If you're asking yourself "who are these people listed on my ballot paper?" before the May 4 local elections, here's your answer...

In the build-up to polling day, we invited each candidate standing in the Farnham Town Council elections to submit a profile of 100 words, explaining who they are and why they deserve your vote on May 4.

Below are all the profiles of those who responded, including information about their background and involvement in their local community, as well as their priorities and goals if elected.

The profiles of Haslemere Town Council candidates can be found here, and Waverley borough and East Hampshire district council candidates will follow next week...

All of the below wards will elect two councillors each.

Farnham – Badshot Lea & Moor Park (uncontested):

Chris Jackman (Farnham Residents) ELECTED:

I’m married with two young children and moved to Badshot Lea in 2019.

Actively involved in the local community, I’m Assistant Beaver Leader at 2nd Farnham Scouts, volunteer with the Badshot Lea Bloomers at the Community Garden, and help litter pick along the village roads.

I joined Farnham Residents because I believe elected councillors should fight for residents’ priorities rather than being tied to a party whip. 

If elected, I will focus on ensuring housing developments are appropriate to the proposed location and balancing infrastructure needs with the long term requirements of current and future residents.

Mark Merryweather (Lib Dems) ELECTED:

It’s been a privilege representing Weybourne and Badshot Lea on Farnham Town Council over the past four extraordinary years.  May’s elections are for local government, but FTC’s wrestled with the impacts of wider issues like Brexit, Covid and inflation while maintaining, even expanding, its local events and facilities.  It’s frustrating that the Council doesn’t have primary powers over most infrastructure, but we hold those who do to account.  I’ll speak out against inappropriate development, and for the basics like road repairs and better from the Farnham Infrastructure Project. I’ll work with all Councillors for Badshot Lea and Moor Park’s residents.

Farnham Bourne:

Carole Cockburn (Conservative):

Carole lives in the Bourne with her husband, Alasdair. Her children and grandchildren all live in Farnham. She is involved in the Bourne crossroads floral displays and is Chairman of St. Martins Hall. She is also a trustee of the Ridgeway School and Woodlarks. She has represented the Bourne in Farnham and Waverley for several years.

Aly Fitch (Conservative):

Alison has lived in Farnham for over 40 years, worked locally, and understand the issues that residents across Farnham face. 

She is keen for the FIP to start its transformation of Farnham which will tackle pollution, and help deal with the traffic problems.   

She will work to improve Farnham for all its residents.

Michaela Martin (Farnham Residents):

My family has lived in Farnham for over 30 years and, running a successful retail business in the town centre, I’m fully aware of issues such as traffic congestion and a changing retail landscape.

A Town, Borough and County Councillor, I’m an active, vocal member of the WBC Western Planning Committee.

I work with community groups helping young people and would like to see active support for local young persons’ initiatives

If re-elected, I will focus on improving the chronic levels of traffic congestion within the town, and the successful integration of the Brightwells development into Farnham’s retail environment.

George Murray (Farnham Residents):

I’ve lived in Farnham, with my family, for 20 years and own an independent Coffee Shop in Lion and Lamb Yard.

Active within the local business community, I’m involved in amateur dramatics with FAOS and play for the Farnham Town walking football team.

Co-opted to Farnham Town Council last year, I want to contribute to the community and help improve the lives of Farnham residents.

If re-elected, I will focus on ensuring that Brightwells becomes a success for the town, and look to provide appropriate housing at a price that allows young people and key workers to own their homes.

Farnham Castle:

Alan Earwaker (Farnham Residents):

I moved to Farnham nine years ago and live in in Castle ward.

A college lecturer for 23 years, I have spent the last 29 years serving the local community.

Currently in my second year as Town Mayor, I was a founder member of the Farnham Residents, and I’m also a Trustee of Farnham Christian Community Trust which oversees Farnham Foodbank and Farnham Frontline Money Advice.

If re-elected, I will focus on providing help for local residents in financial hardship due to the energy and cost of living crisis, and delivering improved, locally provided and sustainable services to the town.

John Gaskell (Labour):

The Farnham Infrastructure Programme must be properly overseen and not pushed by sectional interests or short-term thinking.  We must find a way of making Brightwells work, despite the mistakes made in the past.

Traffic pollution in the centre is a major threat – as bad as many London boroughs. Sewage is being dumped in the River Wey on a regular basis. This is disgusting and must stop.

