Meet the Council

• Councillor Fraser Tinsley - Town Mayor

  4 Raby Terrace, Willington, Crook, Co. Durham, DL15 0HR

   

  M: 07412712169

  H: 01388 746431

   

  frasertinsley@gwtc.co.uk

   

  Fraser grew up in Willington and has strong links to the local community. His family go back four generations in the town and he has a clear understanding of the issues and opportunities facing the town and area.

  He has a working background in town planning and economic development and believes that the role of Greater Willington Town Council is to help improve the quality of life for all residents by developing local facilities and amenities, addressing issues including antisocial behaviour and fostering economic and environmental improvement.

  Fraser is the Town Mayor for 2013 - 2014

• Councillor Joe Cogdon

  Ennerdale, Cumberland Terrace, Willington,

  Crook, Co. Durham, DL15 0PB

  M: 07881631106

  joecogdon@gwtc.co.uk

   

  Joe has been involved with local communities for over 30 years.

  A former trade union official and Councillor for the City of Sunderland, holding positions on education,

  Public Health and Leisure, he was Vice-Chairman of Leisure and Portfolio Holder with responsibility

  for Youth and Community.

  Joe has had experience working in the Military, Mining, Community Development, Civil Service and is currently employed in Local Government.

  The economic and environmental impact of communities is close to Joe’s heart, and he has always worked to help local communities achieve their potential.

   

• Councillor Arthur Graham

  Lyncrest, North Lane

  Willington,

  Co. Durham.

  DL15 0HJ

  H: 01388 745969

  arthurgrham@gwtc.co.uk

   Born in Willington and worked locally in the distribution industry for 40 years. Now retired, he has had time to reflect on how our area has declined and been neglected due to lack of leadership, investment and planning.

  He would like to dedicate some of his free time to help remedy this and make the Greater Willington Town a more desirable, safer and prosperous place to live in, work in and to enjoy for the whole community.

  Arthur is the member with responsibility for allotments. A keen gardener himself he is happy to talk to you about your allotment.

• Councillor Kenneth Henfrey

  14 York Terrace, Willington, Crook

  Co. Durham, DL15 0HT

  H: 01388 747216

  kenhenfrey@gwtc.co.uk

  Ken was born in Willington and still calls it home. He went to school in Chapel Street and then trained to become an Electrician. He worked as a local contractor and also for Kenmore and Thorn factories.

  He is a School Governor at Parkside School and the current Resource Chairman for the council.

  He feels that his role is to keep a keen eye on GWTC finances and ensure value for money at all times.

  He is particularly interested in the success of the Industrial units at Low Willington.

  Ken is very approachable and strives to make a difference wherever he can.

   

• Councillor Matthew Todd

  33 Greenways, Sunnybrow,

  Crook, Co. Durham

  DL15 0LX

   

  t: 07851 682 049

   

  e: matthewtodd@gwtc.co.uk

   

   

  I have been involved within the local community for several years now, beginning at the age of 9 years old when I joined St John Ambulance as a Cadet I worked my way up through the Cadet ranks and at the age of 17 was in a leading national role, as well as coordinating St John Ambulance activities across Wear Valley, Weardale and Teesdale. I still volunteer for St John Ambulance now but as a Patient Transport Attendant on our Ambulances.

  In 2010 I became a Director of Willington Community Action and within a year of being a Director I took on responsibility for Events which included planning, running and evaluating the Summer Fete and Remembrance Sunday activities.

  Also in 2010 I began volunteering as a committee member helping plan and run Crook Town Carnival with particular responsibility for Health and Safety and liaising with Durham County Council.

  I applied to become a Councillor because I enjoy helping people and making a difference in our community. I am really passionate about Willington, what it is, and what it can be, and I truly believe that if we all work together in the town we can make Willington really something great.

• Councillor Colin Carr

  40 Abbots Green, Willington, Crook

  Crook, Co. Durham

  DL15 0QZ

   

  t: 01388 745226

  e: colincarr@gwtc.co.uk

  Colin is Willington born and bred and has recently retired from a lifetime in teaching. He feels he is in a position to work with, work for and provide support to the people of Willington and surrounding areas.

  Colin aims to deliver a balanced commitment to equal opportunities and social inclusion through improved access to the council which meet the needs of all and to ensure that the council makes good progress in providing for the people.

