The South Downs National Park Authority has 27 Members, comprising:
- 14 Councillors from Local Authorities within the South Downs National Park. There are 15 local authorities within the Park, and each is entitled to a seat on the Park Authority. Two councils have decided to share a seat.
- 6 Councillors from Town and Parish Councils within the South Downs National Park. 2 councillors each are appointed from East Sussex, West Sussex and Hampshire. The appointments follow elections organized by the relevant Associations of Town and Parish Councils.
- 7 Members appointed by the Secretary of State following a national, open competition.
Members are expected to commit a minimum of two to three days per month to the work of the Park Authority. They’re not paid for this work, but they may claim certain allowances, including travel and other direct expenses.
Here is a short biography and photograph of each of our Members.
Margaret Paren
, OBE
Chair of South Downs National Park Authority
National Appointment
Margaret Paren was elected Chair of South Downs National Park Authority at the Authority's inaugural meeting on 20 April 2010. Margaret’s working career was spent in Whitehall, mainly in the Ministry of Defence but also with spells in the Cabinet Office and in the National Audit Office. She was a member of the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1990. After taking early retirement she became involved in local community activities and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE). From 2001 she was heavily engaged in the South Downs, both as a campaigner for the National Park and as a member of the South Downs Joint Committee and its predecessor bodies. Her interests are travel, bird watching, dog walking and, when time permits, painting.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: margaret.paren@southdowns.gov.uk
Charles Peck 
Deputy Chair of South Downs National Park Authority
Wealden District Council
Charles Peck was elected Deputy Chair of South Downs National Park Authority at the Authority's inaugural meeting held on 20 April 2010.
Before marriage brought him to England in 1987, Charles Peck practiced law in Maine, wrote legislation in the Senate in Washington, and worked in the State Department, after which he served as an Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts specializing in utilities regulation. He was Secretary to the Potato Marketing Board in London before moving to Sussex nearly 20 years ago. At present he conducts a watch repair business for trade accounts, represents East Dean Ward and its three parishes (East Dean & Friston, Cuckmere Valley, Long Man) on Wealden District Council and is a Justice of the Peace on the Eastern Sussex Bench. He has been a member of the South Downs Joint Committee since 2007 and sits on its Planning Committee. He lives at Friston with his wife, who is a palliative care consultant. Their two children are at university.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: cllr.charles.peck@wealden.gov.uk
Alun Alesbury
Stoughton Parish Council, West Sussex
Alun Alesbury is a senior practising barrister specialising in planning and local government law. He has also been appointed to hold public inquiries on numerous occasions by central or local government, e.g. into restricting the use of speedboats on Windermere in the Lake District National Park, genetically modified seed licensing etc. He has been a national appointee on the Sussex Downs Conservation Board, and then the South Downs Joint Committee since 2001. He is a member of Stoughton Parish Council (West Sussex), and chairs its planning committee.
Contact: Address: Manor Farm House, Walderton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9EF. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: alunalesbury@yahoo.co.uk
Sir Sebastian Anstruther
National Appointment
Sebastian is a rural estate landowner and organic farmer interested in the environment, education and local government. He manages his family’s 3,200 acre Barlavington Estate in the heart of the South Downs.
Sebastian served for eight years on his Parish Council and is a Community Governor of a village primary school. He helped set up the South Downs Land Management Group, and chairs the Arun & Rother Rivers Trust.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: Sebastian.Anstruther@southdowns.gov.uk
Nick Bennett
East Sussex County Council
Nick is a programme manager with a strong record of delivery in the public sector. Formerly a police chief superintendent, Nick was awarded by the Chief Constable of Sussex Police as a high performing leader. He has successfully delivered diverse multi-million pound change management programmes in a range of environments, from policing standards in Europe to major ICT projects. His expertise lies in chairing teams with complex issues to resolve and in setting and maintaining standards for practice and operational delivery.
Nick is the County Councillor for Alfriston, East Hoathly and Hellingly division in East Sussex.
