YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS

 


Hilda Cresswell - I was born second daughter of a professional soldier and was educated in Colchester & Northampton. On leaving school I became a Civil Servant and was a supervisor at a large telephone exchange.   I passed my driving test in an army lorry on Salisbury Plains!  I moved to Wakes Colne in 1958 and am married to John who was born in the village. I have 3 children one of whom is a certain 'local post person'.

I now farm over 30 acres with John and show pedigree rare breed British White and Dexter cattle as well as keeping sheep, chickens, ducks, geese and guinea fowl all of which are free range. I joined the Parish Council in 1983 and have served continuously ever since, never missing a meeting. I am a member of the ladies section of the Royal British Legion and an elder of the URC Chappel.

Stella Hounslow - I was born in Cambridge where I lived for 31 years.  My husband Mike and our two daughters Frances and Viv moved to Wakes Colne in  1981, for me this part of the world wins hands down.

For the last seven years I have  worked part time in North London as a school bursar.  We have 2 dogs and one of the highlights of my days off is walking the footpaths within and surrounding the two parishes.  I  appreciate how lucky we are to have beautiful countryside and wildlife and feel we should do our utmost to preserve and protect it.  As a parish councillor it is important to work towards the wishes of parishoners and I hope to achieve this along with the other parish council members.

Keith Martin (Vice-Chair) - I have lived in Wakes Colne since 1998 and I am keen to protect the rural characteristics of our village.  One of my main interests is walking and I am lucky to be the footpath representative for Wakes Colne parish Council, this enables me to carry out some practical work for our village.  Apart from walking other hobbies include landscape photography and visiting local real ale pubs!

Allan Hannington - Born in Southend on Sea where much of my weekends
were spent working at my father's butchers shop and later on the River Thames as crew of a pilot cutter, member of the RNLI, and HM Coastguard Rescue. I then began commuting to London where I started my full time career as a civil/structural engineering draughtsman whilst continuing with the river jobs at the weekends.

I gave the latter up when I left Southend to live and work in the East Midlands, I am still doing the same sort of work though nowadays I'm called a Senior Technician, we now work on computers not drawing boards. I am a long standing member of the Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers. Despite not being many years from retirement I still thoroughly enjoy my work which has happily varied considerably through the years. In 1983 I married Lynden (from Tollesbury, Essex), and about that time we moved from Colchester to Wakes Colne, we have a twenty year old daughter who has very recently left "flown the nest".

In the interim we have rented out our house and lived several years overseas in such places as Karachi in Pakistan and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. I have additionally worked on a single basis in Bangkok - Thailand (twice), in Fez - Morocco (twice), Lahore and (once again) in Karachi -Pakistan. I have for many years been a member of the Colchester and District Model Railway Club having occupied most positions from committee member through to Exhibition Manager and Chairman. This is my main hobby which I continue to pursue to this day.