Parish Councillors

Odette Ghent

I joined Shenstone Parish Council in January 2026 with ten years experience in Local Government administration, I am a CILCA qualified Clerk and try to serve the Council and residents as best I can. I regularly keep up to date with training and personal development.

My background is over 45 years working in Administration & Finance.

David Salter

David Thompson

My main priority at the moment is the Shenstone Neighbourhood Plan which covers the environmental, housing, transport and employment issues affecting the village of Shenstone.

The Plan seeks to shape and direct future development in the village and was drawn up by a working group of residents following several consultation events in 2013 and 2014.

Following submission to Lichfield District Council it has been the subject of further consultation by the District Council in October and November 2015.

The District Council will now appoint an Examiner and following receipt of the Examiners findings will hold a referendum in the Spring of 2016 giving Shenstone residents on vote on the Neighbourhood Plan.

Proposals are online at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk /Shenstonenp

Lesley Edgley

Shenstone has been my home for 25 years, following a life time in Sutton Coldfield and I love it!!

Until about six years ago I worked for HSBC in Birmingham and in 2012 I had the opportunity to retire. My very elderly parents were still here at that time and I was gratefully that it allowed me to visit and support them more. Since that time I have enjoyed the freedom of retirement offered me, it was great not getting up before dawn to travel to work, eat when I wanted, go out when I wanted and not report to anyone.

The point at which I thought I should contribute to Shenstone started with the planning and commissioning of the Village Plan. It was of great interest to me and I realised the amount of work that had gone into it preparation.
I began to take more interest in my home village and realised that “things” don’t happen but need the involvement of the local people. I never had the time to take in just how lucky we are in Shenstone with the number of halls, the number of associations and clubs are able to join and use. All done by volunteers. Our local library is one of the big success stories. When I thought about becoming a local Councillor, I began to understand the other parishes and what they had to offer too. I think we are very lucky to live where we do.

I am a bit of a slow burner when I have to think things out, it may take me a while!! But I know that my strengths are tenacity, a good dose of common sense and people skills. Hopefully I will be able to put these to good use for the benefit of the whole of the Shenstone Parish Council area.

Simon Fisher

I was delighted to be co-opted to the Council having lived in Shenstone for the last eighteen years, when we moved into the village from Lichfield as our son started at King Edward IV Secondary school in Lichfield. I am married to Jane and this August we celebrated our thirty-year wedding anniversary.

My working career has been in the funeral profession, as a funeral director, General Manager and latterly as a CEO of a supply company to the sector and recently I commenced the journey towards retirement. Throughout my working career I have been involved with Community volunteering including being a Non-Executive Director (NED) of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and St Giles Hospice. I am continuing that community volunteering involvement as a Councillor to assist in any way I can across the Parish Council. I sit on the Planning Committee and am looking forward to becoming involved in the revision of the 2016 Shenstone Neighbourhood Plan. If you see me around the village, please say ‘hello.’

Louise Hawes

I have lived in Shenstone for many years, my roots are firmly planted here. I remember attending Greysbrooke School, being part of the Brownies, Guides and Venture scouts, going to events at the village hall and a sponsored camp out on top of the church tower.

My background is in community public health and over the years I have gained knowledge and experience of those who are socially and physically disadvantaged. I am passionate about improving the health of the community and will bring insight to the challenges that those groups face.

I enjoy the history and traditions of the village and volunteering as a Parish Councillor will enable me to continue the work that other volunteers have completed so far.

Vacancy

Alan Pugh

I was born and raised in the industrial heartlands of the Black Country, a small village near Wolverhampton. On leaving school I joined ‘Post Office Telephones’ now BT, where I enjoyed a varied and successful 44-year career. It was a privilege to play a small part in the telecommunications revolution, being one of the first to experience the wonders of a fax machine, mobile comms, broadband, the Internet and beyond. As a senior manager, I championed diversity, the importance of lifelong learning and resilience in an increasingly complex and changing workplace. As a parish councillor, I’m hoping that I can deploy my skills/experience in a meaningful way and in service of the community which we are privileged to be a part of.

• In addition to being a school governor my key interests are:
  The arts, including frequent visits to the RSC Stratford-upon-Avon and the National Theatre London.
• Extensive foreign travel, including (in safer times) visiting Jordan, Syria and Libya. I have been lucky enough to see the northern lights in the arctic circle and the giant tortoises in the Galápagos Islands
• Regular walking/rambling, excellent for maintaining physical and mental well-being.
• Member of the National Trust

I very much look forward to playing an active role on the Parish Council, meeting lots of new people and most importantly learning lots of new things along the way!

Mick Cox

Phil Whitehouse

Dino D’Ambrosio

Chris Jones

David Smith

Vacancy

David Salter

Phil Whitehouse

Joseph Powell

Sarah Edwards

Alex Farrell