Councillors
Meet the Councillors
Neal Beecroft-Smith
Town Councillor (East Ward), Chairman
Neal Beecroft-Smith
Town Councillor (East Ward), Chairman
Kesgrave born and bred, I started Primary school at Gorseland on the day it opened, progressed to Kesgrave High and then to Felixstowe for A Levels. I started my working life in Graphic Design, progressing to Marketing Manager. I’ve been a member of Martlesham Community Council, and was firsts elected to Kesgrave Town Council in 2011. My philosophy is every voice counts.

Derrick Fairbrother
Town Councillor (East Ward), Vice Chairman
Derrick Fairbrother
Town Councillor (East Ward), Vice Chairman
Born in Clacton-on-Sea and grew up in the small village of Great Holland. I moved to Kesgrave in 2009, when I married fellow Town Councillor Stephanie Fairbrother. I was elected onto the Town Council in May 2011, and before that had served as a Borough Councillor in Colchester. I am the new Vice Chair of the Council and Chairman of the Finance and Governance Committee for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

Kevin Archer
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Kevin Archer
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Ipswich born and 20 years resident in Kesgrave, I like to get things done. The Queens 90th Birthday Family Fun-day was the starting position to build a vibrant Kesgrave and this year the June Family Fun-day was an overwhelming success. With Kesgrave now the eighth largest town in Suffolk and with virtually no land left, we need to attract sport, social and community facilities and not more homes; so that is my focus.

Avtar Athwall
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Avtar Athwall
Town Councillor (East Ward)
I joined the Council in July 2016 - serve on several committees, Planning & Development and Finance & Governance. I am a member of Kesgrave Library Community Group and Patient Participation Group at the Birches Medical Centre. My professional background is in education – secondary, higher and research. I am a grandmother, a keen walker and enjoy reading.

Rob Bridgeman
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Rob Bridgeman
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Hello my name is Rob Bridgeman and I’m one of your Town Councillors. I was first elected to the Council in 2004 and have served on and off ever since. I am currently vice chair of Community Services and interested in anything that makes Kesgrave a better place to live, grow up or play sports in.

Alan Comber
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Alan Comber
Town Councillor (West Ward)
I have been a Town Councillor for over 20 years. I joined because I am interested in being part of the community and wanted to make a difference. My main passions are young people and providing additional facilities and events in the Town. For most of this time I have been chairman of the Community and Recreation Committee which is responsible for providing new play equipment in Kesgrave including Cedarwood Green

Stephanie Fairbrother
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Stephanie Fairbrother
Town Councillor (East Ward)
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Geoff Lynch
Town and District Councillor (West Ward)
Geoff Lynch
Town and District Councillor (West Ward)
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Chris Marsh
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Chris Marsh
Town Councillor (West Ward)
"I have lived in Kesgrave for 22 years, firstly on Grange Farm and for the last 4 years in Old Kesgrave. I chose to live in Kesgrave because it is a great place to live, work and bring up your children. Our children live nearby, and we see a lot of our grandchildren.
I have worked for County, District and Town Councils and now I have retired from paid work, I have more time and

Pat Mills
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Pat Mills
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Happily married to Yvonne, we have been residents of Bell Lane for over 40 years. We are both born and bred natives of Suffolk and have been greatly blessed with two sons who we supported through both Kesgrave Heath and High Schools, and through Cubs and Scouts.
I have served as a Town Councilor for 35 of the past 40 years and continue to do so.
Was instrumental as one of a very small team who

Rev Robin Spittle
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Rev Robin Spittle
Town Councillor (East Ward)
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Lesley Sue Ventriglia
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Lesley Sue Ventriglia
Town Councillor (East Ward)
I am an energetic and motivated mother of three daughters and five grandchildren. I was born and educated in East London (Grammar school) before moving to Essex. I relocated to Kesgrave in 2013. Since arriving in Kesgrave I have volunteered for the Suffolk Constabulary as an administrator and work as an Invigilator at Ipswich Academy.

Glenn Ward
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Glenn Ward
Town Councillor (West Ward)
-“I was born and raised in Ipswich, living there, Wickham Market and Saxmundham before settling in Kesgrave 8 years ago. I also have strong family connections in Kesgrave; my wife lived and went to school there before we met and my Mother and Father-in-Law have lived in Kesgrave for 40 years.
I have been employed at the old Sizewell Power Station for nearly 37 years, starting as a Clerical Assistant before joining the Health Physics

Stuart Lawson
District and County Councillor
Stuart Lawson
District and County Councillor
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Debbie McCallum
District Councillor
Debbie McCallum
District Councillor
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Sue Mower
District Councillor
Sue Mower
District Councillor
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Robert Whiting
County Councillor
Robert Whiting
County Councillor

Casual Vacancy
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Casual Vacancy
Town Councillor (East Ward)

Casual Vacancy
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Casual Vacancy
Town Councillor (West Ward)

Casual Vacancy
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Casual Vacancy
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Register Of Members’ Interests
All councillors have to complete a register of interests within 28 days of an election, which is available for anyone to see. The register of interests gives details of any interests that might give rise to a conflict of interest in a councillor’s duties as a town or parish councillor.
Suffolk Coastal District Council has to publish the register of interests for all town and parish councils within the district (this does not apply to parish meetings), which you can view by following the link: Suffolk Coastal town and parish councils’ register of interests