Meet the Team

I have been involved in local business for many years. In 2006 I was invited to join Ellesmere Parish Council representing Welsh Frankton

Soon after, I became a District Councillor for Ellesmere Rural & Hordley and in 2009 I became a Shropshire County Councillor for the ward of St Martins and Ellesmere Rural. I have had many responsibilities during my time within local government including personal presentations in Westminster committees and which enabled me to gain great experience across the various sectors.

For me, its vitally importantly to be front and centre of the community, listening to comments from residents, assisting at every stage, representing you at Shropshire Council and holding Shropshire Council to account.

My original ward has changed (actually doubled in size), and now includes St Martins, Weston Rhyn, Dudleston, Dudleston Heath, Welsh Frankton, Tetchill, Lee, New Marton, and smaller communities in between; because of this, the ward its now to be represented by two members and I am very happy to have experienced local Councillor George Smith alongside me, to work together and  represent you to our best ability.

I am proud to be standing for election to represent Whittington, West Felton, Park Hall, Queens Head, Babbinswood, Hindford, Rednal, and Berghill – as part of Shropshire First, an independent group committed to putting people above politics.

I’ve spent my career bringing people together to solve problems and create positive change. With a background in law, having been called to the Bar and holding a master’s degree, I’ve worked across governance and mediation. I’m proud to serve as a trustee for a local educational foundation and as a magistrate on the Family Bench for nearly a decade. I live just outside Whittington in Hindford with my husband, and together we have three grown-up(ish!) children, two now living in London and one travelling in Australia.  

Playing the blame game is just a waste of time – we can all point fingers, but what’s the point? What really matters is looking forward, finding the good ideas, and focusing on what’s actually needed.  I truly believe that if we removed the egos and ambitions of party politics from local councils, we could all work together and actually get things done - focusing on a sensible future for Whittington Ward.

Let’s get back to what really matters – people NOT politics.

As a long-time resident of St Martins with a family connection to the area spanning over 400 years, I was proud to serve as the Chairman of St Martins Parish Council until April 2025 and as a former Mayor of Llangollen.

Having retired as a CEO, I bring a wealth of experience in successful company ownership and management within our local area, including leading one operation that won the prestigious title of “UK Small Business of the Year.” In 2006, I was deeply honoured to be awarded an MBE for my contributions to the local community. Additionally, I was one of only six suitably qualified UK assessors for the prestigious ‘Queens Award for International Trade,’ where I specialised in financial investigations and conformity.

My hands-on operational knowledge and experience within local councils allow me to identify key issues and remain focused on the needs of residents, driving local initiatives to successful completion. As a founder-member of Shropshire First, I look forward to continuing to work alongside our current Shropshire Councillor, Steve Davenport, to bring a common-sense and business-like approach to addressing county matters across the newly formed electoral ward that covers our area.

As a long-time resident of Shropshire and business owner of over 15 years in this area, I am proud to call this county my home. My family-run business, employing local highly-skilled personnel is located on one of Oswestry’s Industrial Estates.

My business and I support numerous local charities and I am an active member of the community through local business groups.

I have a great passion for innovative construction and period renovation, creating growth and improving homes and commercial properties throughout Shropshire.

As a local business owner, I have found there is little to none assistance available for SME’s via local council; it is my aim, through ‘Shropshire First’, to improve the help available and ensure easy accessibility of information to help expand new and existing businesses. This will ensure growth and prosperity across all business sectors, also creating employment opportunities for the local population and an increase in expenditure in our local economy.

As a champion for local business and understanding the need for expansion and economic growth, you can trust me to speak on behalf of all Oswestry businesses however large or small, in our great and historic town.

I’m Simon Harris, and I’ve called Broseley home for all of my 58 years. I went to Barrow and William Brookes schools and grew up as the eldest of seven in one of Broseley’s big families. I still live on the same avenue where I spent my childhood.

I’m a self-employed welder, taking on jobs far and wide, but my heart has always been in Broseley. For over nine years, I’ve served as a town councillor, including three years as Mayor. One of my proudest achievements as Mayor was bringing the role out into the community, making it more accessible and visible to the people of Broseley. I’m also proud to have helped bring the iconic statues that now adorn the town. These days, I continue to work hard on the council, particularly on the staffing and finance committees.

Beyond Broseley, I sit on the SALC (Shropshire Association of Local Councils) committee, representing our area and supporting communities across places like Shifnal, Albrighton, and Bridgnorth. I also served a term as a Shropshire councillor, where I had the opportunity to work as Deputy Portfolio Holder for Public Transport and Highway Support. During that time, I helped bring the innovative on-demand bus service to Shropshire and was involved in the first trials of electric buses in the county.

I’ve also had the privilege of chairing Star Housing, steering it to success with planning applications while ensuring Broseley tenants got the quality maintenance and housing support they deserved.

