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National Party

UK Liberal Democrats

Postal Address:4 Cowley Street, London SW1P 3NB
E-mail Address:info@libdems.org.uk
Web Site Address:http://www.libdems.org.uk/

West Midlands Liberal Democrats Regional Executive 2010 (01/01/10-31/12/10)

Regional President

Jock Gallagher

Portrait of Jock Gallagher.

Biography:I joined the old Liberal Party soon after Noah finished the Ark and I have been an activist in one form or another ever since. I've been a member in Sutton Coldfield, Leominster and now the Wyre Forest. Down the years I've served at every level of the party: Young Liberal secretary and chair; ward councillor, constituency secretary, treasurer and chair to member of the Federal Executive and chair of the Parliamentary Candidates Association (during the last General Election). I was chair of the old Birmingham Region and then vice-chair of the West Midlands (1993-96) and was regional campaign director for the 1997 GE (when I was also the candidate for Edgbaston). I was previously Euro candidate and won nearly 45,000 votes in Herefordshire and Shropshire in the 1994 election. Outside politics, I'm a journalist and broadcaster (25 years at the BBC) and am currently director of the Centre for Freedom of the Media
Postal Address:Quays, Severn Side South, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2D
Telephone Number:01299 403 110
E-mail Address:jyg@cix.co.uk

Chair

Alan Lewis

Portrait of Alan Lewis.

Biography:I have been a member of the party for a number of years and in that time I have held a number of positions, I have been a Borough Councillor and served in the local party executive, from ordinary member to chair. I am currently a member of the Stoke on Trent Party. I am also an experienced agent and campaigner. Outside politics I run my own energy assessment business and when I have any spare time I enjoy photography.
Postal Address:10 Healey Avenue, Knypersley, STOKE ON TRENT ST8 6SQ
Telephone Number:07967 779 757
E-mail Address:alanl@westmidslibdems.org.uk

Vice Chair

Jonathon Webber

Biography:I joined the Liberal Democrats in 2004 - and I'm standing in Park Ward, Wolverhampton as Councillor. I have a number of interests and I tend to focus on the relationship small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) - local business in other words - have with local communities, employment, investment, opportunities for young people and general local economic development. I am a passionate believer in international trade, in getting our regional West Midlands' businesses into international markets - emerging and traditional.
Postal Address:92 Newbridge Street, WOLVERHAMPTON
E-mail Address:J.Webber@birminghamchamber.org.uk

Treasurer

Alan Beddow

Portrait of Alan Beddow.

Biography:I joined the party during the lead up to the Iraq War. I was impressed at how the Liberal Democrats had opposed the war and this lead me to visit the national website to find out more and realised that I had always been a Liberal Democrat and joined there and then. I felt that if I voted Lib-Dem it would be one vote; yet If I did some work to help the party I may make it more votes. Since then I have stood and campaigned in my local Constituency of Warwick and Leamington and then eventually selected as PPC. Outside politics, I like to spend time with my friends and family. I work as a Project Manager specialising in IT. Over the years I have worked with just about every industry, along with many public sector clients. My experience in industry and as a project manager has given me skills that I am able to use as a PPC, a campaigner and within the Regional Exec as Treasurer.
Postal Address:1 Eyffler Close WARWICK Cv34 4UG
Telephone Number:01926 492 467
E-mail Address:alan_beddow@yahoo.co.uk
Web Site Address:http://alan-beddow.blogspot.com/

Regional Secretary

Sue Marbrow

Portrait of Sue Marbrow.

Biography:"Joined the Liberal Party in 1983 because of Thatcher. Borough Councillor for 12 years until 2003 and parish councillor since then. Joined the party because of what I saw as social injustice. I don't always agree with the party leadership but still feel that it is the only party which will deliver a fair society. I worry about youngsters being written off because of their background. I want to help the Regional Executive become a professional, efficient organisation."
Postal Address:247 Branstone Road, Burton upon Trent DE14 3BT
Telephone Number:01283 565 312
Telephone Number:07968 210 186
E-mail Address:sec.wmld@tiscali.co.uk

Chair of Local Parties Committee & I.T. & Communication Officer

Simon Hanson

Portrait of Simon Hanson.

