About Us
The project is being led by a volunteer steering committee. A project co-ordinator has also been employed by the project to ensure all the separate activities are co-ordinated effectively.
The Steering committee members are:-
Nicholas Driver – Chairman - retired in 2004 as Managing Director of London Merchant Securities plc and has lived in the area for nearly 40 years. A Chartered Surveyor, who, since retiring has been mainly involved in charitable work, being a Trustee of two national charities, of one of which he is Chairman. He retired in 2008 as Churchwarden of St Mary's Church, Stoke D'Abernon but remains involved in many local church activities.
Peter Mathers – Vice Chairman - recently retired from a career in the Diplomatic Service, spending his last three years as High Commissioner to Jamaica. Before joining the Service he worked in theatre stage management and held a short service commission in the Army. His voluntary activity includes work for local residents' associations in Oxshott, the Stoke D'Abernon Parochial Church Council and as a college governor.
Anne Driver – Treasurer - has lived in the area for nearly 40 years. She is a Certified Accountant and was a partner in Wellden Legg and Co, accountants, in Cobham for many years. Over the past 30 years she has been treasurer of Oxshott Scouts, Cobham Gym Club, the Stoke D’Abernon Village Hall, St Mary’s Stoke D’Abernon PCC and honorary auditor to the Stoke D’Abernon Residents Association. In addition she has been a Board member of the Esher CAB, a founding member of the Elmbridge Credit Union and a Governor of Milbourne Lodge Junior School.
Robert Jenkins – Group leader Community - was appointed Rector of Cobham and Stoke D'Abernon in March 2004. Ordained in 2000 he was Curate at Weybridge before moving to Cobham. Prior to ordination he was a Chartered Civil Engineer and worked for 25 years in the construction and property industries, mainly on major urban redevelopment projects. Current appointments include governor of St Andrew's School in Cobham and of Brooklands College in Weybridge and Chairman of Cobham Combined Charities.
Elizabeth Kennedy – Group leader Economy - has recently retired from running her own local linens retail business, Soft Touches, which commenced trading in 1987 in its first retail site in Cobham High Street. Prior to this she held a number of senior positions in the retail industry gaining experience over 20 years in buying, selling, merchandising, distribution and human resources. She has worked for (among others) Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Debenhams and Burtons. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and was a sponsored student at the London Business School. She is a past governor of Cobham County First School (now merged with St Andrew’s C of E School) and a past Treasurer of Oxshott Guides & Brownies. Elizabeth has lived in Cobham since 1978 and is a widow with one daughter.
Mark Quinn - Group Leader Transport and Accessibility - is a Management Consultant, who has been a Director and Managing Director of both private and public companies in the Automotive and Finance Sector. He sits on the committees of various charities which are involved with people who suffer from any form of disability, physical, mental or social. Locally, he is also a Director of Cobham Mill Preservation Trust and he has lived in Downside and Cobham for the past twenty-six years.
Leonard Beighton - Group Leader Environment - retired over 13 years ago after a career in the (then) Inland Revenue. He still retains some, largely voluntary, professional interests. But he spends the greater part of his time on a wide variety of national and local charity and not-for-profit activities. He has been a resident of the area for over 40 years and is currently a churchwarden at St Andrew’s, Cobham.
Dorothy Mitchell - Surrey County Councillor - has lived in Cobham for 25 years. She represented Cobham on Elmbridge Borough Council for 19 Years and for the past 6 years has been the County Councillor for the Cobham/Stoke and part of Oxshott Division. Whilst on Elmbridge Borough Council she chaired the West Area planning Committee for 5 years and was Mayor 1991/1992. At present she is a member of the Surrey County Council Executive holding the portfolio for Children’s Services. Having advocated the Healthcheck / Town Plan she is delighted to see it come to fruition.
Margaret Morton - the Surrey Rural Towns Coordinator - working for Surrey Community Action, will offer support and advice to the Steering Committee and Working Groups carrying out the Town Appraisal. Margaret is currently supporting the towns of Caterham, Dorking, and Godalming, who are also going through the same process following the methodology set by the former Countryside Agency. She previously advised Leatherhead who completed their Healthcheck and Action Plan in January 2006 and are now successfully implementing projects.
David Tipping - Elmbridge Borough Councillor - has lived in Cobham for over thirty years. His background has been mainly in community work, firstly for the YMCA and then for Age Concern Nottinghamshire, before joining Elmbridge Borough Council in 1975 to develop Community Services for the Elderly. He retired from full-time employment in 1995 and at present works part-time at a local Health Centre. Currently he is the Vice-Chairman of the Cobham Conservation & Heritage Trust and a Trustee of Cobham Combined Charities. He was the Chairman of Voluntary Action Elmbridge for many years and takes a keen interest in all aspects of community life.
The Project Co-ordinator is:-
Leslie Askew – Project Coordinator has been an Oxshott resident for nearly ten years. After completing her doctorate in physics in London and taking some time to start a family, she took on the role of Company Secretary of Citywide Financial Partners, a wealth management firm based in Fetcham. She is also the Secretary of her local residents’ association.
The IT Subgroup Members are:-
David Cooke
Nick Driver
Peter Mathers
Richard Mulhall – Chairman
The Communications Subgroup Members are:-
Nick Driver
Peter Gordon
Peter Mathers
David Tipping