Councillors
Whilst contact information for members of the Council is provided under the Freedom of Information Act you are advised to contact the Clerk for a quicker response as most of the Councillors are in full time employment.
Jonny Bidgood
Member
0118 972 3616
Responsibilities and Representations:
Member Of: Village Centre and Environment Working Party and represents the council to Sonning Common Magazine.
Biography
We moved to Sonning Common in 2014 - to make our home in Kennylands Road. I have previously been involved with Residents Groups locally, in Windsor, Taplow and Maidenhead.
I was impressed and inspired by Ben Hamilton-Ballie's 2017 'Placemaking Strategy' report which is a great analysis of the village and full of useful ideas to make it better.
Reading it convinced me to finally join the Parish Council. I will use my experience in Architecture and the built environment to help promote and achieve those ideas.
I joined the Village Centre Working Party a couple of years back and have been actively involved. I have already started working on a scheme for the 'Chiltern Edge Place' and a 'Cycleway' to Emmer Green and plan to continue this work within the Parish Council.
Vicky Boorman
Vice Chairman
07957 464780
Responsibilities and Representations:
Member Of: Finance Committee, Parks and Recreation Working Party, Village Centre and Environment Working Party, Office Support Working Party, Sonning Common Plastic Free Community.
Biography
Vicky Boorman joined the parish council 18 months ago after finding herself becoming increasingly interested in a number of local improvements.
Said Vicky: “I’m trying to offer my contribution wherever I can to help make Sonning Common a better place to live in for all of its residents. I feel fortunate to have such a wide range of amenities in our village and to be surrounded by such beautiful countryside.
“I’ve lived and worked in and around South Oxfordshire for nearly 20 years and moved to Sonning Common seven years ago with my partner. In my professional life I work for a local authority and have a love for drainage that my friends find bizarre, branding me the ‘water geek’!
I like to wild swim and paddle board in our local stretches of the River Thames
Vacancy
Member
Declaration Of Interests
Responsibilities and Representations
Biography
Jane Diwell
Member
0118 972 3616
Responsibilities and Representations
Member Of: Planning Committee, Village Centre and Environment Working Party
Also represents the council on: Sonning Trusts and Poor’s Land Trust.
Biography
I come from SE London originally but moved to the area in 1975 when my then husband Alan Diwell's job with Johnson Matthey moved to the Research Centre at Blounts Court. We bought our house in Sonning Common in 1982 and are now divorced.
I realised I knew hardly anybody in the village nor did I know what was going on there, much less have any influence over it, always having worked in London, Oxford or Reading. I was determined to change all that, so I joined the Parish Council.
I am keen to contribute in any way I can and am concerned to preserve the character and improve the amenities of the village.
Stuart Howe
Member
07788 994819
Responsibilities and Representations
Member Of: Village Centre and Environment Working Party, Finance Committee, Planning Committee, Parks and Recreation Working Party. Sits on the Scout and Guide Hut Committee
Biography
Though I’m a relative newcomer to the village, having lived here with my family since 2013, we’ve lived in the surrounds of Sonning Common for the past 20+ years. I’ve been a Parish Councillor for just over 4 years and am currently chairman of the Village Centre Working Party which is focussed on enhancing the quality of our village centre. I’m also the chairman of 1st Sonning Common Scout Group.
Professionally I’m the purveyor of visions and dreams (Sales Director) in the dull world of cyber security. Outside of this you’ll typically find me on my mountain bike exploring some of the wonderful bridleways we have on our doorstep or frequenting many of the great hostelries and restaurants around us.
Vacancy
Member
Declaration Of Interests
Responsibilities and Representations
Biography
Carole Lewis
Member
0118 972 3586
Responsibilities and Representations
Member Of: Finance Committee, Planning Committee, Office Support Working Party.
Also represents the council on: Chiltern Edge Community Association
Biography
I joined the Parish Council early in 2011 – something to do on dark nights and wet days when gardening (my favourite hobby) was impossible. Well, what did I get myself into? An immensely interesting and challenging role, that’s what! When the idea of a skatepark was raised, I was very enthusiastic about making it happen. And I hope you will all agree that the end result has provided a much-needed outlet for a wide range of age groups in the village. There are still so many exciting projects to deal with – a newly-acquired piece of woodland in Old Copse, a large recreation field behind Kidmore End War Memorial Hall – and this is in addition to the day-to-day workings of the Parish Council.
Diana Pearman
Member
0118 972 2381
Declaration Of Interests
Responsibilities and Representations
Member Of: Planning Committee, Parks and Recreation Working Party, Village Centre and Environment Working Party. Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge liaison link.