The major problems facing Farnham are man-made, and we must tackle them together.

You have two votes for Farnham Town Council.  Please cast one of them for me.  I will not let you down.

George Hesse (Farnham Residents):

I have lived in Castle Ward for the past 25 years and have been a councillor for the past five years.

My sole reason for standing as a councillor is to do my best for residents.

For the past four years I have actively resisted speculative housing developments that threaten to encircle Farnham.

Looking forward, I want to support Farnham Town Football Club’s future progress, open the Library Gardens on Sundays & Bank Holidays, improve the town roads and introduce speed calming, remove estate agents’ signs that clutter the Conservation Area, get cleaner pavements and see town centre renewal happen.

Farnham Hale & Heath End:

Sally Dickson (Farnham Residents):

I have lived in Hale and Heath End since 2012 and my children attended All Hallows school, as well as local dance and drama schools.

I’m particularly concerned about housing and lack of infrastructure around new developments, and believe Farnham needs smaller homes for young people.  

Actively involved in local arts, I organise the Farnham Flash Fiction competition, help Farnham litter-pickers and support initiatives to remove plastics from nature 

If re-elected, I will focus on introducing well-designed cycle paths, better footpaths, safe crossing points and lighting for year-round active travel, improving the local environment and combating the climate change threat.

Tony Fairclough (Farnham Residents):

I grew up in Farnham and, having graduated, returned to live here in 1989.

Following a successful advertising career, I now work on community projects and was co-opted onto Farnham Town Council earlier this year.

I’m actively involved with Farnham Town Football Club, was responsible for the club’s association with, and support for, the work of the Farnham Foodbank and passionately believe in a need to devolve government to a local level.

If re-elected, I will focus on improving the quality of services and facilities throughout North Farnham and supporting residents on key issues such as traffic & housing development.

Andrew Desmond Jones (Labour):

I am Andrew Jones, and I have the honour to be your Labour candidate in Hale & Heath End. 

I will campaign on the environment, road safety, and community support for the more vulnerable members of our society.  If you elect me I will keep in touch regularly, not just at election time, and take up local issues on your behalf.

You have two votes for Waverley and two votes for Farnham Town Council.  Please cast one of your two votes for me at each level.  It’s time for a change on Farnham Town Council. I won’t let you down.

Timothy Stacey (Conservative):

No profile submitted.

Farnham North West:

David Beaman (Farnham Residents):

I moved to Farnham in 2010 and was elected to Farnham Town Council in 2011, and to Waverley Borough Council in 2018, where I’m Chair of the Western Planning Committee.

Actively involved within the community, I am Chair of the South West Surrey Disability Empowerment Network, and Director and Trustee of Creative Response.

As a Farnham Resident, I believe that national politics has no part in local government decision making.

If re-elected, I will focus on delivering practical solutions to the town’s traffic problems, including the provision of improved bus services, and supporting residential development only in Community supported sites.

Pat Frost (Conservative):

No profile submitted.

Graham White (Farnham Residents):

I moved to Farnham with my wife in 2012.

Approaching retirement, having run a consultancy improving lighting techniques for Roadside Retail companies, I want to spend time helping Farnham residents by supporting local issues that affect us all. 

I have organised charity fundraising events for national cancer charities and local hospices and served on committees for residential housing and infrastructure improvement schemes.

If elected, I will focus on responsible development, planning and management of redundant farmland and the wider countryside, and the protection and maintenance of new and existing walking & cycle routes in and around the town centre.

Farnham Shortheath & Firgrove:

Rebecca Michelle Birchwood (Labour):

I moved to Farnham to raise my children in a beautiful, safe place with fantastic schools. But our ward has been neglected and I need your vote to change that.

The Baldreys recreation ground is run-down and has trees plonked in the middle then left to rot. It needs to match others in Farnham.

I have new safety ideas for Wrecclesham railway bridge. This is a fatal accident waiting to happen.

I’m already campaigning to stop raw sewage being dumped in the River Wey upstream at Bentley.

Please cast one of your two Town Council votes for me.

Brodie Mauluka (Farnham Residents):

I have lived in Farnham with my wife and son since 1988. 

I currently run The Plough, a pub dedicated to live music in Farnham, and, with my band, have raised money for Phyllis Tuckwell, Motor Neurone and Chase Hospice.

I joined Farnham Residents as I wanted to give something back to the town which has been so good to me and my family.