Contact: Address: Quarry Cottage, Royal Oak Lane, High Hurstwood, East Sussex, TN22 4AI. Telephone: 01825 733328. Email: cllr.nick.bennett@eastsussex.gov.uk
Ken Bodfish, OBE
National Appointment
Ken Bodfish, OBE, was a founding member of the Sussex Downs Conservation Board and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the South Downs Joint Committee. Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council from 2000-2006, previously a member of East Sussex County Council and Chair of Sussex Police Authority. He was Deputy Chair of South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and Vice President of the EU Committee of the Regions.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: kenneth.bodfish@southdowns.gov.uk
David Burden
Northchapel Parish Council, West Sussex
David Burden was born at Fairoak Cottage Bepton Midhurst. David was educated in the Midhurst area and then went on to study General Agriculture at Brinsbury College 1958 – 59, and then went on to Plumpton College 1959 – 61. David has spent fifty years as a Livestock and Farm Manager in the West Sussex area. He has been involved on many committees as Chairman starting with the West Sussex Federation Young Farmers Clubs, NFU, Parish Council, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Southdown Sheep Society, Northchapel Village Hall Committee and also member of Transition Chichester Group, Chichester Diocesan Church and Countryside group. Since retiring two years ago David has been able to spend time to fulfil his passion of working with his flock of Pedigree Southdown Sheep.
Contact: Address: 1 Old School House, Duncton, Petworth, West Sussex. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053
Josephine Carr
Willingdon & Jevington Parish Council, East Sussex
Born on the South Downs at Winton Street, Alfriston, Jo has been closely connected to and lived on the South Downs all her life. Her family has farmed the Downs in East Sussex for over four generations and she now farms 160 acres at Jevington, and her immediate family still farms over 1000 acres in the area.
Jo studied for a Law Degree at University College London and was called to the Bar before becoming a legal journalist, editor and director of a legal publishing company. Her career as a journalist included contributing as a columnist to the Times and Evening Standard and editing and reporting a Channel 4 legal series. She purchased Street Farm in 2001 - the land is mainly in an Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme, grazed by sheep. She has been Parish Councillor for the Jevington Ward, Willingdon & Jevington Parish Council since 2005 and was elected onto the Authority as a Parish Representative. This is a critical and exciting point in the history of the South Downs and Jo's aim is to help the area to thrive as a National Park, while retaining the living and working environment that makes it unique.
Contact: Address: To follow. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: josephine.carr@southdowns.gov.uk
Janet Coles
Eastbourne Borough Council
Janet was elected to Eastbourne Borough Council in May 2011 and is currently a member of the following Council Committees; Planning (sub), Scrutiny, Licensing, Downland Forum and Old Town Management Panel.
In addition, Janet also represents Eastbourne Borough Council on a number of outside bodies, including; The Disability Involvement Group, Eastbourne Seniors Club, Redoubt Museum and “Disability Champion”
Contact; Address c/o Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB Telephone c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053 email janet.coles@southdowns.gov.uk
Norman Dingemans
Arun District Council
Norman Dingemans was brought up in Steyning where his father was a local GP. He completed a full career in the Royal Navy followed by fifteen years in Investment and Healthcare businesses. An Arun District Councillor since 1995, Leader of the Council 2002 to 2006 and presently Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Cultural Development and a long standing member of the South Downs Joint Committee. Lives in the National Park between Eartham and Slindon and his hobbies are golf, fly fishing and bee keeping.
Contact: Address: Bishops Piece, Littleheath, Nr Slindon, West Sussex, BN18 0SR. Telephone: 01243 814676. Email: normandingemans@aol.com
Jim Funnell
Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council
Jim Funnell has been an Adur District Councillor since the year 2000. He is currently the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, and was previously the Chairman of a Scrutiny Committee.
A major part of his working career was with the Property Services Agency in London. He managed an estates department which was responsible for maintaining Government Buildings in Whitehall, Ancient Monuments, and Statues including those in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Regents Park.
His last employer was the Worthing and Southlands Hospital NHS Trust. He played a significant role in the commissioning process of transferring services from Southlands Hospital in Shoreham to the new East Wing at Worthing Hospital.
Swimming is a lifelong interest and he is currently a Vice - President of the Hove Shiverers Swimming Club.
Contact: Address: c/o South Downs National Park Authority, Rosemary's Parlour, North Street, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9SB. Telephone - 01273 692619. Email: jim.funnell@southdowns.gov.uk
Jennifer Gray
East Hants District Council
Jennifer Gray was nominated and appointed as a Member of South Downs National Park Authority in October 2010. She replaces Member, Patrick Burridge, who tendered his resignation from the Authority on 13 October following his appointment as Leader of East Hants District Council. Jennifer has been the District Councillor for Froxfield and Steep for nearly 8 years, and is a cabinet member for East Hants District Council, with a particular focus on healthy lifestyle and environment. Jennifer has lived for most of her life in Hampshire and now lives in Rogate near Petersfield, and has two grown up children. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys country pursuits, golf and tennis.
