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.
Vicky Boorman
Member
07957 464780
Responsibilities and Representations:
Sonning Common Plastic Free Community
Village Centre Working Party
Memorial Hall Field Working Party
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
Michael Cann
Member
0118 972 3616
Responsibilities and Representations
Finance Committee
Biography
Michael Cann joined the council in August 2020. He lives in Grove Road with his wife Caroline and has two sons. Michael’s wife, Caroline, runs the Barn Café at the Herb Farm.
Michael was a professional cricketer, playing for Glamorgan between 1984 and 1991, before joining the pharmaceutical industry. A biochemistry graduate, he gained an MBA from Warwick Business School before progressing to the boards of Actavis UK and Accord Healthcare where he was Vice President for Europe.
More recently he joined the management board of the Day Lewis Plc pharmacy chain and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.
Jane Diwell
Member
0118 972 3616
Responsibilities and Representations
Planning Committee, Village Environment Committees, Village Centre Working Party
Sonning and District Welfare and Educational Trust, 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.
Tom Fort
Member
0118 972 2641
Responsibilities and Representations
Planning Committee, Neighbourhood Plan Working Party (Chairman), Village Centre Working Party
On Your Bike (Health Centre) Committee
Biography
I have lived in Sonning Common for more than 25 years and have been a parish councillor for more than ten years. I am chairman of the working party charged with revising the Sonning Common Neighbourhood Plan. I worked as a journalist for BBC Radio News for many years and have written ten books. I am a keen angler and cyclist and used to be a keen cricketer and rugby player.
Brian Giles
Member
0118 972 2225
Responsibilities and Representations
Planning Committee and the
Village Centre Working Party.
Biography
I have lived in the village since September 2017 and have been a member of the Parish Council for the last two years. Previously served on three Parish Councils in different locations within Berkshire and Hampshire respectively.
As a retired Architect and Project Manager, I have a particular interest to ensure that any development is in keeping with the existing ambience of the Village. My other interests are, Gardening, photography, learning new I/T shills and lately Cooking.
Stuart Howe
Member
07788 994819
Responsibilities and Representations
Village Centre Working Party (Chair)
Scouts and Guide Hut Management Committee
Biography
Dirk Jones
Member
0118 972 3616
Responsibilities and Representations
Village Environment Working Party
Biography
Carole Lewis
Chairman
0118 972 3586
Responsibilities and Representations
Finance Committee, Planning Committee
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.
Leigh Rawlins
Member
0118 972 2565
Responsibilities and Representations
Finance Committee, Neighbourhood Plan Working Party, Memorial Hall Field Working Party, Village Centre Working Party
Poor’s Land Trust
Member of the SODC District Council representing Binfield Heath, Eye And Dunsden, Harpsden, Shiplake and Sonning Common Parishes
Biography
John Stoves
Vice Chairman
0118 972 3420
Responsibilities and Representations
Chairman of the Finance Committee
Vice Chairman of Planning Committee
Chairman of Environmental 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.