Biography:Locally I have alternated between Chair & Vice Chair for years; I act as the constituency Agent for Local & General election. Work wise I work as an I.T consultant, but the work is a bit quite at the moment. Away from the LibDems , I am an active member of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). I am the local branch Press Officer & brewery liaison officer for Windsor Castle brewery. I am also part of the production team for the local CAMRA newsletter "Ales & Tales" www.stourbridgecamra.org.uk . In 2002 I was appointed a governor at Greenfield Primary School in Stourbridge, were I am the chair of the site & Finance Committee. Outside the school I represent the Stourbridge Township on the Dudley Association of Governing Bodies & am a member of the Dudley Schools Admissions Forum.
Postal Address:53 Chawn Hill Pedmore Stourbridge DY9 7JA
Telephone Number:01384 373 688
Telephone Number:07958 371 077
E-mail Address:Simon@orac.demon.co.uk

Chair of Conference Committee

Christine Tinker

Portrait of Christine Tinker.

Biography: I joined the LibDems at the end of 2004 when, due to re-location of my work, I moved back to Shropshire and felt that I would have time to become an activist within my local party of Ludlow. Since then I have been committed to working with local party members canvassing and campaigning and helping in election campaigns around the Country. In 2007 I became an approved candidate and was selected as PPC for Stone in Staffordshire. I read Politics at Warwick University; served for 6 years in the Army, retiring as Captain; was the Executive Officer in the Shropshire Youth Association, a charitable organisation; and was the Executive Director of the British Tennis Coaches' Association, a voluntary organisation. During my working career I was also a partner in a Health & Fitness Centre and have been an active tennis coach for many years. When I was with the BTCA, I was responsible for running the Conferences put on for members to attend, thus giving me the experience to stand as Chair of Conference Committee. I am always pleased to hear people's ideas about what should be included in our Conferences.
Telephone Number:07970 577 614
E-mail Address:libdem@christinetinker.wanadoo.co.uk

Chair of Candidates Committee

Josie Wilkinson

Biography:The Liberal Party having the best of the local boys found me a husband, following this flirtation I joined the Party when I was 40 the same year as I secured a full-time post in Community Development having spent 22 years at home raising 2 girls and 2 boys involved in much voluntary work. I joined the local branch executive and became Secretary followed by my election to Droitwich Spa Town Council: I have stood at 3 Wychavon District elections. I then moved home to live on Bredon Hill crossing the boundary changing Constituencies and promptly getting flooded; becoming Vice Chair and then Chair of the West Worcestershire Constituency, which I had held in my previous constituency too. I am now a Parish Councillor, sit on the executive of the County Assoc. represent the Local Strategic Partnership; NHS Mental Health Partnership and recently undertook Mental Health First Aid Course working with Mental Health Service Users and Carers ! I trained 4 years ago to be an assessor of Parliamentary Candidates, have assessed 12 ' victims ' whilst joining the Regional Candidates Committee and have now become its' Chair.
Postal Address:The Cottage, Grafton, TEWKESBURY GL20 7AT
Telephone Number:01386 882 134
E-mail Address:josie.wilkinson@googlemail.com

Regional Media Officer

Jackie Alderson

Biography:I am a relatively new Liberal Democrat, having joined just under a year ago. However, since joining, my local party has put me to work at the Coalface and in the space of nine months I have been out campaigning at two bi-elections as well as the County and European elections. I was recently elected Chairman of Mid Worcestershire, a role which I hope to do justice to during the coming months. In my work life, I have formulated the strategic approach and implemented successful PR and Community Consultation campaigns for the Public Sector, Blue Chip clients and an international membership organisation. I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead and to working with Ben Jephcott our Media Co-ordinator.
Telephone Number:07932 137 506
E-mail Address:jalderson@optimumpr.co.uk

