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Working towards a better Brixworth
Working towards a better Brixworth
Brixworth Parish Council is seeking support to install the Legend on a Bench at Spratton Road Wellbeing Park — a dedicated space promoting suicide prevention, mental wellbeing and quiet reflection.
Sue Cookson
Born in Northampton, Sue moved to Brixworth in 2008 and has been part of the local community ever since. With a lifelong passion for sport, she has played football and netball, represented Northamptonshire twice at the All‑England Schools Cross Country Championships, and regularly takes part in Race for Life events, the Northampton Run, and Brixworth Parkrun.
Sue’s family has deep sporting roots — her father was a professional footballer for Everton and Northampton Town, and she continues to support NTFC both home and away.
Professionally, Sue brings wide-ranging experience across banking, education, construction administration, and marketing within a celebrant‑training organisation. This varied background has given her strong organisational, communication, and service‑focused skills.
Feeling that the time is right to give back more formally to the village she cares about, Sue is committed to contributing her energy, experience, and community spirit to Brixworth Parish Council.
Cllr James Collyer
James serves as a dedicated councillor on Brixworth Parish Council, where he champions community safety through involvement in emergency-response planning. As a qualified Community First Responder with the East Midlands Ambulance Service and Rural Northants Community First Responders, he brings vital lifesaving care to local emergencies. Alongside his civic roles, James is also a registered foster parent and Scouts volunteer and contributes to local youth development and resilience programmes. Additionally, James applies his professional and personal expertise and experience to supporting local infrastructure and wellbeing within the community.
In his spare time, James likes to participate in the local Parkrun and running club, as well as attending his local gym and also enjoys skiing!
James Hill
James is a passionate and experienced councillor on Brixworth Parish Council. With valuable prior experience representing Billing and Rectory Farm on West Northants Council – where he served on major committees – he brings a strong background in local governance. At Brixworth Parish Council, he contributes to the Personnel and Finance Committees as well as the Sports Liaison working group, championing transparent staff management, sound financial planning, and vibrant community sports. Motivated by a deep desire to make a positive impact, James is excited to serve the people of Brixworth and help foster a strong and sustainable future for the village.
Cllr John Newstead
Cllr Chris Teagles
I moved to Brixworth in 2023, having lived in Northamptonshire for the past ten years. I work locally as a self-employed photographer, which allows me to meet and work with many people and businesses across the area. In my spare time, I enjoy walking, running and cycling, often making the most of our beautiful local countryside.
As a member of the Parish Council, I am involved with the Planning Committee and aim to serve our residents and local businesses to the best of my ability. I am new to the role and currently finding my feet, but I am eager to get more involved over time. I am particularly keen to encourage younger people to take an active interest in shaping the future of our village and to help ensure Brixworth remains a vibrant, welcoming and forward-thinking community.
Cllr Christine Ware
Christine has lived in Northamptonshire for 28 years, she is currently a West Northants Council Councillor representing the Naseby ward as well as a Brixworth Parish Councillor and chair of Brixworth Climate Action Group. Christine is an active community champion; she is one of the founding coordinators of the Brixworth Community Larder and through the climate action group, has been actively involved with the planting of a community orchard and new hedgerows. Nature and our rural communities are important to Christine. She lives with her husband and their three dogs.
Cllr Tony Nixon
Tony has lived in Northamptonshire since 1992 and moved to Brixworth in 2008. He spent most of his career working in local government managing commercial property, taking early retirement in 2020. He considers Brixworth and the surrounding countryside to be a very special part of the world, and joined the Parish Council with the objective of giving back to the community he loves. He had worked to support the Clerk and her team on a number of property projects and is Chair of the Parish Finance Committee. He served for a time as Vice-Chair.
Tony’s other voluntary work includes serving as a trustee of the local village hall, and campaigning with and supporting two Liberal Democrat West Northants Unitary Councillors representing the Brixworth and the adjoining Naseby Wards.
Tony is married sharing a house with his wife and two cats. In his spare time he is a keen Bridge player, chairing a local bridge club, and enjoys gardening.
Cllr Frances Peacock
I first became a Parish Councillor in 2003 and after a short break, rejoined in 2017. For the whole of this time, I have served on the Planning Committee, either as Chair or Vice-Chair. I became a Parish Councillor because I am interested in planning matters, but also because I find the role satisfying and I wanted to make a difference to people’s lives.
My professional experience is of benefit my role on the Planning Committee. I have my own architectural practice which specialises in heritage and conservation, so I have plenty of knowledge about building design, historic buildings, conservation areas and of course planning applications.
I am a Chartered Architectural Technologist, a Chartered Building Engineer and I have Full Membership of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). I have a degree in Architectural Technology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Historic Conservation, and the equivalent of a degree in External Wall Assessment (surveying buildings for the presence of combustible materials).
My other line of work is fire safety and I am professionally qualified as a Fire Engineer. I work as an independent consultant, as well as for a company. My role involves fire risk assessments, fire strategies, peer reviews of other fire engineers’ reports, fire system and equipment specifications, and the remediation of buildings with combustible cladding on the façade.
I am recognised, both nationally and internationally, as an expert on façade fires, having undertaken groundbreaking research into the subject following the Grenfell Tower fire. This has led to media interest in my work and I have been interviewed by BBC Radio 4, ITV News, Reuters and others.