Biography
We moved to Sonning Common in 2009, quickly realising it to be a vibrant community in which we wished to be involved.
My professional life had been in education first as a History teacher and Head of Department, then in a dyslexia and school refuser unit which led to advisory teacher status. A move to Senior teacher at a school in Barnet and finally onto Deputy Head at a 1,500 successful girls comprehensive school in Northampton and this was my last full time teaching post. Several months subsequently, I worked as a consultant on the vocational Diploma roll out.
Once settled in the village I was looking for some community involvement that had nothing to do with schools and thereby give me the opportunity to learn something new. Some of the details are listed below
• Involvement with the team to Save the Library
• Led the campaign against SON 5 at the Appeal hearing
• Invited to join the Neighbourhood planning team led by Barrie Greenwood
• Played a key role in the writing of the Neighbourhood Plan and many of the exhibitions
• Volunteered to help at the village Christmas Lunch over several years
• One of a trio who organised the 2020 Treats boxes for 100 elderly residents
• Became Editor of the Sonning Common magazine in 2012
• Elected Chair of the Memorial Hall working party in late 2016
• Currently a member of the NDP review group led by Tom Fort
• Continuing Chair of the Memorial Park working group
Through the work of all the above, I have learned and experienced many aspects of the work of a Parish Councillor and am pleased to be part of its work going forward.
Vacancy
Member
0118
Declaration Of Interests
Responsibilities and Representations
Biography
Leigh Rawlins
Member
0118 972 2565
Responsibilities and Representations
Member Of: Planning Committee, Finance Committee, Neighbourhood Plan Working Party, Parks and Recreation Working Party, Village Centre and Environment Working Party.
Member of SODC District Council representing Binfield Heath, Eye And Dunsden, Harpsden, Shiplake and Sonning Common Parishes.
Sits on the Poor’s Land Trust and is a liaison link with Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge
Biography
I live in Woodlands Road and am a passionate advocate for our local community. I have a degree in Economics and Finance, am a qualified accountant and an experienced businessman – having held senior responsibilities including Finance Director and Managing Director. My business disciplines include marketing and commercial/ property law.
I have been a parish councillor in Sonning Common since 2012 – as part of a proactive team seeking to make major local improvements – and am Chair of Planning.
I support a number of voluntary activities locally including the Sonning Common Neighbourhood Plan, the delivery of much-needed sports and recreation facilities at the Memorial Hall Field, the SC village centre project, the Poor’s Land Trust and the ‘Village Gardeners’.
I have also been a lead participant in the successful campaign against Gladman’s plan to build 245 houses north of Emmer Green. If granted, that would have risked unleashing more widespread sprawl from Reading – which would engulf local villages in the future.
I undertook a significant role – providing planning and economics input to the Inspector and as an expert witness at the planning inquiry. With cross-party and cross-county co-operation we defeated Gladman – both at appeal and in the High Court.
Since 2012 I have built on my previous knowledge and developed a close understanding of planning issues in this area. Since 2019 I have been a district councillor at SODC and a cabinet member there – presently for Finance.
Brian Robinson
Member
07488 385591
Responsibilities and Representations
Member Of: Finance Committee, Planning Committee, Sonning Common Primary School liaison.
Biography
My wife and I moved to Sonning Common fairly recently in 2020 along with our two young boys, who attend Sonning Common Primary School. We didn’t move very far, having lived in Caversham since 2011 but have been lucky enough to develop a wide circle of friends in the village and have been making up for lost time during the pandemic exploring the wonderful local walks and restaurants.
I have some experience of public service having spent 11 years in HM Forces then a complete departure for 20 years in logistics. I now work for the Civil Service based in Reading.
I am very passionate about the strong community spirit that characterises the village and am really looking forward to being able to contribute to decisions that affect its future.
John Stoves
Chairman
0118 972 3420
Responsibilities and Representations
Member Of: Finance Committee (ex officio), Parks and Recreation Working Party, Village Centre and Environment Working Party (ex officio). Office Support Working Party.
Biography
Born and brought up in Buckinghamshire, I served an apprenticeship in Slough.
I worked as an Engineer for 25 years before joining the world of finance. I moved to Sonning Common in 2006 prior to retirement and joined the Parish Council in 2010.
My personal interests include gardening, walking and the countryside.
I have an allotment and lead walks for my local ramblers group. I’m also kept busy by my 4 grandchildren, 2 of whom live in the village.