Policy Officer

Jon Hunt

Postal Address:52 Perry Avenue, Perry Barr, BIRMINGHAM B42 2NE
Telephone Number:0121 240 9689
Telephone Number:07837 604 161
E-mail Address:jon@westmidslibdems.org.uk

Diversities and Equalities Champion

John Redfern

Biography: I joined the Liberal Party in 1974 and have been a councillor for the Party for 20 years. I am also the PPC for Stoke Central having fought 3 general elections as a candidate. I have been tasked with moving the diversities and equalities agenda forward in the West Midlands and would welcome suggestions and ideas how this might be achieved. When I became a membership secretary for Stoke 2 years ago our membership of BMEs in the local party was 1 it is now in the region of 15, our deputy leader on the Stoke Council is from an Asian background so progress is possible. We need to ensure more people from all backgrounds become members and activists in the party if we truly want to be representative of the population
Postal Address:141 Park Lane Biddulph STOKE-ON-TRENT ST8 7PN
E-mail Address:jpr160@tiscali.co.uk

Executive Officer

Hugh Warner

Portrait of Hugh Warner .

Biography:My interest in politics began in the February 1974 General Election when a husting meeting was held at my school in Suffolk with each of the three candidates speaking. I was impressed by the Liberal, who also won the mock election vote held after the speeches! I became a student in Coventry, studying Mechanical Engineering, and then moved to Burton in 1979 where I became active. Over the years I have been a candidate and election agent many times, and print leaflets on an old RISO. I served as a Borough Councillor for a short spell and have been a Parish councillor for six years. I was new to the Executive last year as an Ordinary Officer. This year I was re-elected, and nominated to the Candidates Committee. I have also volunteered to help on the new Local Parties Committee. My interests include Energy Policy, Housing and Economics, together with the "Green Agenda" generally
Postal Address:247 Branston Road, Burton on Trent, STAFFS DE14 3BT
Telephone Number:01283 565 312
E-mail Address:hughwarner@tiscali.co.uk

Executive Officer

David Murray

Postal Address:74 Ashgrove, Albrighton, WOLVERHAMPTON WV7 3QX
Telephone Number:01902 374 057
Telephone Number:07913 484 566

Executive Officer

Lionel King

Biography:I joined the Liberal Party at University, after the General Election of 1959 during which I had been impressed by Jo Grimond's views on the kind of society he wanted to see develop in Britain. I had recently graduated in Modern Languages, having lived and worked in Spain for two years. Before I had been superficially interested in politics, but experiences of life under the Franco dictatorship made a profound impression upon me. I began to think deeply about freedom, democracy and liberal philosophy. After 1959 I plunged into political activity, fighting numerous local elections in Birmingham, holding Party office at all levels including LPO Executive and contesting parliamentary elections on three occasions, 1964, 1970 and 1987. My great disappointment has been failure to reach a position of real influence in decision-making in public affairs. In recent years, while continuing to hold minor office at constituency and Regional level, and campaign for the Lib Dems, I have become more deeply interested in the wider, philosophical aspects of Liberalism, the role of the individual, the nature of the liberal society we aspire to build and of course global issues such as environment.
Postal Address:18 Thistlewood Grove, BIRMINHAM B9 30DW

Conference Committee

Chair of Conference Committee

Christine Tinker

Portrait of Christine Tinker.

Biography: I joined the LibDems at the end of 2004 when, due to re-location of my work, I moved back to Shropshire and felt that I would have time to become an activist within my local party of Ludlow. Since then I have been committed to working with local party members canvassing and campaigning and helping in election campaigns around the Country. In 2007 I became an approved candidate and was selected as PPC for Stone in Staffordshire. I read Politics at Warwick University; served for 6 years in the Army, retiring as Captain; was the Executive Officer in the Shropshire Youth Association, a charitable organisation; and was the Executive Director of the British Tennis Coaches' Association, a voluntary organisation. During my working career I was also a partner in a Health & Fitness Centre and have been an active tennis coach for many years. When I was with the BTCA, I was responsible for running the Conferences put on for members to attend, thus giving me the experience to stand as Chair of Conference Committee. I am always pleased to hear people's ideas about what should be included in our Conferences.
Telephone Number:07970 577 614
E-mail Address:libdem@christinetinker.wanadoo.co.uk

Committee Member

Simon Hanson

Portrait of Simon Hanson.

