Candidates speak out

We invited each candidate standing locally to provide up to 100 words of biographical information, plus a photo.

Election results will be posted on our website – keighleynews.co.uk – as we get them and full details will be carried in the following week’s paper.

Bingley Rural Robert Beckwith (Labour) Robert has experience of being a councillor, serving as mayor and Labour group leader. His work experience includes research and industry followed by years in education. He has taught in local schools as a supply teacher and one-to-one maths tutor. He also teaches children in care. He has successful community experience working for a lottery bid for a new swimming pool. Another achievement was persuading the environmental authorities to enforce factories to stop polluting the air. His tenacious approach to solving problems is well known by colleagues. Robert married late in life and has a young family.

Simon Cooke (Conservative) Simon Cooke has been councillor for Bingley Rural for 16 years. During this time he has been actively involved in local campaigns including the long fight against landfill in Denholme and in opposing development on green fields. Living at Cullingworth in the ward, Simon understands the need to protect and improve services to the more rural parts of Bradford district. Simon is a professional marketer working within the private and voluntary sector and also has a masters degree in urban regeneration.

Brian Newham (Green) I am aged 55. I have worked for 20 years in the computer industry – as a lecturer, training manager and in my present role as a freelance software developer. I have lived in Denholme for 10 years. I am a keen cyclist, hill walker and runner, currently training for the Belfast marathon. I have long been active for a number of organisations concerned with environmental and peace issues.

Alan Sykes (Liberal Democrat) Alan Sykes lives in Harden and is vice-chairman of the parish council. He is treasurer of the Bradford Heart Support Group and has contributed to its work by supporting patients at cardiac rehabilitation classes at the BRI. Now retired, he worked as a senior manager with a major UK petrochemical company. He was leader of the Liberal Democrat group on a county council for ten years. Alan lives in Harden in the Bingley Rural ward.

Craven Peter Cheney (Labour) Peter Cheney came to Bradford district in 1986 after completing his studies for the non-stipendiary ministry for the Scottish Episcopal Church. Qualified in social policy and administration also community education, Peter has been chairman of two local councils in Scotland. He is also a governor at a Silsden school, a co-founder of Charter 88 and an active member of the European Movement. “I have the experience and the commitment to make a real difference to the way services are delivered in Craven,” he said.

Stuart Ebden (Liberal Democrat) Married with two adult children, Stuart Ebden was born in Keighley. He attended Keighley Boys’ Grammar School and then Bradford and Leeds art colleges. He worked in retail display, exhibitions, shopfitting and cabinet making. Having always taken a deep interest in the political process, Stuart was a founder member of the Social Democrats and the Liberal Democrats. Stuart lives in Steeton in the Craven ward. He should be glad to serve his community.

Michael Kelly (Conservative) Resident in Addingham for 28 years, Michael is married to Carole, a retired teacher, has five grown-up children and three grandchildren.

Serving Craven ward since 2004, Michael is an active member of the Conservative group spending two years on the council’s executive as portfolio holder for children’s services as well as various council committees including the Keighley Area Committee.

A governor at Addingham and Steeton primary schools, Michael is committed to improving opportunities for all children.

Michael is passionate about rugby having played for many years with Sale in the 1970s. He remains a touchline supporter at Ilkley.

Vanessa Pilny (Green) Vanessa was born and bred in Bradford then went to medical school in London before spending almost 20 years in Australia. She returned to Yorkshire and now works part-time in a hospice. She is involved in local community groups and is hoping to become a school governor soon. Vanessa believes passionately in strengthening ties between people and local groups in order to build a stronger community that can empower those who might otherwise miss out.

Keighley Central Kaneez Akthar (Labour) “I have lived in Keighley nearly all my life and have a deep understanding of the community. I am married with three children and was educated in Keighley at Highfield Middle and Greenhead Grammar schools. Professionally I have over 15 years of social housing experience, having held positions such as regional Youthbuild co-ordinator for Yorkshire & Humberside as well as housing services director for Manningham Housing Association Ltd.”

Zafar Ali (Conservative) “My wife and I have lived in Keighley for over 46 years. We have brought up and educated our children in the town. Over the years I have worked to improve the lives of the local community as a community worker, volunteer and more recently a district councillor, serving as chairman of Keighley Area Committee to reduce crime and improve lives. As your local district councillor I will make sure the residents of Central ward continue to benefit from whatever resources are available to us in the future.”

Gerald Brooksbank (Liberal Democrat) Gerald Brooksbank was owner of Reids Bookshop, Keighley, for over 30 years. He is treasurer of Keighley Gala and has collected for charities disguised as a bee, a pirate and a jester! Gerald is a working member of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. As chairman of Long Lee and Thwaites Brow Action Group, Gerald has worked with councillors and officials to solve problems. Hobbies include walking, reading, watching cricket and quizzes. Gerald is married to Judith, Lib Dem candidate for Keighley East.

