Councillors, Staff and Responsibilities

Sara Miller

I’m the chair of the parish council, and I’m really looking forward to helping the community wherever I can.

I’ve lived in the village for 27 years, and have been involved in lots of areas of village life. I’m the Curator of Datchworth Museum, I’m on the Village Hall Management Committee, and I’m on the fête and parish magazine/website committees. I’ve been a parish councillor previously, chair of the Pre School and a school governor.

My three (now grown up) children went to school in the village. I live with my husband and my fluffy white dog in Brookbridge Lane.

Andrew Wood

Jane Dodson

I joined the Parish Council in 2019 as a Councillor and I am involved with various aspects of our lovely village and sit on several committees.

I am passionate about all things ecological and democratic and I sincerely hope to impart my passion for these areas going forwards.

My time served as a Governor at Datchworth Primary School and my involvement with various charities over the years (as Chair/Vice-Chair/volunteer) has given me a great deal of knowledge and experience which is invaluable in my Councillor role.

I have lived in the village for nearly twenty years with my husband and family.

Julia Florence

I’ve lived in Datchworth for over 30 years, with my husband Keith.  We moved here by chance and were delighted to find a welcoming community, with plenty of local amenities, organisations and events – it’s been a wonderful place to raise our three sons.  In the past I’ve been an active member of the Datchworth Pre-School committee and the primary school PTA, acting as treasurer for both at various times.   I was also the leader of the local Beaver group for a number of years – a role outside my comfort zone but one which I thoroughly enjoyed!  As a family we are members of the Sports Club, where my eldest son played rugby through the Minis, Colts and Seniors.  I now help with cooking supporters’ lunches and team teas in the rugby season.  I also enjoy helping out at the village fete.   My aim as a Parish Councillor is to support our wonderful village organisations and to ensure that any issues of concern to village residents are dealt with constructively and effectively.

Dean Goodman

I first moved to the village in 1988 and have since been involved with many local organisations and institutions including the village fete committee, school PTA and as a past Chairman of the Parish Council. Married with two grown-up children and two grandchildren, I value the togetherness of our community and the quality of our surroundings.

Now retired, I previously ran my business from Datchworth for some 10 years, with local clients both large and small. I now look forward to helping all members of our parish and in participating to maintain and improve our local facilities and environment.

Charlie Groves

My name is Charlie Groves and I was born and raised in Harlow for 18 years. When I was 18, I joined the corps of Her Majesty’s Royal Engineers where I spent 13 years of service before leaving in 2013 due to illness.

I moved to Datchworth in 2015 to settle down with my family and enjoy my retired life.

Trying to find things to keep myself busy, I took on two of the leisure plots at the Turkey Farm Park (which is where you might have seen me if you walk a dog down there).

In 2019 my partner came up with the idea that I should become a Parish Councillor to take up a bit more of my time, to help out and to keep trying to make our lovely village of Datchworth as beautiful as ever.

Mark Light

Emma Norman

I was born and raised in the village and after a few years living in Norwich and London I returned in 1993. I have been involved in a number of village organisations and am currently on the committee of the Christmas Tree Festival and active in the Climate Change group. I hope to encourage social activities to bring the whole village together more frequently.

Pat Perry

I first came to Datchworth in 2010 when my partner and I bought a bungalow in Bury Lane and after two years of planning and building works, we moved full time to the village.

I sold my Environmental Health Consultancy business in 2013 and after a two year period  on the parent company Board I semi retired.

I joined the village hall committee as Secretary in 2014 and have been actively involved in all aspects of managing the hall. I believe the hall is a vital asset in the village which gives community groups an affordable place to meet.

My partner, Maureen, and I have been involved in fund raising for Friends of Datchworth church and thoroughly enjoyed putting on various events to raise much needed funds to repair and restore the church. We have also been involved in the village fete and  other village events including open gardens.

I joined the Parish Council to support our wonderful village organisations and to ensure that any issues of concern to village residents are dealt with constructively and effectively. I believe that local issues should be dealt with openly and collaboratively and that all groups, including local businesses, should be encouraged and  to continue providing much needed community activities in the village. I hope that my previous experience as a district councillor on Stevenage Borough council will enable me to be an effective councillor with a good understanding of how the local political system functions.