Biography:Locally I have alternated between Chair & Vice Chair for years; I act as the constituency Agent for Local & General election. Work wise I work as an I.T consultant, but the work is a bit quite at the moment. Away from the LibDems , I am an active member of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). I am the local branch Press Officer & brewery liaison officer for Windsor Castle brewery. I am also part of the production team for the local CAMRA newsletter "Ales & Tales" www.stourbridgecamra.org.uk . In 2002 I was appointed a governor at Greenfield Primary School in Stourbridge, were I am the chair of the site & Finance Committee. Outside the school I represent the Stourbridge Township on the Dudley Association of Governing Bodies & am a member of the Dudley Schools Admissions Forum.
Postal Address:53 Chawn Hill Pedmore Stourbridge DY9 7JA
Telephone Number:01384 373 688
Telephone Number:07958 371 077
E-mail Address:Simon@orac.demon.co.uk

Candidates Committee

Chair of Candidates Committee.

Josie Wilkinson

Biography:The Liberal Party having the best of the local boys found me a husband, following this flirtation I joined the Party when I was 40 the same year as I secured a full-time post in Community Development having spent 22 years at home raising 2 girls and 2 boys involved in much voluntary work. I joined the local branch executive and became Secretary followed by my election to Droitwich Spa Town Council: I have stood at 3 Wychavon District elections. I then moved home to live on Bredon Hill crossing the boundary changing Constituencies and promptly getting flooded; becoming Vice Chair and then Chair of the West Worcestershire Constituency, which I had held in my previous constituency too. I am now a Parish Councillor, sit on the executive of the County Assoc. represent the Local Strategic Partnership; NHS Mental Health Partnership and recently undertook Mental Health First Aid Course working with Mental Health Service Users and Carers ! I trained 4 years ago to be an assessor of Parliamentary Candidates, have assessed 12 ' victims ' whilst joining the Regional Candidates Committee and have now become its' Chair.
Postal Address:The Cottage, Grafton, TEWKESBURY GL20 7AT
Telephone Number:01386 882 134
E-mail Address:josie.wilkinson@googlemail.com

West Midlands Members of Parliament

Lorely Burt MP

Portrait of Lorely Burt MP .

Postal Address:81 Warwick Road, Solihull B92 7HP.
Telephone Number:0121 706 9593
Telephone Number:0121 711 1306
E-mail Address:Lorely@lorelyburt.org.uk
Web Site Address:http://lorelyburt.org.uk/

John Hemming MP

Portrait of John Hemming MP.

Postal Address:1772 Coventry Road Birmingham B26 1PB
Telephone Number:0121 722 3417
E-mail Address:john.hemming@jhc.co.uk
Web Site Address:http://www.yardley.libdems.org.uk/

Paul Keetch MP

Portrait of Paul Keetch MP.

Postal Address:39 Widemarsh Street Hereford HR4 9EA
Telephone Number:01432 341 483
Telephone Number:020 7219 2419
Facsimile Number:01432 378 111
Facsimile Number:020 7219 1184
E-mail Address:info@paulkeetch.org.uk
Web Site Address:http://www.paulkeetch.org.uk

West Midlands Members of the European Parliament

Liz Lynne MEP

Portrait of Liz Lynne MEP.

Postal Address:55 Ely Street Stratford upon Avon CV37 6LN
Telephone Number:01789 266 354
Facsimile Number:01789 268 848
E-mail Address:LizLynne@westmids.org.uk
Web Site Address:www.lizlynne.libdems.org.uk

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