Elections 2015: Profiles of the candidates (4)

Prospective Thame Town councillors, Helena Fickling (Ind) and Don Butler (Con)

THAME.NET is inviting all the local candidates for the Election 2015, for a short profile. The following are from Helena Fickling (Independent) and Don Butler (Conservative):

Helena Fickling –  I am standing for re-election to Thame Town Council as an Independent Candidate because I believe that Party Politics have no place in Parish/Market Town Councils.

I have lived in Moreton since 1982 and have served as a Town Councillor for one term.

For two years I have been Chairman of the Planning and Environment Committee and served on both the Planning, and the Policy and Resources Committees for the whole term whilst representing the Town Council on the 21st Century Thame Steering Group.

I am an architect with three adult children, a Churchwarden of St Mary’s Church, Thame, and a Trustee of the Thame Welfare Trust.

I am keen that families, children, young & old people should have good facilities and have worked for many years with children at Lighthouse and St Mary’s Church, and at the Youth Café for 11-14 year olds.

I support and volunteer with Music in the Park, Tidy Thame, Muck Out Moreton and have supported the development of the Skate Park and other activities which benefit the life of Thame.

I believe that Thame is a very special market town which has much to offer to residents and businesses but needs to have a fair development programme for a progressive Thame and keep responding to changing expectations and the social and economic demands of 21st Century life, including sustainability.

I believe that all development in Thame should enhance the unique town centre for the benefit of all people in Thame, and local business. During my term as a Town Councillor I have worked to ensure that all new development should enhance Thame.

I would like the opportunity to serve the people of Thame and Moreton as an Independent Councillor for another term on the Town Council.

Don Butler – I moved to Thame in 1967 after marrying Elaine and we have two lovely daughters, who both did very well at Lord Williams’s School, and now, one gorgeous granddaughter.

I love Thame and over the years have been involved with many local organisations, currently being on the Board of Thame & District Housing Association; President of the Evergreen Club; on the Management Committee of Thame Barns Centre since its inception 20 years ago and I am proud to see what it has become over those years. I am Deputy Chairman of the Thame Twinning Association and was Mayor of Thame when the twinning charter with our French counterpart – Montesson, near Paris, became a reality in 2000. Good friendships have been forged since the beginning between many linked families, including my own with the Montesson Mayor, Jean François Bel. I am also on the Town Awards panel.

In a by-election in 1989 I was elected onto the Town Council and have found it uplifting to be involved with local organisations. It has been an honour to serve as Mayor on four occasions and over the years it has been wonderful to have been able to meet all the people who quietly, discreetly and willingly, give up their time to enhance life for those who live in this beautiful and thriving market town. We should all work hard to retain Thame’s qualities and if elected again, I will endeavour to give my best for the residents in the community, particularly with regard to the elderly and infirm and not forgetting facilities for the young people. The skate park which I opened in 2002 is a good example of this.

NB Your can read profiles of six of the other Local Election candidates here: LINK