Your Parish Councillors
Meet Your Parish Councillors
Cllr Chris JonesChair of Hamble Parish Council
I grew up and went to university in the midlands. Graduated as a Chemical Engineer from Birmingham University and spent 20 years working on penicillin manufacturing and global pharmaceuticals supply.
My resulting engineering and IT experience lead to consulting roles in several business’ ranging from mobile phones, through retail to nuclear decommissioning.
Latterly my interest has been with a startup on-line lighting business and supporting my partner as CEO of BTG plc and now as Chair of Halma plc.
We have 6 children between us who are all at the early stages of their adult lives with all the challenges of family life in the 21st century.
We actively support a couple of charities that work to inspire children to a better future. The Outward Bound Trust and the 1851 Trust use outdoor adventure and high performance sailing to encourage thousands of children on their personal journeys and to introduce them to opportunities in STEM subjects.
We are also keen competitive yacht racers and we hope that our young crew will keep us energised and active for many years so that we can enjoy our other passions of hill walking and cross country skiing.
Cllr Simon HandVice-Chair of Hamble Parish Council
I have been a member of the council for seven years. During this time I have served as both chair and vice chair. My main interests are sailing and transport. I feel the Council’s priorities in the short to medium term should be to develop a neighbourhood plan and redevelop the Mount Pleasant site which would include relocating all our staff into one purpose-built building.
Cllr Ian UnderdownChair of the Planning Committee
I have lived in Hamble all my life and I am a retired teacher (Head of Technology). I have been an independent Hamble Parish Councillor for 26 years and its Chairman five times. I am currently Chair of the Planning Committee.
I have always had a great interest in village matters, particularly the river and the foreshore (as my main hobby is boating). I have been a committee member of many village organisations such as being a founder member and Chairman of Hamble Local History Society, Trustee of the Henville Educational Foundation and the Satchell Lane Residents' Association, to indicate just some of the local groups that I have been involved. Throughout my life I have contributed to village life, for example organised the aquatic regatta in the 1960s, arranged old local photograph exhibitions, produced local history booklets and regularly written for the village magazine/newsletter.
On the new Council I will endeavour to continue to represent everyone’s interest in Hamble and not just concentrate on a few issues or be influenced by those who shout the loudest. Oppose inappropriate development and support retention of Hamble’s village character. To protect and ensure Hamble assets are passed on for the next generation to enjoy.
Cllr Serena AlexanderChair of the Asset Management Committee
I first moved to Hamble in the 1970s as a teenager with my parents and worked in the village during my university holidays. Having graduated with a degree in architecture, I was a commodity trader for some years before moving back to Hamble in the 1980s with my young family. Here I retrained to teach and taught in Southampton before a promotion took me to London; however, we still sailed and came to the village for weekends and holidays. I retired as headmistress in 2011 and then retrained to lead school inspections in the UK and overseas. I moved back to Hamble in 2016.
During my working career, I have run many buildings and other projects. I have also been a school governor and a charity trustee. I am now retired and kept busy by my father, daughter, son-in-law and grandson who all live in the village. I am an active sailor, a member of local clubs, and I keep a small yacht on the river. As a councillor, I look forward to engaging with the community and in promoting the interests of youth, maintaining our historic nautical heritage and in protecting the village and surrounding areas from overdevelopment.
Having been a Parish councillor and Borough Councillor for some years now, I have seen a fair few changes within the area.
We have some very experienced Councillors on the Parish and now have a new team with whom I aim to work together over the next cycle. My aim is to improve the village amenities which will be hard with the constraints we have as a Parish.
I have experience within the construction industry from 16years to retirement, and I draw from that experience over the years. I work with all my might for the benefit of the residents of the Parish.
I have a degree in Heath and Safety and Management and use my people skills to put over the case and work forward to find resolutions and try to remove a lot of bureaucracy that can form.
The assets of the Parish are to be enjoyed by all the residents, not the few. I would like to help improve the Mount Pleasant facilities for all and try to overcome the parking problem; this may be painful. I’d also like to improve the foreshore for all.
Finally, I’d like to use the LAC to help improve the above and identify other ways forward.
I have lived in Hamble since 1998, where I raised my children and remain an active member of the local sailing community. I previously served as an elected member of Hamble Parish Council from 2012 to 2017, including two years as Chair. During the same period, I was also elected as a Borough Councillor and served for two years as Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Education. I run my own business in Hamble and have worked in the marine industry for most of my life.
