Chairman. John E Blackburn

I have lived in Welwyn since 1977 having moved from WGC. I was born and brought up in Lancashire. I live in part of the Old Work House on London Road with my wife Winifred. We have four children, who have all now flown the nest, and eight grandchildren. I am retired, having worked in the pharmaceutical Industry for 37 years.

I have served on the Parish Council since May 2003 and I am currently Chairman. I have previously been Chair of the Allotments Cemeteries and Churchyard Committee and also of Leisure and Open Spaces. I have been involved in the Youth working Party and also in the Parish Plan.

I am Chair of the Governors of Tenterfield Nursery School, a Trustee of Relate Herts Central and I drive for Isabel Hospice. I love living in Welwyn and I stood for the Parish Council because I wanted to contribute to the local community. Winifred and I enjoy music, theatre and opera. We also enjoy
gardening and walking.

Vice-Chairman. Magdalene Benson

Cllr. Linda McLusky
Chairman of Leisure Facilities and Open Spaces Committee

I have lived in North Hertfordshire for many years and moved to Mardleywood six years ago.

My skills lie in communication, having been a publisher, a sales manager and licensee before retiring.

I am Vice Chairman of the Leisure Facilities and Open Spaces Committee and a member of several working parties. With no previous experience as a Parish Councillor, I am delighted to work with such an energetic, enthusiastic and professional group of councillors. Our united aim is to maintain the
character of Welwyn and serve the community to the best of our ability.

Cllr. Peter Neville

Denise and I moved to Digswell in 1978, attracted by the good train service to
London (we were both commuters). We soon came to appreciate how special this village was, and I admired the contributions being made to the village by its then Parish Councillor. When he had to move away for job reasons, I put myself forward for co-option to the Council, particularly to help protect Digswell from unsympathetic development which might spoil its special
character.

I sit on the Council’s Planning and Finance Committees, and have served as Council Chairman. I represent Welwyn on the County Association of Parish Councils, and through that, I represent Hertfordshire’s parishes on various other bodies.

Locally, Denise served on Digswell Village Hall’s committee for many years and I (joined recently by Cllr Butler) became a Trustee of the Village Hall. I am also Chairman of Digswell Lake Society (nature
reserve).

Cllr. Colin Hukin
Chairman of the Planning & Licencing Committee

Cllr. Ian Skidmore
Chairman of Finance

My wife Jan and I have lived in Welwyn since 1981. Our children both went to St Mary’s school and then to secondary schools in Welwyn Garden City. I am semi-retired, running a one-man consultancy from home advising small Biotech companies. I am on the Governing Body of MRC Technology a branch of the Medical Research Council. In the early 90’s I was chairman of Governors of Stanborough School and before that I was on the PTA at St Mary’s.

I was elected to the Parish Council first in 2003. I am a member of the Planning and Licensing Committee and chairman of the Finance Committee.

Since 2005 I have also been involved in the creation of the Welwyn Parish Plan and am currently secretary of the Parish Plan Action Group implementing this plan.

Parish Councils have an important role to play in empowering local communities. This is a challenge I
look forward to.

Cllr. Ian Colpitts

I hail from Gateshead in the north-east of England. I have been a Welwyn Parish Councillor for almost 2 years. My wife Karen and I moved to Welwyn from Barnet in 1998. Since then our 2 children have completed our family and both attend Welwyn St Mary’s C of E School. I am a retired police officer, having served mostly in the Met Police for 31 years. I now work for Hertfordshire Police and in my spare time (what spare time?) I am the NHW Community Co-ordinator for Welwyn Hatfield.

I enjoy watching most sports; I play snooker for Welwyn Sports & Social Club and support Newcastle Utd FC.

Cllr. Shirley Butler

I was born in Enfield, and went to Latymer's School, Edmonton.  After six years in Customs and Excise I married, and then stayed at home in Winchmore Hill to look after my three children, taking part time jobs to help with the budget, for 11 years.  I then went to Trent Park Teacher Training College and achieved a Certificate in Education. Imy first job was in Edmonton, but we moved to Digswell nearly 30 years ago, and I taught in Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City until I retired.  While I was teaching I took a degree in English with History – with honours ! - at Hatfield Poly (now Herts. Uni.) .

Since then I have kept busy as Secretary and recently President of Digswell WI, and also became a member of the Welwyn Parish Plan Steering Committee (now Action Group).  This led to my co-option to Welwyn Parish Council in 2005, and election in 2007.  I am also a co-ordinator of the Digswell Residents' Association, following a long and continuing campaign to alleviate the effects of commuter parking iin the area.

I enjoy playing with my two delightful grandsons, Thomas and Daneil, who live with their parents in Datchworth, as well as painting and fishing – the latter mainly on holiday in Ireland where my husband hunts for salmon.

Cllr. Robert McKay

I have lived in Welwyn for two years having relocated with my wife Juliet from the North East of England.
I served with Cleveland Police for 30 years retiring in 2000 and for the past 9 years have worked as a Performance Specialist for the Audit Commission - a public sector watchdog.
I am a member of the Friends of Mardley Heath and a local Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.