Contact: Address: c/o South Downs National Park Authority, Rosemary's Parlour, North Street, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9SB. Telephone c/o SDNPA 0300 303 1053.
Neville Harrison
Southease Parish Meeting, East Sussex
Neville Harrison has served on the South Downs Joint Committee as a Natural England appointee since 2006.He is on the Planning Committee and was involved in a review of staff morale and establishing Area Champions. He lives in Southease, a small village in the Ouse valley on the South Downs Way. He is Chairman of the Southease Parish meeting, a Churchwarden, Parish Tree Warden and an Elm Tree Warden. He is a member of the South Downs Access Forum, a keen walker, and has walked the South Downs Way with his dogs, in both directions. Formerly, he was a Consultant Surgeon in Brighton, and involved in education as a Postgraduate Dean and in professional regulation as a General Medical Council panel member. He sees the transition from the NHS to the ‘Natural’ Health Service as ‘continuing professional development’.
Contact: Address: Southease Place, Southease, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3HX. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: neville.harrison@southdowns.gov.uk
Barbara Holyome
Bramdean & Hinton Amper Parish Council, Hampshire
Barbara has been a parish councillor for more 26 years and is currently Vice Chairman of Bramdean and Hinton Ampner Parish Council. She is also on the Executive Committee of Winchester District Association of Local Councils (ALC) and is a Vice Chairman of Hants ALC. Barbara is the parish council representative on Winchester City Council’s Natural Environment Forum and the Alresford and District Partnership. She was previously on the Joint Advisory Committee of East Hants Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and its Planning Panel, and the South Downs Joint Committee (SDJC) and its Planning Committee.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: barbara.holyome@southdowns.gov.uk
David Jenkins
Horsham District Council
David, who is married to Sandra, has lived in the village of Washington at the foot of the South Downs since 1971.
He was first elected to Horsham District Council in 1976 and represents the Chanctonbury ward. Over the past 34 years he has mainly been involved in Planning and is currently the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning. He has been Horsham's representative on the South Downs Board since its inauguration with just a couple of short breaks.
His interests include rural affairs, wildlife in particularly ornithology, gardening, motor sport and classic cars. Scottish history and more recently golf.
David is looking forward to the challenge of helping to formulate the National Park.
Contact: Address: Cadrona, Hampers Lane, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 3EX. Telephone: 01903 743671. Email: david.jenkins@horsham.gov.uk
Doug Jones
Buriton Parish Council, East Hampshire
Doug Jones was a Natural England appointee on the South Downs Joint Committee from 2008 to 2011 and served on its Executive Committee. At local level, Doug has coordinated a number of community initiatives in Buriton: to foster local social and economic well-being; to raise awareness of and respect for the local heritage; and to conserve and enhance the local environment.
He has also helped other communities with Village Design Statements, Parish Plans, Local Landscape Character Assessments, Local Food & Farming Initiatives, Environmental Traffic Calming and local Heritage Projects. He first joined Buriton Parish Council in 1999.
In his working career Doug was a Chartered Town Planner and Transport Planner for local authorities and in consultancy before joining the Local Government Association in London. As a Director his responsibilities included senior relationships with a wide range of organisations across many policy areas including planning, transport, housing, rural affairs, economic development, tourism and sustainable development.
His interests include walking and photography and he is a Trustee of a small charity helping communities in rural Ghana.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053.
Tom Jones
Lewes District Council
Tom is a retired RAF Officer who came to live in Sussex in 1993. Although not a Sussex man his wife was born in Hove and her family have lived in Ditchling for over 70 years so that he now considers himself to be a son of Sussex by proxy.
Most of Tom’s career in the RAF was spent flying on helicopters in many operational theatres around the world. He was instrumental in bringing into operational service the Chinnok helicopter and over a career of 36 years held many interesting appointments from commanding a squadron of surface to air Bloodhound missiles, to spending 4 years as a United Nations Liaison Officer working with the Turkish and Greek Cypriot Authorities in Cyprus, where he learnt the real meaning of "Status Quo". On leaving the RAF Tom started his own interior design and decorating company which he ran until 2011 when he decided to concentrate his efforts and time on his local government duties.
