People

rich lehmann

Kent County Councillor for Swale East and Swale Borough Councillor for Boughton & Courtenay

Rich has long been a campaigner on local issues and a member of various community projects over the years. He has run his own business as a wedding photographer for 16 years, but the Covid lockdowns in 2020 brought a change in direction for him. Unable to work, he helped coordinate mutual aid volunteers across Faversham to support vulnerable residents. Inspired by his work for the community, Rich put himself forward for election for a place on Kent County Council representing Swale East. He was elected in May 2021. At the first budget meeting in February 2022, he put forward a successful amendment to freeze the cost of a Travel Saver Pass for families with children in receipt of free school meals, and is leading the campaign to save rural bus services across Swale from KCC cuts. 

alastair gould

Swale Borough Councillor for Boughton & Courtenay

Alastair Gould has been a GP in the area for the past 32 years and lives in Boughton-under-Blean where all his children have been to the local school. He knows the problems the community faces, but also that health and well-being need much more than medicine alone. This led him to run for Swale Borough Council in 2019. Since being elected he has been pushing hard for policies that enable people to be more active, and reduce the need to always rely on cars. He cycles to work in Faversham most days, and so knows first-hand the barriers that need to be overcome to make this an easy choice.

terry thompson

Swale Borough Councillor for East Downs

Terry grew up on a small holding in Stalisfield and trained as an agricultural engineer. He has a keen interest in sustainable engineering and considerable experience managing environmental projects, including Starr Place – the first first ultra-energy-efficient office complex in Canterbury. In 2010, he co-founded The Abbot’s Mill Project, an education centre which will be powered by re-instating a water wheel into an old mill race. Terry is passionate about improving rural public transport, and supporting small businesses that provide rural employment. 

sonia jackson, coordinator

Sonia is one of our coordinators, she organises our regular members’ meetings and keeps our membership informed via email. Sonia is a founder member of Plastic Free Faversham, an organisation that encourages local businesses and the community to reduce plastic wherever possible. Sonia also works with Friends of the Earth, Faversham.

viv moore, coordinator

Viv is our second coordinator, she helps organise speakers at our regular meetings and is famous for supplying litter-pickers, campaigners and canvassers with flapjacks to keep them going! Viv is a founder member of our local Green Group and continues to be a passionate voice for social services and the environment in our area.

tim valentine, election agent & treasurer

Tim ensures that our election candidates have the proper paperwork and makes sure we follow election rules during the campaign. He has been a Green Swale Borough Councillor, so is well aware of the issues and challenges within our borough and provides valuable advice and support to our councillors. Tim is also one of the volunteer drivers for the Faversham community bus service.

ken pugh, membership secretary

Ken Pugh keeps track of our membership, and we continue to grow every year! He also works with Faversham Water Quality Group (FAVWAT) testing and monitoring our waterways so that water companies can be held to account for the pollution in our rivers and seas.

miriam layton, social media officer

Miriam is our social media and website officer. She helps keep our community informed about what our councillors have been doing, by posting regular councillors’ reports on community groups, emailing them to subscribers and sending them for inclusion in parish magazines. You can also find these on our News page.

hannah temple, committee member

Hannah stood as our General Election candidate for Faversham & Mid Kent in 2024. She is a sustainability and human rights expert who runs her own business helping organisations to become more sustainable. Hannah Temple has served our community for many years, including as a trustee of Abbey Physic Garden.