My research has several key applications, one of which is fire investigation, where it can be used explain how the fire was able to spread on a particular building and why. This has been used to explain several serious fires which have affected high rise buildings, both in the UK and abroad, including Grenfell and some of the high-rise fires in Dubai. I also now work as a Fire Investigator.
Other areas of the Parish Council’s work where I have been involved include Highways & Environment (I was once Chair of this committee), Health & Safety (I am able to offer advice on fire safety) and personnel matters. I am currently a member of the Personnel Committee.
Hobbies and Interests: Local History (I have published a book about Delapre Abbey and I am currently preparing a second one about Northampton Gas Light Company and its Gasworks. The company eventually laid pipes to Brixworth and supplied the village with gas). I am also interested in railways and industrial history in general, as well as architectural history and social history. I enjoy travelling (I have visited various destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America). I love reindeer, moose and raccoons and I sponsor the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd in Scotland. I also collect soft toys.
Cllr Barbara Lunnon
I have lived in Brixworth since 2004 and became a Parish Councillor in 2021. After a long career in marketing, mostly for the food industry, I started a small business and offer business coaching and marketing support.
I do a lot of volunteering, am one of the founders of the Brixworth Community Larder, and am a trustee or board member for several food aid or poverty alleviation charities.
For Brixworth PC, I’m vice chair of the finance committee, and a member of the planning and personnel committees. I’m also treasurer of the Brixworth Village Hall and a community speaker and fundraiser for the Air Ambulance Service.
Cllr Elaine Coe
I moved to Brixworth in 2003 and have been a Parish Councillor for the last 9 years. I am a teacher in West Northamptonshire and my children have attended local schools. Through the Parish Council I have supported the Sports’ Council; my children have benefited from Brixworth Juniors. Through volunteering in Girlguiding UK, setting up the Food Share and being a Friend of Brixworth Library I have tried to support many aspects of community life in Brixworth.
Cllr Jackie Bird
Born in Northampton and having lived most of my life in the town I moved to Brixworth in 2002. I have been involved in a number of community groups in the village including the Brixworth Centre and Brixworth Central Sports Club where I am a life member a trustee and chair of the management committee. As a qualified social worker I specialised in adult Mental Health working in Northamptonshire for Health and Social Services, as a Senior Lecturer at Luton University and as an Associate Director for Governance and Head of Social work for St Andrews Healthcare Northampton, Birmingham, Essex and Nottingham.
On retiring from St Andrews Healthcare I joined Brixworth Parish Council which I enjoy immensely. In my younger days I did a lot of sport in particular martial arts but unfortunately my aging knees have prevented me from playing sport these days.
I joined the Brixworth and District U3A in 2018 and enjoy a number of the local groups including Creative Writing and Local History where I occasionally give presentations on local historic interests. I enjoy living in Brixworth, working with the parish council and look forward to continuing to support the local community and representing the interests of the residents.
Cllr Ian Barratt
Born in Northampton, married with two sons, I’m in my 50th year living in Brixworth. I have a background in teaching, personnel, and debt collecting! I helped found Brixworth Mixed Hockey Club, and Brixworth Community Speedwatch.
As a teenager I cut my campaigning teeth in the local Ratepayers’ Association and was a voluntary Trade Union Officer for many years. I am the longest continually serving Parish Councillor – around 20 years, and a past Council Chairman and helped oversee the building of the new play area and MUGA on the rec. I am passionate about Parish Planning and Finance and was an elected District Councillor for Brixworth. I also served on the Church Parochial Church Council.
I have been a Magistrate for 35 years in Youth, Adult and Family Courts and I am proud to be a Governor of our excellent village school which both my sons attended.
My interests include anything to do with railways and collecting old documents connected with the area.
Cllr Tom Mitchell
Tom moved to Brixworth just over thirty years ago with his wife and family, having previously lived in Kingsthorpe for most of his adult life. He ‘retired’ in 2022 from being a freelance Consultant in his own Architectural Design and Planning Company, having previously worked for Capita Architecture within their Transportation Sector (Aviation and Rail).
Having joined Brixworth Parish Council in circa 2018, he is currently, Chair of the Planning Committee as well as Chair of the Thomas Roe Foundation. TRF is a local charity established in September 1665 which offers support and various grants to local children of Brixworth and Scaldwell from rent and donations received throughout the year. He is also a volunteer helper with the Brixworth Community Larder.
Whilst once a keen veteran runner, now enjoys more leisurely pursuits such as line dancing, caravan holidays and fine dining with friends and family.
Cllr Steven Mister
Stephen moved to Brixworth in the early 1990s to be closer to work, which was in those days on one of the industrial estates in the North of village.
As the business grew we employed a super team of people from the village who contributed greatly to the growth. It made me realise the village of Brixworth and the people were rather special.
Since my time in the village, two daughters have appeared, going to the primary school and then Moulton and now settled in surrounding /town with their own families.
After the whirlwind of 20 years or so raising children (boy, it does go quickly!) I have found a bit of spare time and when a position as counsellor was posted on social media I thought ‘I’ll give it a go’
I have been a counsellor for the village for over a year now and I find it very rewarding to help out in ensuring the village functions as smoothly as possible. It is amazing to see what goes on behind the scenes to ensure Brixworth, we hope, is a pleasant and safe place to live.
Originally from Brighton (and still a Seagulls fan) As a child we moved around a lot as my father worked his way up the education system finally settling in Northampton in the mid 70’s where dad was headteacher at a special school in Kingsthorpe, my mother was also a teacher and taught locally.