  Colin’s core values are to be ambitious and seek to achieve the highest possible standards, recognise that everyone has a contribution, skill or talent to offer society, always treat others with respect, courtesy and fairness, recognise the value of collaborative working in an atmosphere of mutual trust, provide leadership, stimulation, motivation and support as appropriate, be accountable to all stakeholders and partners.

• Councillor Angela Smith

  1 Kensington Terrace, Willington,

  Crook, Co. Durham

  DL15 0PJ

   

  t: 01388 746297

  e: angelasmith@gwtc.co.uk

  Angela is 46 years old and married. She has been a staff Governor at St John’s Catholic school in Bishop Auckland for sixteen years. She has worked at St John’s for eighteen years where her first role was Assistant Site Manager.

  She then decided to train to become a Teaching Assistant and has been employed as a T. A. for the last six years.

  She likes to go on holiday to France, and she enjoys cycling, good food and relaxing with a good book.

   

• Councillor Margaret Elgie

  5 Helmington Grove, Sunnybrow, Crook

  Co. Durham, DL15 0ND

  H: 01388 746851

  M: 07769735853

  margaretelgie@gwtc.co.uk

   

• Councillor Janet Townsend

  62a Low Willington, Willington, Crook

  Co Durham, DL15 0GB

  H: 01388 746479

  janettownsend@@gwtc.co.uk

• Councillor Patricia Greensmith

  62 Armstrong Drive, Willington

  Crook, Co. Durham

  DL15 0GB

   

  t: 01388 746835

  e: patriciagreensmith@gwtc.co.uk

  Patricia has lived in Willington all her life and believes herself to be a well-known and highly respected member of the community.

  She is a founder member and Trustee of the Chyrelle Addams Cancer Support Trust which is a community based organisation who raise funds to buy medical equipment for local Cancer departments, provide a support and information centre and a community

  shop made up of local volunteers.

  Patricia is very proud to have received the Chairman’s Medal for courageous efforts in the fight against Cancer and also a commendation in the House of Commons in recognition of her work with the charity.

  She is also an Authority Governor for Sunnybrow Primary School.

  She is very proud of this community and hopes that her role within Greater Willington Town Council will prove to be beneficial to the people of Willington.

   

• Councillor Mark Etherington

  4 Rosedale, Spennymoor

  Co. Durham

  DL16 6SB

  e: marketherington@gwtc.co.uk

  Mark is a Marketing and Communications professional with over twenty years experience in services management, marketing and graphic design. Ten of those years spent leading a team providing executive support services within local authorities to Councillors, Chief Executives, Directors and their departments and working in partnership with a variety of organisations.

  He is confident that he will contribute to the efficient and effective running of the Town Council while calling on all his experience to build on its existing reputation.

   

• Helen Cogdon - Town Clerk

  

  G.W.T.C, 91 High Street, Willington,

  Crook, Co. Durham.

  DL15 0PE

   

  T: 01388 417725

   

   

   

   

   

  Helen is a local to Willington and has worked in local government for over eighteen years. She is a communication and media graduate whose knowledge and experience is based on her background in Housing management, Community consultation, engagement and development, Committee and organisation training, project management and Grant Funding.

  Helen has led on numerous regeneration initiatives in Wear Valley over the years through SRB, SRI, ESF, ERDF programmes.

  Whilst working for the City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, one of the largest Councils in the Country, her work was nominated as an example of good practice by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, when she established one of the first tennant training and development units necessary to support community group activity in Bradford and also the compulsive competitive tendering of the housing service which she facilitated though the establishment of six representative Area panels and a City panel.

  As Town Clerk Helen is what is known as the responsible or proper officer of the council and her job is to ensure that the lawful instructions of the council in connection with its functions as a Local Authority are carried out.

   

• Emma Mennouni - Community Services Officer

  

  G.W.T.C, 91 High Street, Willington,

  Crook, Co. Durham.

  DL15 0PE

   

  T: 01388 417725

   

   

  Emmas role as a Community Service Officer is to support the Town Clerk and Councillors and deal with enquiries from the general public.

  Her family originate from Willington and she has spent a large proportion of her life here. Willington is close to her heart and, being a parent of a young child, any developments to improve the area would be a positive future investment.