At the moment, I’m involved in exciting projects like the Broseley Music Festival and the Ironbridge Railway Trust—both passions of mine. Around town, people know me as someone who stands up for Broseley and gets things done for our community. It’s a role I’m proud to play, and I’ll keep working hard for the place I’ve always called home.

Born in the picturesque village of Claverley, Shropshire, I come from a farming family that has called the Bridgnorth area home for over 50 years. For more than two decades, I have run a highly regarded local landscaping business, earning the trust and respect of customers throughout Bridgnorth and its surrounding areas.

I have always been deeply passionate about my hometown and am dedicated to enhancing its appeal and community spirit. My commitment to Bridgnorth is reflected in my active participation in numerous local groups, including Bridgnorth Housing Trust, Bridgnorth Carnival Committee, and Bridgnorth Rotary Club. I have also generously given my time as a volunteer for West Mercia Search & Rescue and, more recently, Bridgnorth Community First Responders.

With a steadfast dedication to his community, I am driven by one mission: “Making Bridgnorth Great Again.”  and being know locally as ‘A Lifelong Champion of Bridgnorth’

Many of you know me as “John the Bus”—a nickname I’ve worn with pride after 35 years behind the wheel, driving buses around Oswestry and getting to know the people who make our town so special.

I’ve dedicated much of my life to public service, as a Town Councillor, a Shropshire Councillor, and even as Mayor of Oswestry—though my term was sadly cut short by the pandemic. That time, and the difficult years that followed, opened my eyes to the real struggles faced by many in our community, particularly our senior citizens and those suffering from ill health. Social isolation is a silent crisis, and having experienced it firsthand after my own accident, I know just how important it is to have someone fighting your corner.

That’s why I’m standing again—this time as an Independent and supported by the Shropshire First group. I believe in straight-talking, common-sense politics that puts people before party interests. I’m not one for keyboard wars or empty promises—I prefer action over words.

From questioning why simple road safety measures take years to implement while other areas get them overnight; to challenging why pensioners are being squeezed harder than ever. I’ll always be the one asking the difficult questions and pushing for real change.

Oswestry deserves a representative who listens, who cares, and who is ready to take action. I look forward to hearing from you all and continuing to support you into the future.

With living in the Town all my life, I know how important it is to have a positive Community, so I have always been a great admirer and supporter of local Businesses as they are the heart-beat of our Town. The Pandemic from 2019 has left many feeling Isolated & Vulnerable and, as the Economy still struggles to recover, it has had a greater impact on all our locals Businesses. Despite all the Major Political Parties claiming to have the answer, they all leap frog the small family-run Businesses and 'look at the bigger picture' - and still without any progress!

Oswestry is a close-knit Town and relies on local people for a viable Economy: So there is a need for Public Transport; there is a need for looking after the Vulnerable;- who are so often given little thought or consideration despite what they have contributed to society.

Many elderly often feel alone and vulnerable becoming detached from modern day society. This is 2025 and the elderly are being let down - Lets change this I am Standing as an INDEPENDENT and the reason WHY for the County seat of Oswestry North as well as your local Councillor in the Gatacre Ward.

Oswestry deserves a representative who TAKES ACTION AND LISTENS, who CARES and who is ready to ACT and not sitting on the sidelines, twiddling thumbs and giving umpteen reasons why something cannot happen, as opposed to giving the one simple method of how it happen - so PLEASE SUPPORT ME on voting day - Thursday 1st May

I was brought up in Maserfield and have spent the majority of my adult life in Oswestry.

I own several businesses in Oswestry that serve the local community. I also help raise funds for charities and independent companies.

I want to see Oswestry grow and make changes for the better. We can all see the growth around Oswestry but where is the infrastructure to support this. We are seeing reduced medical services, long waits on road surface repairs and lots of transport cuts.

Too much time is spent on politics when we could be utilising that time to make great changes

Highley has been my home for 4 years now and I love it! I have taken the village to heart and I am proud to serve the village as a Parish Councillor but I feel I can do more for the residents.

I feel the voice of the Parish is being ignored by the County council on issues that matter most to people, such as: access to higher education, the state of our roads, public services and local housing for local people.

I have been working on the railway for 14 years, serving the public and I will use this to serve the village at County and Parish levels. To be your voice and stand up for what matters to you the most, with no interference from Westminster or party politics to undermine you, the voter.

I promise that YOU will be at the heart of of everything I do as a Councillor.

Please vote for me so I can stand up for you!

Shropshire First is Not a political party, but rather a cooperative of free-thinking, open-minded individuals, standing up for us Salopians.

As many of you will know, I am part of a farming family located at the bottom of Wenlock Edge, so my priority will always be to support my fellow farmers. Shropshire is a rural County with many hundreds of farms employing thousands of people and my question is WHY are farms being targeted for extreme financial penalties and what is Shropshire council doing to help the situation?

Other political groups are governed by their Westminster national managers but, by me standing as an INDEPENDENT under the SHROPSHIRE FIRST banner, I will be free to fight for all of our farmers AND support every resident and business and in our wonderful area.