Julian Hughes (Green) Julian Hughes came to Bradford in 1976. Educated at Bradford University, he holds a PCET Certificate in Further and Higher Education and was a lecturer at Bradford College for 20 years until retiring in 2006, working part-time since then. His special interests are education (especially adult literacy), the environment and transport. He enjoys rambling in the Yorkshire Dales and going to the theatre and likes to try to keep up with developments in modern science.

Keighley East Judith Brooksbank (Liberal Democrat) Judith Brooksbank lives in Keighley East at Thwaites Brow and is a councillor for Long Lee and Parkwood ward of Keighley Town Council. She has worked on several issues, including the improvement of access for disabled people. Judith has been a playgroup leader, taught at Keighley College and then worked at an electronics company. Her husband is Lib Dem candidate for Keighley Central. They have two adult sons. She enjoys writing poetry, choral singing, music, reading, drawing and cooking. She attends St Barnabas and All Saints churches.

David Harrison (Conservative) “My childhood was spent in industrial South Yorkshire in the coal mining village of Wath-upon-Dearne. After studying chemistry at Manchester University, my wife and I moved to Birmingham where I taught for eight years before going to live and work abroad with my wife and two young children. I spent 24 years of my working life in different countries both in business and in teaching students of different cultures, languages and abilities. Returning home in 2003, I served on Sutton Parish Council, serve as an independent custody visitor, as a school governor and treasurer of Laycock Village Hall.”

Celia Ruth Hickson (Green) No information supplied Doreen Lee (Labour) Doreen Lee was born and brought up in Keighley and is proud to have lived here all her life, so understands the thoughts and concerns of local residents. She belongs to many voluntary organisations in the ward, including Faith and Light Group and KAWCC. She is a school governor and was a local magistrate for 17 years. First elected in 2007, Doreen wants to continue keeping local residents informed and helping community groups on funding issues. Passionately committed to her home town, she is seniors’ champion for Keighley, making sure their concerns do not go unheard in City Hall.

Keighley West Chris Herd (Conservative) Chris is married to Linda and has a growing family. He is a farmer and butcher and owns his own shop in the heart of Keighley West. As a local shopkeeper Chris is kept informed by his customers of the issues faced by residents of Keighley West. He is determined to help address these issues and this has prompted Chris to carry on working in and for the local community and to re-stand for election this year.

Fran McAulay (Liberal Democrat) Fran McAulay has lived in the district for over 20 years. Having retired from teaching she is now a supply teacher in primary and special needs education. She has recently worked at St Andrew’s School, Keighley. Fran is married with two grown-up children and is a proud grandmother. Fran is active in the community – including working on the local road safety committee – and enjoys walking in the countryside.

Jan Smithies (Labour) “Born in East Yorkshire, I first came to the area in 1979. I have lived in the Keighley area for 18 years. I have been employed in the voluntary sector for several years, ran my own business for 17 years and for the last three years I have worked in the NHS. I am a trustee for a district-wide voluntary organisation, a member of my GP Patient Participation Group and a keen allotment holder.”

Worth Valley Mark Curtis (Labour) “I have lived in Keighley all my life and in Oakworth for the past 30 years. I am married with two grown-up children who were both educated in the Worth Valley. I have worked at Keighley College (now part of Leeds City College) for most of my adult life and have led projects involving local children in opportunities to extend their learning. As we face challenging times, I believe it is important to value our community, preserving the facilities in the Worth Valley in order to support our young families, working people and the elderly.”

Rebecca Poulsen (Conservative) “I’m a wife and a mother of two young children and live in Haworth. Like many of you I’m an active member of our local community. Currently I’m a volunteer at one of our local primary schools, where I enjoy helping children with their reading. Times are hard. It is time for fresh thinking. I will be a strong voice for all of our area and all of the people in our area. I’m not a career politician or a career candidate. I’m just a working mum who has had enough. Let’s change things. Together we can make a difference.”

Sharon Purvis (Liberal Democrat) Sharon has lived in Oxenhope in the Worth Valley for 20 years. She is married with four daughters. Sharon is a volunteer with the Welgudfridayz Youth Group, Holy Family School, for young people from all backgrounds. She attends Our Lady of Lourdes, Haworth, and is a member of the parochial church council there, representing the interests of young people. In her spare time Sharon likes walking in the countryside, gardening and playing badminton.

Robert Swindells (Green) Robert Swindells has lived in the Worth Valley for more than 20 years and is standing again as Green Party candidate, following a modest but encouraging result in last winter’s by-election. The Green Party recognises that humankind depends on the diversity of the natural world for its existence and that the Earth’s physical resources are finite, he says. No species is expendable and every person in this and future generations should be entitled to clean water and sufficient food as of right. If elected, Robert will join other Green councillors in working toward a just, sustainable community.