Countesthorpe Parish Councillors

David Ball - Chairman

5 Laurel Drive
Countesthorpe
LE8 5RX

Phone: 0116 277 5253
Email:

I have lived and worked in Countesthorpe since 1966. I am married and have two children, a son and a daughter who were educated in Countesthorpe. I have three granddaughters and one grandson who all live in the County area.

From the year 2000 to 2002, I was elected Parish Chairman, and am still actively involved with the Parish Council, being a member of the Police Liaison, the Village Hall and the Council Property working parties.

In my spare time I am a keen amateur gardener and very much involved with a local Rotary Club and the Senior Citizens Luncheon Club in Countesthorpe and other local charities.

Rev. Mick Gillespie - Deputy Chairman

3 Penfold Drive
Countesthorpe
LE8 5TP

Phone: 0116 278 1130
Email:

I married my wife Gill at St. Mary’s Church West Horsley in Surrey in 1962 and we moved via Coventry and Hinckley to Countesthorpe in 1973. We have three sons and one daughter and now blessed with four grandsons, one step-grandson, one granddaughter and one step-granddaughter.

My career was largely with BT where I was firstly an engineer then for many years on Technical Support with the last decade or so in management. Ordained priest in the Church of England in 1988 and served as a minister in secular employment until I retired from BT in 2001. Still active within our local church of St Andrews and St Bartholomew’s church in Foston.

Joined the Parish Council in 2004 and played a lead part in the Parish Questionnaire of 2005. I was the author of the Questionnaire Report published to the village in 2005. I chaired the Parish Plan Working Party, formed by the Parish Council, to address issues raised from the Questionnaire Action Plan. As the Parish Plan has now been completed, my main role now is to chair a new group asked by the Parish Council to look into how we could either improve or add to our village facilities and to look after the Parish Council website.

Maureen Baum

6 Laurel Drive
Countesthorpe
LE8 5RX

Phone: 0116 277 4705
Email:

I have lived in Countesthorpe since 1973 and have adult twin daughters who have been educated at each of the local schools.

I worked for a bank for sixteen years before having the children and then worked in education administration as Office Manager at a local primary school for seventeen years until retirement in 2010.

Over the years I have been Treasurer and Secretary for two Ladies Evening Groups helping to set one up and also helped to set up the Parents and Friends Group at my local school. I set up and ran the school 100 Club for six years.

James Berry

14 Cosby Road
Countesthorpe
LE8 5PD

Tel 0116 277 4310

Email:

I was born in Countesthorpe. I attended two of the three schools and my parents also live in the village.

I commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2003 into the First Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment. In September 2006 I was wounded while acting as the Company Ops Officer for B Company 3 PARA. Prior to that I was Protection Force Commander in Baghdad and involved with all UK patrols around the city. More recently I have been overseeing the training of recruits at Pirbright. Other roles have included representing soldiers in civil court and at courts-martial, involvement in Royal visits and arranging Officers Mess functions. I am now working as a film extra whenever possible!

Separately, I have worked in the past with Cats Protection in Surrey, Help for Heroes and other veteran’s charities.

Due to injuries sustained I was medically retired in March 2011. We have moved back to Countesthorpe from Guildford to enjoy the, relative, calm of village life. My wife, Marianne, is qualified as a nurse and a teacher; our son, Thomas, was born in December 2010.

Adrian Clifford

43 Rosebank Road
Countesthorpe
LE8 5QY

Phone: 0116 277 8799

I have lived in the village all my life and very much value the benefits and quality of life Countesthorpe offers.

In 2003 I welcomed the opportunity and responsibility of becoming a Parish Councillor and continue to enjoy the varied challenges within this role.

Tony Collis-Smith

73 Winchester Road
Countesthorpe
LE8 5PN

Phone: 0116 277 2133

We have lived in Countesthorpe for since 1956, and our five children grew up in the village and passed through our schools.

I have always been interested in the growth and development of our village and its facilities. I serve as a governor of the Leysland’s High School since August 1997 and an chairman of the Finance Committee.

Robert Daw

11 The Rowans
Countesthorpe
Leicester
LE8 5TF

Phone: 0116 277 1694
Email:

I have enjoyed living in the village since 1968. My wife taught at the Junior school for 20 years and both my daughters were educated there. I have four grandchildren. I trained as a teacher and was Deputy Head and Acting Head of a Leicestershire High school where I taught for 27 years.

I am now retired and look forward to contributing to the life of the community. My interests include bell-ringing, canal boating and caravanning. I am also a member of the Countesthorpe and Foston Heritage Group.

Carole Edmondson

17 Wheatlands Drive
Countesthorpe
Leicester
LE8 5RT

Tel 0116 277 7018
Email:

I was born in Countesthorpe as was my father and his mother. I was educated here, married here, bought my first house here and I’m happy to say I have returned here after a number of years in Blaby, so you could say my roots are definitely here!

I spent 23 years working for BT in the Drawing Office before moving on to an international IT company as a Project Office Consultant and Quality Control Assistant. I still work for a local software company in Enderby in the Client Support department, so I’m kept busy.

My main hobbies are walking my dog, dancing, cycling and photography. I also support my husband Andrew, particularly in the flying season with the Vulcan To The Sky Trust displays and events.

I joined the Parish Council to enable me to contribute in some small way to the village I cherish. I’ve had a happy life here and have benefited from village activities, so hope that will be the case for other villagers, young and old. I would really like to see the village flourish and to keep that community spirit.

Gwen Farrands

19 Scalborough Close
Countesthorpe

Phone: 0116 278 4517
Email:

I have lived in Countesthorpe since 1996 and have three children that have been educated at schools in Countesthorpe and Whetstone. Whilst living in Oadby when my children were young I went into their school as a volunteer helper at least once a week.

I worked in a bank before I had my children and since 1997 have worked in primary schools starting as a lunchtime supervisor in Oadby. I am now working at a primary school in Whetstone as a teaching assistant and thoroughly enjoy my job.

Over the years I have been a tawny Owl for a Brownie pack and a volunteer for the mini rugby section at a rugby club. In my spare time I enjoy swimming, cycling and gardening.

David Findlay

9 Waterloo Crescent
Countesthorpe LE8 5SU

Phone: 0116 278 3668
Email:

I was born in Wellingborough and have lived in Leicestershire for the past 11 years, including the last 3 in Countesthorpe. I was awarded the WB Everett Memorial Award for encouraging Year 11 students to support Year 7 student when they joined the school. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with friends and family.

Cynthia James

Phone: 0116 277 3550
Email:

Having lived in Countesthorpe since 1965, I have witnessed many changes to the village over the years. Whilst both my children grew up and were educated in local schools, I took an active part in village life, especially in the Garden and Allotment Society and other preservation groups.

Retirement after a late care career in teaching has enabled me to renew those connections and as the Parish Tree Warden I do my best to modify the worst effects that urbanisation has had on a once rural environment.

David Jennings

122 Station Road
Countesthorpe
LE8 5TD

Phone: 0116 277 4263
Email:

David Jennings is the longest serving member of Countesthorpe Parish Council having been elected in May 1970. David also represents Countesthorpe on Blaby District Council and Leicestershire County Council.

Born in Countesthorpe, he has lived here all his life. Married to Joy for over 30 years, they have two grown up children. Within an hour of being born the District Nurse was taking David round the village to show him off because he was such a pretty baby. To this day David claims that some things never change.