I have a financial and professional background. Moved to Drakelow in 2017 from Lullington to find a fast growing area with no infrastructure, no local representation or leadership. With others we reformed the Parish Meeting to represent all residents. Key ambitions for Drakelow….To create a Parish Council, continue to lobby for much improved Healthcare facilities and get a Community Hall financed and built.
Born and raised in Stapenhill, I then attended teacher training college in Surrey where I lived and worked as a Teacher, Builder and finally an Energy Assessor. Whilst visiting family in early 2017, with my wife Janet, also a local girl, we stumbled across Drakelow Park in the phase 1 construction. We were both so impressed that by September we had sold up ‘down south’ and moved into our new home on the Park. I am happy to help where I can to build on the existing community spirit of Drakelow and look forward to seeing the formation of a Parish Council which can more fully represent its residents.
Originally from Warwickshire, I moved to South Derbyshire in 2012 to pursue my career as a Civil Servant. I remained in the area, and moved to Drakelow in March 2024 with my partner and son. We have found the area to be friendly and welcoming, with a strong sense of community spirit. I wish to see this continue. I would also like to help ensure that residents have a voice and that the area gains the infrastructure needed for Drakelow to thrive.
I have over 25 years in cybersecurity and have moved with work all over the UK working for companies such as Dell, Lloyds, Centrica & Barracuda. With my wife and son, we finally settled in “old” Drakelow in September 2018 after a period living in Brizlincote and prior to that, Loughborough, Leeds, and Edinburgh. I now work for myself with my own consultancy and managed services businesses. I am also a parent governor at Springfield Junior School in Swadlincote.
Over my time here, I’ve watched Drakelow grow from a single street with a “small” development at the end of it (Drakelow Park phase 1), adding the Bluebell Woods development (The Sidings) behind Rosliston Road South, Drakelow Park grow to completion and now the Dracon development which will eventually grow to the point that it will join up with Drakelow Park and the rest of the village.
Despite all this development and being the fastest growing area in South Derbyshire, we currently have zero facilities for the community within the parish. There are however many things planned over the next 2 to 5 years. My goal is to ensure that these all happen and that all the section 106 money that come from these developments in the parish, is spent in the parish, ensuring Drakelow gets the facilities it now desperately needs as our community grows from a few hundred residents to thousands!
Having returned from living overseas in Pune, India, for almost 6 years, due to my husband’s role, we moved to Drakelow with our daughter in 2020.
I have many years of experience at management level, within sales, administration and customer service based roles, and am now very happy to be supporting Drakelow Parish Council as their Clerk.
