june19-full

June 2019
New Parish Councillors
When I first joined Minster Parish Council I knew very little
about my fellow councillors, so when I became Chairman,
about 2 years ago, I decided that we should tell the residents
of this parish a little bit about us and why we had become
councillors. I, along with most of my fellow councillors, wrote
a brief profile about ourselves. The profiles were published in
this magazine and many people welcomed them. They have
since been added to the website for future reference.
(www.minsterpc.kentparishes.gov.uk)
At the recent elections we gained 5 new councillors so it’s time
for an update. I’ll let them introduce themselves to you: -
Cllr. Roy Burden
I moved to Minster 5 years ago from Canterbury, having retired
from a career in the travel industry, working mainly for Thomas
Cook, but also for a couple of independent agencies and then
my last 5 years in the travel and tourism department of Mid
Kent College in Gillingham.
Moving to a new location and retiring at the same time meant
I have had the time to involve myself in village activities, mainly
as a way to get to know people. I am now Vice Chairman and
Treasurer of Minster Twinning Association, Show Secretary for
Minster and Monkton Horticultural Association and attend the
Village Art Club, I am also a member of Minster Bowls Club.
Becoming a Parish Councillor seems a natural progression
within the village, where I intend to give my best to ensure that
this lovely village continues to put the community first in all its
decision-making.
cllrburden@minsterparishcouncil.org.uk
Cllr. Susan Sharp
I came to live in Thanet in 1975 at the age of thirteen when
my parents moved here from south east London to open a bed
& breakfast establishment in Cliftonville.
I left school at eighteen and worked in public service for the
next twenty-five years. I decided on a career change in 2006
and set up my own gardening business.
I moved to Minster in 2001 with my husband Andy. He had
previously lived in Minster from 1958 until 1977, his mother’s
family being from Minster.
Having lived in Minster for the last eighteen years we have
made many friends and you may well have seen us (in our
yellow Hi-Vis jackets) walking our two dogs around the village
most days. We both love the village, the friendly people and
the community spirit.
I put myself forward for the Parish Council in the hope that I
might bring a fresh perspective and give something back to the
community.
cllrsharp@minsterparishcouncil.org.uk
Cllr. Derek Crow-Brown
I was born in Margate having joined the Royal Air Force at the
age of 16 serving for 38 years in a variety of roles, finishing my
career at the RAF Fire School Manston in 2013. I have lived in
the parish since 2005 moving with my family to Minster in
2013. Since leaving the RAF, I have been proud to have served
as a District Councillor for four years, responsible to the five
parish councils in the Villages ward. I was the Armed Forces
Champion for Thanet, responsible coordinating any welfare
Minster Matters 25
and housing needs for military veterans. I was proud to have
served as a cabinet member for Corporate Governance, giving
me a huge insight into how local government works.
There is no doubt that Minster is held in very high esteem by
the other parish and town councils in Thanet, especially for the
highly efficient running of the parish council and its excellent
community spirit, making the village a highly desirable place to
live. I will endeavour to assist local residents as best as possible.
cllrcrow-brown@minsterparishcouncil.org.uk
Cllr. Leanne McCarthy
Born in Gillingham, my family moved to Monkton when I was
3. I attended Monkton school and enjoyed growing up in such
a great village. I trained to become a hairdresser at Thanet
College for 3 years, I then got a job in a Minster Salon, Later I
took over the business and at 23 opened my own salon. I loved
being part of the village and moved here in 2010. I got married
in 2011. After 6 years I closed my salon doors and became a
mobile hairdresser, I enjoy being out in the village every day.
Wanting to do more in the Community I joined the Minster
Show Committee in 2014 and have loved being part of such
an amazing event in the village and hope to continue for many
years. I have developed a love of gardening and enjoy spending
time growing my own plants and veg and pottering in my
garden. I also enjoy baking and making celebration cakes for
friends and family. Seeing Minster growing over the last 9 years
has made me want to help preserve the sense of community
we have here and to keep it the wonderful village that it is.
cllrmccarthy@minsterparishcouncil.org.uk
Cllr. Jack Whybrow
Some of you may remember me from back in 2014 when I was
first co-opted to the council at just 18 years old! I set up the
Minster Youth Forum in April 2014 and organised the Fun Day
at Minster Recreation Ground in June 2015 which had an
amazing turnout! After taking a few years off from the council
to complete my apprenticeship and begin a new journey in
starting my own electrical business I decided that I would get
back into local politics! Being a representative of the
community of Minster is such a rewarding position to be in,
helping to improve the quality of life for our local residents,
tackling local issues that affect our community and protecting
the future of a rural village.
I would like to think that in time we can look into re-opening
a sustainable youth club for the village that we can ensure
keeps its doors open and helps to engage the young people of
this village into the community.
cllrwhybrow@minsterparishcouncil.org.uk
The remaining councillors are Danny Day, John Quittenden,
Alan Jones, Susan Taylor, Ray Owen and myself. Contact
details of all Councillors are on our website at
www.minsterpc.kentparishes.gov.uk or via the Parish Office.
We welcome contact to suggest anything we could do to
improve the parish or to alert us to any problems that we need
to tackle. Everyone is also welcome to our monthly meetings,
(details on page 2 of this magazine) when the last 15 minutes
are devoted to questions and suggestions from the public.
Penny Gimes, Chairman.