Councillors
Whilst contact information for members of the Council is provided under the Freedom of Information Act and are volunteers, you are advised to contact the Clerk for a quicker response as many of the Councillors are in full time employment.
John Carstensen
Member
Cookshall Lane
07921 040902
Representations
None
Biography
John moved to West Wycombe in 2012 together with his wife Tracy and their son Leo. John works for a large British, international engineering and consultancy company, where he leads their work on climate and international development. He is a keen environmentalist who supports all efforts to keep the beauty and environmental quality of West Wycombe and its surrounding areas. John enjoys the wonderful walks in the area and is a keen cyclist and gardener.
Kate Cheshire
Member
34 Portway Drive
07768 746150
Representations
Represents the Council on the West Wycombe Events Committee.
Biography
Kate has lived in the Parish since 1998, enjoying family life and bringing up her two children.
Kate has been a Parish Councillor since 2012 and has been keen to support the community. As a founding member of the West Wycombe Events Team, Kate has helped organise splendid annual events for the parish and surrounding communities to enjoy.
Hobbies include tap dancing, socialising with friends and catching up on films on Netflix!
Simon Cope
Chairman
20 Rosemary Close
07890 898256
Representations
Council representative on North West Chilterns Community Board and the Wycombe District Association of Local Councils, carries out weekly inspection of equipment on the Pedestal Playing Field and litter pick. Represents the Council on the West Wycombe Community Association.
Biography
Simon first moved to West Wycombe in 1974, and after spells in London and other areas of High Wycombe returned to the parish in 2003.
Simon works in Oxford, he has a son at University in Sheffield, a daughter who teaches in Peterborough and his parents live on Chorley Road.
His interests include cooking, cryptic crosswords, music of various genres and running.
Simon and his wife Louise are Wycombe Wanderers season ticket-holders; he also follows the fortunes of Wasps and England in rugby.
Emma Copley
Member
West Wycombe
07903 837011
Representations:
None
Biography
I have lived in West Wycombe since 1997, I am blessed with three boys who have grown up in the village and attended West Wycombe School.
I’m a retired police officer having served 28 years front line in the Metropolitan Police Service. I served on many different units including response and serious crime.
Before retiring from an injury on duty in 2019 I served as safer Neighbourhoods officer where I dealt directly with crime impacting communities and West London wildlife officer focusing on rural crime.
I am now embarking on a new career with the NHS as a GP receptionist having volunteered at the Adams Park Covid vaccine centre.
I'm the letting agent for West Wycombe Village hall and served 14 years as a parent rep for High Wycombe Rugby Club.
I'm also the ‘secret gardener’ who looks after the Bradenham Road bus stop.
In my spare time I love to cook and spend time pottering in the garden.
Neil Harris
Vice Chairman
49 High Street
01494 524787
Representations
Advises the Council environmental and arboricultural metters. Represents the Council on the Events Team and The National Trust on the West Wycombe Community Association.
Biography
I have lived and worked in High Wycombe for 29 years, moving here to work for the National Trust at Hughenden in 1991. As Countryside manager I look after the Hill, Park and open areas within the village, along with other properties such as Coombe Hill, Bradenham and Watlington.
I represent the National Trust on the Parish Council and have served as a regular parish councillor since 2010. As a resident in the village, I have a keen interest in the environment we live in, particularly in its condition and how everyone can do their bit to help look after it. This makes the whole village a better place for people to live, work and visit.
Chantal Rowland
Member
84 Chorley Road
07411 262977
Representations
None
Biography
My partner Kevin and I bought our home in West Wycombe in December 2012, and moved in November 2013 following major renovations. Despite coming from a military background I’ve always thought of the area as home. I lived in Walters Ash for ten years and my parents settled in High Wycombe after dad retired from the RAF. I moved away at 18 and I’ve been incredibly lucky to live in various places throughout the UK with my children, Nicolle and Aaron, as well as Cyprus, Germany, United States and more recently Belgium. I’ve always been a working mum, with a career in the Civil Service of 20+ years, my roles for the last 11 years have focused around housing’ infrastructure and facilities management. In my spare time I love gardening, bike riding and walking our dogs.
Vicki Smith BEM
Member
2 High Street
01494 532239
Representations
Represents the Council on the Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood Action Group, the West Wycombe Community Association, the West Wycombe Events Team and the A4010 HS2 Committee and the Buckinghamshire Council Transport Focus Group.
Biography
I have lived in West Wycombe Village since 1969. I have two children who attended West Wycombe School and three grandchildren.
I have been on the management committee who run West Wycombe Village Hall for over 40 years.
I have been a Councillor for West Wycombe Parish Council since it was formed in 1987 and Chairman of the Parish Council for 30 years of that time.
It has been a pleasure to see all that the Parish Council has achieved over the years to make all of West Wycombe a good place to go to school, live, work and play.
[Councillor Vicki Smith was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen's New Year Honours List 2021]
Angie Wright
Non-Voting Member
27 Crown Court
07730 432222
Declaration (Not-Applicable)
Representations
None
Biography
I have lived in West Wycombe Village since 2012 with my husband Ian. I have 2 grown girls who flew the coop many years ago. I’m looking forward to retirement in 2022 but in the meantime I work for a large Building Distribution company auditing Environmental & Quality Assurance. I am very interested in the environment and in particular biodiversity where there is a lot of potential in the parish. Crafting is one of my hobbies specialising in hand-made cards but also love baking, knitting and sewing.
Sharon Henson
Parish Clerk
18 Portway Drive
01494 448048
Declaration (Not Applicable)
Biography
I took over the role of Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer in November 1995 and since then I have seen many changes. The legislative requirements of councils and clerks has risen exponentially. My background in marketing and communications for Elgar and departmental manager at Perkin Elmer gave me the background I needed to rise to these new challenges.
I have lived in West Wycombe since 1978 with my husband and two children and in addition to walking my dogs I enjoy watercolour painting, quilting, cake decorating, reading, gardening and I am a founder member of West Wycombe Choir.