Peter Barnard

Peter, who joined the council in 1994, is our longest serving councillor. He first moved to Yettington in 1952 and lives there with his wife Sue. 
After leaving the Merchant Navy, he started work in farming but kept up his military involvement by serving 18 years in the TA as a signaller driver in the Royal Engineers section. During his time as driver, Peter had the honour of taking Major John Howard (who stormed the Pegasus Bridge in Normandy in 1944) to the opening of the replacement Pegasus Bridge in 1994.
His main hobby is rallying, as a navigator, and has won the South West Championships a record five times and won over thirty rallies outright. 
Peter has lived in Yettington all his life; he knows about the village and cares about the area.  Peter is your contact for Recreation issues along with Mike Smith.

Chris Taunton

Chris was born in Japan, and lived there on and off for 20 years or so while first attending school in Lancashire and then studying at the University of Kent. He started his working career in the NHS in biomedical engineering, and then moved into Information Technology for manufacturing industries. As time progressed, Chris worked in a variety of management roles and served on the Board of several companies. In 2012, after working in the US for 11 years, Chris retired, and with his wife Romy, moved to East Budleigh. Chris is a keen golfer, and among other hobbies, enjoys photography, travel, and playing snooker. His wife Romy enjoys knitting & craft, gardening, and is a volunteer assistant in the Community Shop and at Drakes school. Having joined the Council in November 2017, Chris is looking forward to helping to understand and communicate the views, needs and aspirations of residents and any local businesses in the Parish, and in being closely involved in the life of the community and its future development.

Sally Miller

Sally was co-opted in November 2017.

Patsy Hayman

Patsy was co-opted in June 2015 and elected as Vice Chair in May 2018. She was born and raised at Stowford Farm and went to school at Drakes before moving on to Exmouth. Patsy works in the family business, at nearby Larkebeare, keeping the books balanced. As a countrywoman, she enjoys gardening, keeps bees and hens along with two dogs.  Patsy is looking forward to engaging and serving on the East Budleigh with Bicton Parish Council 

Valerie Lister

Valerie was co-opted in June 2015, and elected as Chair in May 2018.

Judith Lumsden

Married to Cliff with one son and two step children.  We have lived in Devon for 32 years and in East Budleigh since 1997.  I have worked in various large schools, state and private, and also worked for EDDC as presiding officer for elections etc.   I joined the parish council as clerk in 2006 and was very much plunged in at the deep end!  The accounting system had to be reorganised and the first few months were a bit of a struggle!  I thoroughly enjoy my work with the parish council and find the involvement with councillors and village life stimulating and lots of fun! 

Mike Smith

Mike Smith is 65 years old and has lived in East Budleigh since 2000.
He was born in the Midlands, mainly working in the motor industry.
When he moved to Exmouth 30 years ago, he set up his own small garage.
He has also been a postman for a short while.
"I love the village I live in, and find it very rewarding being on the Parish Council".  Mike is your contact for matters concerning Planning and also Recreation.

Mike Walters

Mike moved to East Budleigh in 2013 with his wife Cathy. The couple have 4 grown up children and 8 grandchildren (so far....)  In 2016 Mike retired from a John Lewis Partnership career spanning 36 years where, in recent years, he set the strategic direction for management of recycling & waste arising from John Lewis and Waitrose shops.

Mike is a Chartered Wastes Manager, and continues to sit on the Board of the All Party Parliamentary Sustainable Resources Group in Westminster. At home, in Lower Budleigh, Mike cares for his honeybees, and has been a member of the East Devon Beekeeping Association since early 2016.
Mike is also a member of the East Budleigh snooker club, and enjoys fine weather cycling with Cathy (even though they cheat, with hidden batteries providing some propulsion!) 

​Mike was elected to the Parish Council in May 2019. 

James Carter

I was born in the colliery village of Thurcroft in South Yorkshire and graduated from Birmingham University in 1973. My early career was in technical and contract management, spending 21 years working for NCB/British Coal. This career brought me to Exeter in 1991. I relocated from Nottinghamshire to Hazel Court in Kersbrook (at the boundary edge of the Parish), with my late partner Sandra Smith (who died in 2006 and is buried in the East Budleigh graveyard.) We came to love this part of East Devon and acted as a host family for mature students coming to the Accent language school at Bicton College.  After my corporate days I retrained at Bicton as a horticulturist and I was involved in the Walled Kitchen garden restoration at NT Knightshayes for its first 5 years.
In retirement, I have served as a Trustee for the Devon Gardens Trust (for 3 terms of three years). The latter was as Chairman of the Conservation Committee and overseeing their role as a statutory consultee on planning maters. As a past member of the NP working group I feel it is important that the PC uphold the policies expressed therein.  I am particularly keen on the importance of education (at all levels and time of life), the future of Bicton College and young gardeners, as well as the historic landscape of the Parish.    

Derek Wensley 

Derek was brought up on a farm in Gittisham and started work in the very early days of IT in Exeter. This career path led him to various parts of the UK and abroad - working on contract to the EU. He eventually returned to the West Country and worked exclusively in Local Government at senior and director level being responsible for many support areas including property, IT, procurement, fleet, finance, legal (contracts) and project management.

​After 27 years living in Exmouth, Derek retired with his wife Lesley to East Budleigh in 2014. Lesley is involved with the community shop and Derek wishes to work with fellow members of the Council as a cohesive team in supporting the parish in the professional, ethical and fully accountable manner that the people and many volunteers of this super parish deserve.