Raynes Park and West Barnes Residents' Association
Serving the community since 1928
The councillors representing the wards of Raynes Park and West Barnes have written the following pen-portraits of themselves :
Margaret Brierly was born in Raynes Park and has three grown up sons and two grandsons. She is very proud to have been joined on the council by her youngest son, William, who was elected for the first time in May to represent West Barnes Ward.
Margaret has been serving residents for eight years already, and is pleased to have been able to help with many problems in the area. She has found her Nursing and Health Visitor background very useful. She is the Conservative Spokesman for Social Services and since the Children's Department was placed on Special Measures eighteen months ago by the Department of Health, this has been a very demanding rôle.
Margaret is a Governor at Hollymount School and Raynes Park High School, and she has been struggling with many complex issues in both schools as we go through the Re-organisation of Schools.
Councillor Brierley has been elected Mayor of Merton for 2004/2005. See also the local newspaper article "Mayor Margaret takes the Raynes" (13th May 2004)
"I was born and grew up in Raynes Park and I moved to Motspur Park just over a year ago. As one of the newly elected Councillors for West Barnes, I have been appointed to the Planning Applications and Licensing Committee and a Best Value panel. In addition, I will sit on the Youth Committee, the Sports forum and the Raynes Park And Lower Morden Area Forum. I am a teacher at Whitgift School in Croydon and a governor at St. Matthew's C of E Primary School in Wimbledon. I will be marrying my fiancée, Clare, in July 2002. We were both Wimbledon Football Club season ticket holders (though we are unlikely to travel to Milton Keynes !) ; other recent hobbies include running the London Marathon for the Wimbledon Jesuit Missions, dressed as a Womble."
Horst Bullinger, a Raynes Park resident since 1973, will be representing Raynes Park residents interests on the Council's Street Management and Transport Scrutiny Panel. He is also a member of the Public Transport liaison committee. Not having been a politician until very recently, he plans to make sure that the council listens more to the real local concerns than to directives from higher tiers of government on matters of local Traffic and Public Transport needs. He is also very interested in improvements of waste collection and management.
"I was elected as a Counciller in May 2002 and I am a member of the following : Arts Forum ; Finance and Corporate Support Panel ; Public Transport Liaison Committee ; Raynes Park And Lower Morden Area Forum ; Standard Advisory Council on Religious Education ; Standards Committee.
I am a graduate from the University of Wales where I read genetics and microbiology, hence my interest in conservation and green issues. I am a Chartered Accountant and I work for an Italian bank in the City where I am responsible for the tax affairs of the London office. I am the Treasurer for various professional/social committees including the Anglo-Italian Association in Wimbledon.
I very much enjoy outdoor life and I value very much nature and the positive effect it has on people, and I love sailing ! There is little I enjoy doing more in the little spare time I have than a good race on a yacht across the Channel ; team-work is paramount to ensure a safe passage !
I relax by attempting to look after my garden and by listening to classical music. I have been known to travel far and wide and abroad as well to listen to a good concert !"
"Born in Shanghai, China, and grew up in Hong Kong, aged 42, I emigrated to England in 1972. After grammar school in Cheshire and a short-service commission with 1st Battalion, The Queen's Regiment (The Buffs) I obtained a double first in Natural Sciences from Hertford College Oxford, where I was a half-blue in fencing. I subsequently gained a Ph.D. and a Diploma in Accounting and Finance.
My career took me to numerous countries and I eventually became the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer of multi-national telecom companies, in charge of their operation in 26 and 45 countries respectively. I gave up this secure career to join force with partners in a dotcom venture in Korea, which was sold to Hyundai at the right time. Early retirement for a bachelor bored me so I went into politics. This still does not occupy me fully so I took a full time job in May as the Executive Vice President of a leisure company.
I am an amateur historian and indulge in travels. I also enjoy good food, fine wine and charming company.
Feel free to contact me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I am here to serve the community."
As well as the phone numbers listed on the Council website, you can get in touch with Councillor Cheng by fax on 020-7717 8421, or by email.
"I have been a Councillor since November 2000. I am currently Lead for the Children's Advisory Committee. I also sit on the Education Forum, Queen's Jubilee Committee, Disability Discrimination Act Scrutiny Panel, Equalities and Social Inclusion Panel, Raynes Park And Lower Morden Area Forum, Merton Arts Council and the Executive, Merton Health Improvement Partnership. I am married to Brian and we have three children. I attend Trinity United Reformed Church and am involved in Youth work, Outreach work and Social activities in the Church. At present I am employed by the NHS in a Neurological Rehabilitation Centre. I am Company Stage Manager for a local dancing school and we produce a very professional show every two years for various charities. I like to keep fit and do regular aerobics classes. I also enjoy running, badminton, music, theatre reading, cooking, entertaining friends and relatives. Finally I love travelling and visiting new places in all parts of the world."