Chairman

Councillor John Woolley lives in Whitehaven with his wife Sheila; he has two grown up daughters.  He has been a member of Cumbria County Council since 1993 and represents Mirehouse in Whitehaven.  John is also an elected member of Cumbria Police Authority and a Governor of two Primary Schools one at Mirehouse and the other at Kells, where he now lives.

Previous to being elected a County Councillor, John had been a Member of Copeland Borough Council for eleven years, being Mayor in 1986/87, and had also been a Parish Councillor.

John was born in Ireland where he served his apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering before coming to England to work in the Construction Industry nationally, he also worked within the Chemical Industry in Whitehaven within the Electrical disciplines.

From early in his employment career John was drawn to defending workers rights and became involved in the Trade Union movement where he is still a Member and represented fellow members at Unemployment Appeals Tribunals and Medical Appeal Tribunals.  He has received his Union’s Gold Badge Award for Service to the Union and its Members.

John has a long history of public service to the community.  While living at Frizington he was instrumental in setting up The Frizington Amenities Committee whose remit was to improve the quality of life of the residents of Frizington and he played a leading role in the running of the Frizington Luncheon Club for pensioners and the Pre-school play group.

From 1983 to 2007 John was a Member of the Employment Tribunal Service for the North of England.  From 1982 to 2009 he served on the Valuation Tribunal Service for Cumbria and was it’s President from 1997 to 2009.

For 20 odd years John had responsibility for the running of the Copeland Constituency Office of the Labour Party and co-operating with the MP’s Office.

John says “that it has been his honour and privilege to serve the public in whatever capacity, the people of Mirehouse in particular, and the County of Cumbria as a whole”.

THE ROLE OF CHAIRMAN

The Chairman is the main figurehead for the Council and his post is seen as non-political, aiming to promote public involvement in the Council’s activities and raise its profile.

The Chairman welcomes the opportunity to represent Cumbria County Council and support events both within and outside the County.

Please forward any invitations to: The Chairman of Cumbria County Council, c/o Chairman’s Secretary, Democratic Services, The Courts, Carlisle CA3 8NA or tel: 01228 226353, e-mail:

sandra.peacock@cumbriacc.gov.uk

If the Chairman is unable to attend, invitations may be passed to the Vice-Chairman, Councillor John Wooley, if appropriate.

Born in South Yorkshire, I moved to Whitehaven in 1956 for two years before joining the Household Cavalry in 1958.

I served in the Regiment for nine years in London and returned to Whitehaven in 1967 and joined the chemical company of Albright and Wilson where I worked as a Quality Audit Officer until my retirement in 1994.

Before my interest in politics and community activity took over my time in 1971 I served for 10 years as a crew member on the St Bees inshore lifeboat.  Also in 1971 due to my interest in music I and two other people founded the Whitehaven Theatre Group which still continues to this day.

I served for fourteen years on St Bees’ Parish Council and in 1991 was elected to represent St Bees on Copeland Borough Council, retiring from this position in 2011 when I was made an Honorary Alderman of Copeland.

During my time on Copeland Council I served on many committees and was Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group for a number of years until in 2005/2006 I had the honour to represent Copeland as its Mayor.

In 2005 I was elected to serve as a County Councillor for the Gosforth and Ennerdale Division and am presently a County Council representative on the Lake District National Park Authority.  I also serve as a County Council representative on the Board of Rosehill Theatre Trust, Moresby, Whitehaven.

In 2003 I was invited to join the Board of the Whitehaven Community Trust on which I take an active role.  I am also a member of the West Cumbria Site Stakeholder Group for the Sellafield Nuclear Industry and am presently serving as Chairman of the Decommissioning Sub-Committee.

I have been a member of the Egremont Rotary Club for about fourteen years and have served two terms as President.

In 1995 I was elected Chairman of Copeland Conservative Association and served for three years in this role.

I presently reside with my wife near Calderbridge and have little spare time for any hobbies, save gardening.

If anyone wishes to invite the Vice-Chairman to an event please can you contact the Chairman’s Secretary, Sandra Peacock, tel: 01228 226253, e-mail: sandra.peacock@cumbriacc.gov.uk , or by post:

The Chairman of Cumbria County Council
c/o Chairman’s Secretary 
Member Services Unit 
The Lonsdale Building 
The Courts 
Carlisle
CA3 8NA