat in Conwy marina, enjoy hill walking and support one of our local football teams.
Tony Cummins
Having married a Neston girl (Pauline nee Bell), I have lived in the town for some 32 years. In my past role as Chairman of Neston and District Chamber of Trade, I have represented local businesses and actually participated in Ladies Walk. I am currently M.D. of a respected quality consultancy.
Having grown to appreciate and respect the strong community spirit and enduring traditions that make Neston unique, I believe Neston people deserve better than second best, and understand the impact local decisions can have on people’s lives.
If Neston is to avoid becoming the Cinderella of Cheshire West & Chester we will need to lobby hard to obtain the funding to control mosquitoes, improve recreational facilities, support local groups and schools; and ensure our children and grandchildren can prosper in a community we can all be proud of.
Trish Derraugh
Having started life in Liverpool, I moved to Frodsham early in my teens then on to Bromborough, Belfast, Maidenhead, Bath and Port Sunlight; settling in Neston in 2002.
After a varied career in financial services, manufacturing and the construction industry, I now have time to devote more of my energies to local issues – hence my wish to become a councillor this year.
I am delighted to be one of the representatives for Neston Ward and with the imminent introduction of the Localism Bill, this is a good time for town councils to make a meaningful input and have a real say in what happens on their patch. There is a lot of work to do and hopefully the skills and experience I have gained over the years will be of benefit to our community in the decisions we take.
I am a keen supporter of green and eco-friendly issues, a Trustee of Thornton Hough Community Trust and a volunteer for the charity Helplink.
Carrie Spacey
Born in Wales and brought up in Kingston, Surrey, I am a relatively recent incomer to Neston, having moved here in December 2000 with my two daughters, Meghan and Olivia.
I chose to relocate to Neston as my immediate family had all gradually migrated to the North West over a number of years, with my Mother, Marion Canfield-Evans, settling here as a teacher of English and Drama at Mostyn House School.
My career has been mainly in Marketing and Sales, chiefly in the music industry, with stints at magazines such as Smash Hits and Just Seventeen leading to a job in artist management. From there I hopped over to the record company side, spending over a decade in International Marketing for EMI Records.
Following my move to the North of England, I worked on a number of brands such as Mars, Scottish Courage and the National Football Museum before launching my website, AboutMyArea.co.uk/CH64 in 2008, to attempt to address the lack of newspaper coverage of the many and varied activities going on in the area I had come to love as my new home.
As well as recently becoming a Town Councillor, I am Secretary of Neston & District Chamber of Trade and take an active interest in a number of other local organisations and groups.
When not attending to all-things-Neston, I enjoy spending time with my husband (Cllr Dean Munday), family and friends, cooking, reading and singing (with Hip & Harmony’s Neston Adult Choir).
Dean Munday
I was born in Iserlohn, West Germany while my father was serving in the armed forces, but was brought up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales.
After graduating from Manchester Polytechnic in 1988 with a Degree in Computer Science, I moved to Chester to take up a position in the I.T. Department of Manweb Electricity Board, administering their IBM Mainframe Operating Systems.
After a decade at Manweb, I took up a post with Capital Bank in Chester in 1998, performing the same role – but after several reorganisations and mergers over the last thirteen years I now find myself employed by Lloyds Banking Group.
In 2003, I met my partner Carrie (now Cllr Carrie Spacey) and moved to Neston, marrying in 2005 and inheriting two wonderful step-daughters, Meghan & Olivia.
In addition to being a Town Councillor, I serve on the board of Neston Players Amateur Dramatic Society in the role of Web & Communications Coordinator. In my spare time I build and maintain websites for several friends.
My many hobbies include playing guitar, singing (with Hip & Harmony’s Neston Adult Choir) and playing 5-a-side football (as frequently as time and my aging legs will allow). I am also a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter and season-ticket holder – an admission no doubt guaranteed to lose me the votes of all Evertonians and Manchester United fans in the Riverside Ward come Election Day 2015!
Rob Burkey
Born in Clatterbridge hospital in 1971.
I have lived in Neston for most of my life (briefly leaving to attend school) at Wrekin College in Shropshire from 1985-1990, gaining a sports scholarship and representing Shropshire County in three sports.
I graduated from Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education in 1993 with a BSc (Hons) Degree in Recreation Studies with Business Studies.
I returned to Neston and worked for such companies as Forte Hotels, Costa Cruise and Wirral Council, eventually settling at Thornton Hall Country Health Club, where I am currently the Health Club General Manager and have been for the last 14yrs.
I married my wife Rebecca in 2000 and my son Ethan was born in 2005 with my daughter Seren joining us in 2009.
In my spare time I enjoy various activities/sports including walking, gardening and also enjoy quality time with my family and close friends.