He has been a member of Ditchling Parish Council for the last 12 years and the Lewes District Councillor for Ditchling and Westmeston since 2007. He is currently the deputy leader of Lewes District Council and cabinet member for Planning and sits on the planning committee at both District Council and the South Downs National Park.
Tom is also a founder member of the Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy and continues to play an active role in running the Trusts two schools in Billingshurst and Ipswich. He is also a school governor at a Special Educational Needs School in West Sussex. In his spare time Tom and his wife,Virginia are committed to their family and relaxing in France.
Contact; Address c/o Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB Telephone c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053 email tom.jones@southdowns.gov.uk
Mark Kemp-Gee
Hampshire County Council
Mark Kemp-Gee was brought up in West Sussex and kept his point-to-pointer at Ashurst, near Steyning - often exercising on the Downs at Chanctonbury Ring. After a career in financial services, spent almost entirely in the City of London, he became a Hampshire County Councillor in 2005 and is currently serving his second term for the Alton Rural Division. Mark was a member of the South Downs Joint Committee until the formation of the National Park. In 2009 he was appointed Chairman of the Hampshire Pension Fund Panel.
Contact: Park House, Upper Wield, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9RU. Email: mark.kemp-gee@hants.gov.uk tel: 01420 563923
Jeremy Leggett
National Appointment
Jeremy Leggett has spent the last 21 years working for Action in Rural Sussex (AiRS) promoting the interests of rural communities at a local, regional and national level.
Amongst other positions, he was Chair of the South East Rural Affairs Forum until 2008 and co-ordinator of the national network (2006-2007) of the Regional Rural Affairs Fora (linked to Defra); Chair of the East Sussex Strategic Partnership and member of the West Sussex Public Service Board; Member of the South East England Regional Development Agency - Rural Advisory Committee; Commissioner on the Affordable Housing Commission (2005-06); Member (1998-2006) then Vice Chair (2002-2004) of the South East England Regional Assembly; and Member (2004-2006) of the South East England Regional Planning Committee.
Contact: Address: 212 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2NH. Telephone: 01273 473422. Email: jeremy.leggett@ruralsussex.org.uk
Sue Saville
National Appointment
Sue has worked over the past 20 years in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently, Sue was Interim Managing Director of Tourism South East from April 2011 until January 2012.
Previously, Sue was Regional Director for the National Trust, working in the South East for 12 years. Her previous experience includes both in-house and agency PR consultancy at Associate Director level.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: sue.saville@southdowns.gov.uk
Sue Seward
Mid Sussex District Council
Full profile details to follow...
Contact; Address c/o Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB Telephone c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053 email sue.seward@southdowns.gov.uk
Andrew Shaxson
Chichester District Council
Andrew Shaxson has lived at Elsted, near Midhurst, all his life. Previously farming he still owns the property and remains interested in the industry, but has for the last 11 years been the District Councillor for Harting ward. He has been on the South Downs Conservation Board and South Downs Joint Committee for 8 years, and a parish councillor for 20 years. He consequently has wide experience of local issues. He believes that all organisations must embrace the National Park, to enable positive changes. His interests include researching local history and walking.
Contact: Address: Buryfield Cottage, Elsted, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0LA. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: andrew.shaxson@southdowns.gov.uk
Tom Tupper
National Appointment
Tom Tupper has run the family farming business for over 30 years and manages the 2,000 acre mixed farm within the National Park boundary, approximately half of which is on the chalk downs. The farm is strongly committed to environmental schemes. He was previously Chair of National Farmers Union (NFU) West Sussex County and spent 25 years (until 2008) as Chair of Bignor Parish Meeting. Additionally he is responsible for Bignor Roman Villa, a major tourist attraction, which was re-discovered by the Tupper Family in 1811.
Contact: The Farm Office, Bignor, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1PQ. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: thomas.tupper@southdowns.gov.uk
Deborah Urquhart
West Sussex County Council
Deborah Urquhart has been a member of West Sussex County Council since 2006 representing the Angmering and Findon division, and is the Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy. Her special interests are the environment and conservation, education and economic regeneration. She is married with a grown up stepson and a grandson. Having qualified as an accountant at one of the top London practices, Deborah pursued a financial career at a number of blue-chip customer focused organisations. She moved to Sussex to work for an energy company and was appointed Finance Director in 2001, the first female director of the company. She subsequently took early retirement. Deborah's leisure interests include playing golf (badly), gardening and reading.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053. Email: deborah.urquhart@westsussex.gov.uk
Keith Wood
Winchester City Council
Keith has been a Winchester City Councillor since 2006, during which year he was made a Cabinet Member. He has served on the South Downs Joint Committee for some three years.