If elected, I will focus on providing amenities and support for the young people of Farnham as they navigate through their teenage years and reducing the number of empty shops in the town centre and Brightwells.

Kika Mirylees (Farnham Residents):

I’ve lived in Farnham for 27 years and my family comes from the surrounding area.  

Primarily an actress, I’ve also worked providing Equine Assisted Therapy, using horses to help people overcome addictions and PTSD. 

I joined Farnham Residents because of Brightwells, where no one listened to the people, and, serving on both Town and Borough councils, I was instrumental in securing the funding to save Willmer House, home to Farnham Museum.

If re-elected, I will focus on transforming the landfill site on Weydon Lane to create a facility for active leisure activities, promoting affordable housing, and ways to combat loneliness.

Farnham Weybourne:

Matthew Brown (Lib Dems):

I am married and have two children and have lived in Weybourne for nearly twenty years. I am a Plumber and Heating Engineer and during my career I have trained many apprentices and still am extremely interested in developing and training young people in both technical expertise and the softer skills like customer service and communication. I also was a Special Constable based in Farnham for ten years and I worked with the excellent community officers in Badshot Lea, Weybourne and Hale.  I am fully committed to listening to and representing the concerns of all the people in the area.

Andrew Laughton (Farnham Residents):

Having moved to Farnham in 1998, I then spent a number of years living and working overseas in Malaysia in retail management and consulting. 

I returned to live in Farnham permanently in 2019 with my teenage daughter and I now run a small property business in Guildford. 

I’m keen to use my retail experience to help shape the ongoing redevelopment of Farnham town centre for the interests of local residents. 

If elected, I will focus on helping Weybourne residents fight the growing threat of further inappropriate housing development, and providing facilities and support for youth projects and activities.

Ian Sampson (Conservative):

Ian has lived in Farnham for more than 20 years having moved here with his wife and raised 2 boys in the town. Involved in local Rugby, Football and Tennis clubs, he is keen that the space these facilities need is not threatened by over development. Passionate about protecting the special nature of Farnham he has a keen interest in protecting the green spaces in Farnham and broader environmental issues.

Farnham Wrecclesham & Rowledge:

David Dearsley (Conservative):

David, an active retiree, has lived in the area with his wife for nearly 50 years after serving as a senior executive in the international shipping industry. David is the footpath warden for the local Conservation Group, and a member of the Farnham Allotment Committee. He has keen interests in preserving and enhancing the environment.

Christopher Storey (Conservative):

Chris has lived in Wrecclesham for nearly 40 years, is a trustee of the community centre and has been a governor of St Peter’s School and the Royal Surrey Hospital. As a Waverley Councillor, Chris had responsibility to keep the planning function compliant with Government requirements and maintain local control of developments. He was also Mayor of the Borough.

John Ward (Farnham Residents):

Married in Farnham in 1974, I settled in Wrecclesham 25 years ago after a career overseas in the Oil Industry. 

I marched in support of a Wrecclesham Relief Road, and have been active in the community as a School Governor, member of the Farnham Society and Local Councillor since 2007. 

Twice Mayor of Farnham and current Mayor of Waverley, I strongly believe that party politics is destroying effective local government.

If re-elected, I will focus on opposing inappropriate new housing schemes from predatory developers, and making Farnham less polluted and more pedestrian & cycle friendly without compromising local business.

Mark Westcott (Independent):

“I hope you’re standing this year” Linda cried out across The Square.

“You know I always vote for you and, what with the terrible state of everything in Farnham, I really want you to get in and sort the blinking lot of ‘em out!”.

“Yup, I’m standing all right” I replied, “and I’ll try my damnedest to get elected this time round and do something about the mess”.

I added, gratefully “I’m always humbled by the amazing support and number of votes I get as the only Independent candidate not standing under a Party Banner”.

“Fingers crossed” said Linda.

Tim Woodhouse (Farnham Residents):

A resident of Farnham Bourne since moving to the area in 2016, I have worked in a corporate environment for thirty years, giving me the opportunity to live abroad and experience different cultures. 

As a father of three boys who are all being educated in Farnham, I am a proud member of the community, value the community spirit we have in the town, and want to contribute to the enhancement of the town.

If re-elected, I will focus on preserving the local environment by promoting effective sustainability and programmes to increase bio-diversity and reduce levels of water pollution.