Sevenoaks town resident Cllr Felicity Broomby, who has lived in Kippington for the past 25 years, was elected as the Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council last night (13 May 2008).
The Chairman is the Council's principal ambassador representing the over 110,000 residents of the District, as well as the Council, at a wide range of local and regional events and supporting local charities and voluntary organisations.
Cllr Broomby spent her early years in Kent before moving at the age of
ten to Cheshire, south of Manchester. Following secondary school
education at Culcheth Hall School in Altrincham she moved to London
where her first job was as a trainee accountant at Vogue magazine in
London.
The first ten years of married life she spent in Amersham Bucks but her
husband Michael’s career progression took her back to live in Cheshire
where she attended Manchester University. However, her academic studies
were cut short when in 1983 another career move returned Cllr Broomby
to the south east when she settled in Sevenoaks .
She and her husband Michael have been married for over 40 years. Together they have three children and five grandchildren.
Cllr Broomby was first elected to the Council in 1995 as she was keen
to have greater involvement in the local community. In that time she
has sat on a number of committees and became a member of the Cabinet in
2001 when the new system of local government came into being. Most
recently she has had the responsibility for arts, leisure, youth
activities, parks and open spaces and refuse and recycling.
Outside of the Council, Cllr Broomby is trustee of a local charity the
Tunbridge Wells Diabetes Resources Appeal. A keen bridge player,
golfer, skier and swimmer, Cllr Broomby lists her other interests as
music, reading and travel.
During her year as Chairman, Cllr Broomby looks forward to promoting
Sevenoaks District and the work of the Council especially in its
promotion of healthy lifestyles, volunteering, culture, and the arts.
"Being elected as the District's Chairman is a great honour", says Cllr
Broomby. "During my year in office I would like to see an increase in
the promoting of all that is good about our District and the work of
the Council. For the residents this could mean an increased awareness
of the work done on the subject of ‘healthy lifestyles’. Eating
healthily and taking even modest regular exercise can increase not only
your lifespan but importantly the quality of life. The Council is
involved in many projects that will help residents to achieve this
goal."
Cllr John Lankester, member for Dunton Green and Riverhead, was also elected as Sevenoaks District's new Vice-Chairman.
The elections took place at the annual meeting of the Council on Tuesday 13 May.
