MR DAVID APPLETON
Head of Culture and Youth Services,
West Berkshire Council

Although David represents Sport England on the Distribution Committee, his day job is Head of Culture and Youth Services at West Berkshire Council.

Having grown up and worked in North Wales, he moved to Newbury in 1998. He describes his interests as Sport, Sport and Sport but does confess to also enjoying the theatre and music as well as spending time with his family.

MR PETER ATKINSON
Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce

After qualifying in organic chemistry and following periods in the Paint and Oil Industries and 2 years selling G Plan furniture (to gain sales experience), Peter joined the German Chemical and Pharmaceutical company Bayer in 1962.

The subsequent years saw a series of role changes from sales to sales management, area management and finally to the post of Director responsible for the Bayer Group's Central Services and Logistics requirements. In the latter period many projects, both strategic and operational were successfully completed. These gained for Peter a wealth of experience, which he is determined not to waste in his retirement.

For the last 14 years, Peter has been a Member of the West Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of the 6 Chambers making up the Thames Valley Chamber, and the Parent of Thatcham and Hungerford Chambers. Peter represents the Chamber, and Business in general, on a number of external bodies including the Management Board of the West Berkshire Strategic Partnership.

Since July 1993 Peter was a Member of the Disability Alliance of West Berkshire and latterly brought both his business and DAWB experience to his new role on the management board of the Council for Voluntary Service. Peter is also the RG Postcode area representative of the Consumer Council for Postal Services, Postwatch and Chair of the Newbury Town Centre Management Group. Peter now looks forward to working with the Greenham Common Trust Distribution Committee.

MR CHRIS AUSTIN
Greenham Parish Council

Chris was educated at Park House School and the South Berks (now Newbury) College. After a short spell in the Forestry Commission Chris moved to Newbury Riding School which he ran from 1978. In 1989 Chris was appointed Chairman of the newly formed Commons Again! which was an ad hoc body created to campaign for the return of Greenham Common as a Public Open Space. Chris now Chairs the Crookham and Greenham Commons Association and is Vice Chair of Greenham Parish Council.

Chris has enjoyed country pursuits all his life, and is one of the graziers on the Common: he can be found checking his cattle most mornings. Chris has performed with Newbury Operatic Society since childhood and is now Chairman of the Society.

DR PAUL BRYANT
West Berkshire District Councillor for Speen Ward

Paul was born in Weston-Super-Mare in 1938, and spent 6 years at Southampton University studying mathematics. He has recently retired from a career at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, dealing with computers, computer networks and telephone exchanges.

Paul is a past member of Shaw-cum-Donnington parish council and is currently West Berkshire Councillor for the Speen ward, his principle interests being planning and the environment. He is an executive member of the Newbury Society and his other interests are genealogy, gliding and gardening.

MR GLENN CLARKSON - CHAIRMAN
Newbury & District Arts Association

Glenn Clarkson represents the Newbury and District Arts Association and looks particularly to the interests of the arts on the Distribution Committee. He moved to the Newbury area in 1990 and is currently Chairman of the Newbury Corn Exchange Board of Trustees and a director of Proteus Theatre Company. Recently retired from a career in technical publishing and information technology project management in the aerospace and computer industries, he holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

MR BILLY DRUMMOND
West Berkshire District Councillor for Greenham Ward

“I have lived and worked in Newbury since 1988 and for the last sixteen years I was the Head Chef at Newbury Racecourse. I left there in 2006 and have now started my own company, Elisabeth Rae Catering. I am married with three children.

“I am a member of Greenham Parish Council and I am currently a member of West Berks Council. I am a past member of the executive for public protection and community safety. My principle interest is in doing the best for the residents of Greenham who elected me to serve a second term.”

MS GILLIAN HALL
Volunteer Centre West Berkshire

Gillian Hall (Gill) has lived in the Newbury area since her marriage in 1962, previously in Hermitage and now in Cold Ash, and has been a Parish Councillor there for more years than she cares to remember!

She is a qualified nurse, but is now retired. She has been involved in the voluntary sector for a long time and was chairman of Newbury Volunteer Bureau (Centre) for five years. She is now a member of various Patient Participation Groups and is an executive member of the West Berkshire Neurological Alliance. She also has a particular interest in the environment, public rights of way and horses!

MRS HEATHER WHETTER
Natural England

Heather lives in Hermitage, and is married with two children. She has a BSc Hons in Applied Biology. Heather has worked for Wildlife Trusts and spent 19 years with NCC / English Nature in Essex, Hampshire & Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire. Recent years she has spent working part-time as English Nature's Conservation Officer for West Berkshire. She is also Thames & Chilterns Team Publicity Co-ordinator and edits the local newsletter: 'Southern Nature'. She has a keen interest in botany, geology and badgers. Heather is Secretary of the Berkshire RIGS (Regionally Important Geological & Geomorphological Group) and is actively involved in the Pang & Kennet Valley Countryside Projects. She belongs to the National Trust & BBOWT. Heather has also helped organising and building a new wildlife area and pond at her local village school.