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.

Jonathan Ogden
Town Councillor (East Ward), Vice Chair, F&G Chair
Jonathan Ogden
Town Councillor (East Ward), Vice Chair, F&G Chair

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.

Paul Carr
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Paul Carr
Town Councillor (West Ward)
Resident in Kesgrave since 1994. I’ve worked for Suffolk Constabulary for over 40 years as an officer & now a civilian member of staff.
Having had 3 sons go through schools in Kesgrave my interests are in the future generations, sporting & recreational facilities.
My personal view is Kesgrave needs amenities not houses.

Alan Comber
Town Councillor (West Ward), C&R Chair
Alan Comber
Town Councillor (West Ward), C&R Chair
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

Alastair Cook
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Alastair Cook
Town Councillor (East Ward)
I grew up in Melton Nr Woodbridge.
I have been married to my wife Christine since 1968 and we have lived in Kesgrave since then.
We have two married daughters who also live in Kesgrave along with our three grandchildren.
I retired from working full time in 2011 after working a number of years for British Telecom at Adastral Park.

Derrick Fairbrother
Town Councillor (Wast Ward)
Derrick Fairbrother
Town Councillor (Wast Ward)
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.

Rod Gibson
Town Councillor (East Ward), P&D Chair
Rod Gibson
Town Councillor (East Ward), P&D Chair
"I have lived in Kesgrave since 2005 and after a career in insurance I retired in 2011. As an ordinary member of the community in 2018 I joined the committee for developing the Neighbourhood Plan and in July 2018 became chairman."

Geoff Lynch
Town Councillor (West Ward), District Councillor
Geoff Lynch
Town Councillor (West Ward), District Councillor
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Becky Patten
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Becky Patten
Town Councillor (East Ward)
I have been a resident of Kesgrave for 6 years. My special interests are planning, public transport, conservation, and services for young people. I’m a retail manager, currently working for Oxfam GB.

Daniel Shaw
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Daniel Shaw
Town Councillor (East Ward)
I’ve lived in Kesgrave for over 10 years now. My children attend one of the local schools and enjoy making use of local facilities. I work as a clinical practitioner in a G.P surgery in Ipswich. I am passionate about the environment both locally and globally. I hope to bring a positive energy to the local council to help improve the health and well being to the people of Kesgrave. I enjoy going to

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

David Mears
Town Councillor (West Ward)
David Mears
Town Councillor (West Ward)

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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Robert Whiting
County Councillor
Robert Whiting
County Councillor

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

Casual Vacancy, East
Town Councillor (East Ward)
Casual Vacancy, East
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.
East Suffolk 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: East Suffolk town and parish councils’ register of interests
- Kevin Archer
- Avtar Athwall
- Neal Beecroft-Smith
- Paul Carr
- Alan Comber
- Derrick Fairbrother
- Rod Gibson
- Geoffry Lynch
- Jonathan Ogden
- Lesley Ventriglia
- Glenn Ward