As a Parish Councillor, I would like to contribute positively to the continued wellbeing of the village and support local businesses.
Previously from Tottenham, then Plymouth, then a dairy farm in Netley! I finally settled in Hamble 41 years ago, a place I had always wanted to live.
I started my career as a draughtsman at the Ordnance Survey, and then as an illustrator with the MOD. Then I found a career I loved in television which included sport/sailing coverage, drama and children’s programming. I retired as a Line Producer 2 years ago.
Since then I’ve immersed myself in village life. Art, singing, book club, and amateur dramatics, it all happens in Hamble! I’ve made lots of friends that I wouldn’t have met if it weren’t for the Hamble social scene.
I have two grown-up children and a working cocker spaniel – plenty of those in the village!
I like dog walking, reading, gardening, DIY and art projects. I have an interest in wildlife, animal welfare, preserving the countryside, art and movies.
I’ve recently thought I’d like to be more involved in village affairs and would like to use skills and experience that would otherwise go to waste.
I would like to help shape Hamble’s future, retaining its character and friendly village atmosphere but keeping in step with the times.
I am a 14-year resident of the village Hamble although I commute daily to London. I enjoy village life with my wife and daughter who are also both keen sailors.
I race my foxer on the river on Fridays and Sundays, usually admiring the fleet ahead of me.
I am a chartered surveyor and chartered engineer with a background in both corporate and higher education estates master planning. I hope to support the creation of a wide-ranging area master plan for the parish involving community, landowners, and local bodies.
For the last 13 years I have managed and lead the estates and facilities function for King’s College London across 5 central London campuses, an estate of £4bn employing over 1000 staff supporting education and research. Over that time we have reduced our carbon consumption by 50% while the university has doubled in revenue and student numbers.
I have previously headed estates functions at corporates including Microsoft, HSBC and Seagram. My prior voluntary roles include deputy chair of Network Housing Group (social housing provider).
I am delighted to be joining HPC, and will support planning and other asset management areas where my qualifications and experience can support strategic development.
My name is Andy Thompson and I have lived in Hamble for 28 years at the same address in College Close with my wife, 2 grown up children and our black lab.
My links to the village go back to my childhood as my father worked for many years at Folland Aircraft and Hawker Siddeley. Both he and my mother were very active in the bowls club and I remember watching them play on many occasions.
On leaving school I worked for Vosper Thornycroft in Woolston then at Ordnance Survey for over 30 years. After taking early retirement I worked as an IT Consultant then in Property Refurbishment. I am now semi-retired but still work part time.
Over the period of the next Council I want to build on the steps that have been taken to improve the environment in and around the village by additional tree planting, creating more areas for wild flowers, creating and improving the wildlife habitats and further reduce the use of fossil fuel based energy. This will not only improve the environment, but make our community and even better place to live and work.
I will resist inappropriate development of our green spaces, and seek to redress the problems caused by littering, vandalism and anti-social behaviour which are of great concern to us all.
Above all I will put our community first, will challenge other authorities and remain independent of party politics and ensure that decisions are taken which will benefit everyone.
I was a Parish Councillor for Hamble for 5 years (2011-2016). I have kept in touch with progress of the Council and the village, and feel that now is the right time to return. I have more time than when I was last a Councillor, as I retired in 2016. I also feel that this is a critical time for the village with the future of the Airfield of particular concern.
I worked for John Lewis for 36 years, latterly as Head of Branch, Southampton and Southsea. I also held senior positions in personnel prior to switching to managing shops.
I am level headed, and will always strive for the best outcome for the Council and the village.
As a Parish Councillor, I would like to contribute to maintaining the much better communication achieved in recent years. I would also like to play a key role in opposing the Airfield development, and support the businesses in the village.
I believe this is a crucial time for local government, and I am committed to ensuring Hamble is well represented and resilient in the face of change. While protecting the airfield remains an important issue, I am equally focused on the wider challenges and opportunities facing our Parish.
I am an active member of the community and have previously served as a Parish Councillor. I bring professional experience in public affairs and public relations, with direct experience working alongside local, regional, and national government, including Southampton, Eastleigh, and Hampshire Councils.
Having retrained as a psychologist, I now run a private practice from my home in Hamble, with a particular interest in men’s mental health and substance misuse. This background informs my commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our diverse community.
As a Councillor, I am focused on protecting green spaces, maintaining the strategic gap, ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development, and preserving Hamble’s village character while helping it thrive.
