Councillor Profiles
Chairman - Cllr Brian Keen
Employed by York Hospital Foundation Trust as a Network Engineer, I have lived in the village since 1989 and have been on the Council from 2001.
Born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, I left London in 1985 and after 5 years in Cambridge-shire, moved to Yorkshire. Hobbies include tram modelling, gardening and fund-raising. I am the Riccall Support leader for St. Leonard Hospice. I enjoy village life and especially issues surrounding the environment, recreation and conservation. I am Chairman of the Carnival Committee and due to its success in 2002, we still hold this event annually during the last weekend of June. Reaching 60 and serving over 40 years in the telecommunication industry, I decided to take semi-retirement and intend to dedicate more of my time to the Council and to helping the village. I am proud to be associated with Riccall and hope that I will be able to serve the community for the foreseeable future. I am fortunate to have good support from Karen, who after 26 years decided to make an honest man of me - and married me on my 60th birthday. I am proud and honoured to be part of a pro-active local authority such as Riccall Parish Council.
Vice Chairman - Cllr Edward Wilkinson
Originally from the North East, I moved down to Yorkshire when in my late teens. I have now lived in Riccall since 2000. I am married to Elizabeth, with 3 children, 5 grandsons and one granddaughter and I enjoy spending as much time as I can with them.
Employed as General Manager of a company based in Selby, I enjoy being a Councillor very much and am very keen to see the Parish Council continue on its way towards Quality Council status and beyond. When relaxing, I like to play golf, go walking, practice photography and indulge in watercolour painting. I am a keen ‘caravaner’ and like to visit as many places, particularly those with historical connotations, as possible. I have the honour of being Chairman of the Board of Directors of Riccall Regen and I am eager to see the Centre become even more of a focal point of village life, encouraged by developing a more-encompassing range of events that all ages will support and attend.
I have been a Councillor since 1999 and am a former Chair and Vice Chair. I am currently a member of the Council's Administration and Finance Committee and Chair the Riccall Recreation Development Group, which has been responsible for the recent development of the Recreation Ground. I hold the position of Vice Chair of the Trustees of the Regen Centre and have been a Governor at both Riccall CP School and Barlby High School. Some years ago, I was responsible for establishing the Riccall Branch of the Workers' Educational Association and the Riccall Community Archive. Born in Selby and educated at Read School, Drax (then the local grammar school), my working life has been spent in the Department of Trade and Industry in both London and Leeds. I have lived in Riccall with my wife, Lynne since 1988 and have two children, Dominic and Charlotte. I have an interest in reading biographies, local history and geography and in most sports. I am a member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, the MCC and am a season ticket holder at Selby Town AFC!Cllr Howard Adamson
My wife and I have lived in Riccall since 1984, having previously lived in Leeds. We have two grown up children, both of whom attended Riccall CP School. I have al-ways enjoyed trying to help develop the talents and skills of the people with whom I have been associated, therefore when my children started at Riccall School, I thought I might be able to contribute to the local community in some way. I stood for the vacant position of Parent Governor and was duly elected. I served the school for eight years and really enjoyed the experience. In 2002 I was co-opted on to Riccall Parish Council and I would like to think that I have been and still remain an active member. I was one of the two Council coordi-nators that helped the village to produce the Riccall Parish Plan. I was also a mem-ber of the Riccall Recreational Development Group until the completion of the recent Recreation Ground improvements. I am currently serving on the Administration and Finance Committee and I am the Parish Council’s representative on the local Parish Council Forum group, run by Selby District Council. I am the Health and Safety coordinator and recently volun-teered to be the Footpaths Officer. In my spare time I like to relax with my family, listen to music and eat out with friends. I am a member of a local karate club and also an active member of Riccall Badminton Club. I enjoy various other sports both to participate in and as a spectator.Cllr Keith Dawson
Cllr Ann Kilmartin
I have lived in Riccall since 1964 and have been married to Jim since the same year. I have one daughter and two granddaughters and run the Post Office at Naburn, which is a part time community office. My husband is very heavily involved in motor sport as a 'Motor Sport Association Scrutineer'. Basically this means that he and his team examine cars before they are allowed to compete in events. I spend a fair bit of time going to these events with him and helping with the administration. My other interests are my new dog, reading, tapestry and knitting.
Cllr John Duggan
I moved to Riccall with my wife in 1984 and have recently retired from Leeds City Council as a full time Trade Union Convenor. I was the North Yorkshire County Councillor for twelve years and was Chairman of Selby District Council in 2000 - 2001. I was a member of Riccall Parish Council from the late 1980s until 1996 and then rejoined in 2005. I believe that as a community, we should work together for the good of the whole community and I see the Parish Council as a key player in voicing the feelings and views of the village.
Cllr Steve Sharp
After growing up, living and starting my working career in West Yorkshire, my wife and I moved to Riccall in 1986. I moved to this area to work at Wistow Mine within the Selby Coalfield Complex. After 27 years as an electrician in the mining industry, with 10 years as a part-time member of the Mines Rescue Team, the Coalfield closed.
These days, I help my wife to run White Rose Villa bed and breakfast, work as a driving instructor based in Riccall and have a grown up son and daughter. I was co-opted onto the Council in January 2009 and so am a relative newcomer to the Council. After an initial settling in period, I am now beginning to take a more active role in Council projects. I am a member of both the new Village Design Statement team and the Emergency Planning focus group and I am looking forward to getting more involved with the development of Westfield. In my spare time, I enjoy playing golf with the village golf society, walking, going to pub quizzes and gardening.
Cllr Rupert Somers-Joce
I am married with two young daughters and have lived in Riccall since 1991. I currently work in the insurance industry for a specialist company operating in the charity, education and care sectors. In addition to Parish Council commitments, I am involved in raising funds for Riccall School through 'Friends of Riccall School', & working with a Charitable Trust to restore Howsham Mill.
Cllr Mark Nuttall
I was born in Bradford and later moved to Mirfield, where I worked as a firefighter in Huddersfield. After getting married, I moved to Riccall and worked at Garforth and Gipton fire stations in Leeds. I retired from opertaional duties after 30 years and I now work as a fire safety inspector and trainer at the Fire Service headquarters.
I have always been involved in sports including swimming, Tae Kwando and trekking. I have been an active fund raiser for cancer research and children's charities over the years.
I feel very lucky and privileged to live in Riccall, a village with such a rich history, and have noticed many changes in the 22 years that I have lived here. I hope that I can be an active participant in the conservation of the village and secure its future for the next generations.
Cllr Pippa James
I have lived in Riccall since 2004, am married to Stewart, a law partner with a firm in Leeds and have 2 children, Ellie (20) and Alastair (17).
We moved from York when we out grew our previous house and decided that the move to a village would be the best long term situation for the family. We were delighted to find Riccall and have been very happy here. I work at the St Gobain Glass factory as an Occupational Health Adviser, looking after the health and wellbeing of the employees so it is no surprise that I am interested in health and safety issues and hope that I can use my knowledge for the benefit of the Council.
To become more involved within the village, I have become a member of the local badminton club and have an allotment on the Westfield site.
Cllr Keith Rookes
I returned to live in the village in 2000, however I was born in Riccall and lived here until I was 8 years old, when my family moved to Tadcaster. I have a wife, Caroline and a young daughter, Molly who starts Riccall CP School shortly (my first school).
Most of my life has been spent travelling extensively with my job, however after a recent accident, I now have the time to take a more active role in community life. I appreciate how lucky my family is to live in a village like Riccall and look forward to a greater involvement as a Parish Councillor.