John Wringe

My wife & I moved to Hertfordshire from up North in the mid 80’s so I could pursue my career in advertising in London. Living first in Waterford we coveted Datchworth and leapt at the first chance to move to the village some 30+years ago – first in Brookbridge Lane then to Bury Lane.

I immediately got embroiled in the Fete committee and remained involved for many years; also as a school governor for less time whilst our two boys attended there.

Datchworth is unique – a quintessential English village full of characters and joy and my passion is quite simply to help keep it that way.

I am currently serving on the Finance, Communications and Planning committees and groups.

Clerk to the Council – Andy Short

My wife and I have only lived in Datchworth for 4 years which is a relatively short time compared to other Councillors.

We absolutely love living here and feel so lucky to have moved to the village. I am semi-retired having worked in the power industry as a Mechanical Engineer for more years than I care to remember. I am a member of the Datchworth bowls club and until recently volunteered with Furniture friends as a driver/deliverer.

If you have any issues please don’t hesitate to call me; the number is shown below.

Community Ranger

I have been actively involved in the village since moving to Datchworth in 2005, playing Rugby and Tennis for the village teams. I am presently Treasurer for the Tennis Club and Fete, assist Furniture Friends and also a volunteer for Church Grass cutting. My interests are the great outdoors and include open water swimming and running.  I originally volunteered to keep the village tidy and took the part-time role in 2021 that now also includes Playground Inspections and Health & Safety.

Responsible Financial Officer – Wendy Prowle

I lived in Datchworth for 17 years until 2018 when I moved to Spain. I have 2 sons that grew up in Datchworth, one is now a teacher in Biggleswade and the other an engineer in the Royal Navy.

Whilst in Datchworth I was involved with many local organisations including the Pre-school, PTA, Village Hall and Parish magazine, as treasurer.

In addition, for 10 of those years I was the Clerk for Datchworth Parish Council, where I became very involved in the village and many of its residents. I also co-wrote ‘A History of Datchworth’ book with Jane Walker – the initial proceeds of which went to purchasing the Christmas tree, electrics and lighting for Datchworth Green.

Prior to moving to Datchworth I worked as an accounts & wages clerk for Safeway PLC until I was made redundant upon its closure. Since moving to Spain I have continued to be involved with the Parish Council, working remotely, more so since 2020 when I was contracted to take on the financial side of things as their RFO.

Mr Tony Stowe

I have served you and our community of Datchworth and Aston on East Herts Council since 2017. In that time I have been extremely active and apart from my usual duties, I have served on the Development Management Committee, Standards Committee, Financial Sustainability Committee and several Sub-Committees, Panels and Outside bodies. I will always continue to work to protect our Green Belt and the rural nature of our villages for us all to enjoy. I am always happy to hear from residents about they worries and concerns and I will not be able to solve all problems, but I will always listen and do what I can to help.

Mr Ken Crofton

I was firstly elected as your County Councillor in 2013. Having lived in the area all my life I knew that the Hertford Rural Division I now serve was the largest and most rural Division of all in Hertfordshire. The responsibility to support all 15 Parish Councils in my Division has been a full time commitment and one I have enjoyed. Working with so many Parish Councillors who also give their time and enthusiasm voluntarily and often go unappreciated has been inspiring.

As a County Councillor I do not receive a salary and have not claimed expenses and work from my home office. My experience as a businessman and now in my 27th year as a magistrate has been useful in processing the 150 to 250 emails and case work I receive each week.

I am proud of a well run County Council that has been effective and continually drives an efficiency transformation agenda to make better use of Council tax payers money. HCC has produced a balanced budget even with yearly reductions of millions of pounds from central government funding whilst we have protected front line services.

The finances have been assisted by profits from our trading companies Herts for learning an educational supplies operation and Herts Catering for schools. A joint development company called Herts Living has been created to build houses on the many disused sites HCC own around the County. As a result we can maximise our returns for the Council tax payers.

Thank you for your support.