Much of his working life was spent with the Bank of England, from which he was seconded to the IMF as an Advisor to the Kuwait Central Bank. He has lived in the New Forest, Yorkshire Dales national Park, and is now in Winchester.
Keith has been involved in youth engagement work for some years; he is particularly interested in ensuring good access to the Park for all ages.
Contact: Address: c/o SDNPA, Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB. Telephone: 01962 776398. Email: krhw@tiscali.co.uk
Pete West
Brighton & Hove City Council
Pete West was appointed as a member of the South Downs National Park Authority in May 2011. He replaces Cllr Geoffrey Theobald following the change in administration of Brighton & Hove City Council where Pete serves as Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability. First elected in 1996, Pete represents the inner city ward of St Peter's & North Laine. Pete has long campaigned for full recognition of the value and potential of the South Downs, and co-founded Keep Our Downs Public which successfully opposed the sale of Brighton's vast publicly owned downland estate. Pete lives on the slopes of Hollingbury Hill, yards from the national park. He has three children. When he can get away Pete enjoys trekking long distance paths in the UK and Europe.
Contact; Address c/o Rosemary's Parlour, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9SB Telephone c/o SDNPA 0300 3031053 email pete.west@southdowns.gov.uk
Vacancy
National Appointment - awaiting appointment
Independent Members
Four Independent Members were recruited to the Audit and Standards Committees in Summer 2010 as follows:
Anne Dickens
Independent Member and Vice Chair of the Standards Committee
Anne is Vice Chair of the Standards Committee and is a self-employed management and communications consultant with experience across private, public and not for profit sectors.
Anne’s experience includes roles as Director of Personnel and Communications for Church Commissioners for England, non-executive Director and vice-chair for six years at the Sussex Ambulance Service, independent member and Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Standards Committee. She is currently independent member and Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority Standards Committee and a Trustee of Bowles, an outdoor learning centre for young people.
Anne enjoys walking, cycling, riding and carriage driving around Kent and Sussex with her partner and Dalmatians.
Contact: anne.dickens@southdowns.gov.uk
Lewis Doyle
Independent Member – Audit Committee
Lewis is an Independent Member of the Audit Committee. He has worked as a Managing Directer and Chief Information Officer and has extensive sector and plc experience embracing the public sector, financial services, support services and defence and aerospace. He has held a number of Directorships, Executive Committee, operational and audit appointments and led a number diversified teams including marketing and digital exploitation and Health & Safety and has been involved with IT strategy and execution, outsourcing both as a client and service provider, merger and acquisitions and customer service for a large part of his career. From 2003 to 2009 Lewis was at QinetiQ plc, and played a significant part in their migration from MoD agency to plc.
Lewis is an Accountant and is an independent member of the Southern Housing Group Audit Committee and also represents the Sussex Air Ambulance Trust a combination of public speaking and fund raising.
Contact: lewis.doyle@southdowns.gov.uk
Dame Denise Holt
Independent Member and Chair of the Standards Committee
Denise is Chair of the Standards Committee and has lived in the South Downs for over a decade. A lifelong public servant and career diplomat, she served as British Ambassador to Mexico (2002-2005), and Spain (2007-2009). She was Deputy Director, later Director of Human Resources for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office between 1996 and 2002. As a member of the FCO’s top leadership for over a decade she has extensive experience of upholding the highest standards of conduct and service to the public. Since retiring, she has been appointed a member of the NHS Pay Review Body and of Ofqual (the Regulator of Examinations and Qualifications in England). She is an Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, and a member of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. She is Chair of Trustees of the Anglo-Spanish Society and a member of the Management Council of the Cañada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies.
Contact: denise.holt@southdowns.gov.uk
Ken Hunt
Independent Member – Audit Committee
Ken Hunt, based in Surrey, is an Independent Member of the Audit Committee. Ken brings over 30 year’s public sector experience, including, Head of Corporate Finance at Wandsworth Council and Treasurer to the Metropolitan Police Authority, where as the statutory s151 Chief Finance Officer, Ken was responsible for the management and administration of the Authority’s financial affairs with a budget of £3.6 billion. Ken has also extensive audit and risk management experience.
Contact: ken.hunt@southdowns.gov.uk
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