Archive for: Councillors

Stephen was elected Deputy Mayor in May 2023 and then Mayor in May 2025.  He had been a frequent visitor to friends living in Looe since the mid-1970s before he retired to live permanently here in 2018. His career included fourteen years as CEO of Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London and twenty leading the national charity Action for Blind People.

During his time in the visual impairment sector he worked to bring together charities with common purpose. He strongly believes that organisations that cooperate and communicate will always achieve more than those that don’t. All the same, he recognises that every organisation has its own valued heritage and each runs its business differently.

Stephen sees tremendous assets and opportunities in Looe – its fascinating history, the sea and the fishing industry, the woods, the rivers, the unique array of local shops, pubs and restaurants, its festivals and events, its visitors and above all its own local people.

He says: “I am honoured and thrilled to have been co-opted to Looe Town Council. The wealth of experience among the existing Councillors is awesome and I only hope that, in time, I can make a useful contribution”.

Simon has been a Town Councillor since October 2019 and is currently the Chair of the Finance Committee. Simon is also Vice –Chair of the Services and Asset Management Committee and a member of the Staffing and Policy and Strategy Committees  Simon is also a member of the Neighbourhood Plan and Millpool Steering Groups. Recently he also led the running of the Covid-19 volunteer group. Outside of the Council Simon is Chair of the Looe Environmental Group and is a Director of Looe Saves the Day charity which organises the Looe annual music festival. Simon is married with three grown sons and together with his wife runs a Bed and Breakfast in Looe.

Simon is a qualified accountant and had over 30 years in general management with a number of fast growing international businesses and was involved with a number of management buyouts. He is committed to supporting the town of Looe to thrive and prosper so that local people directly benefit from this with better quality housing for all, and good quality jobs that are secure and fairly paid. 

Jon Holmes has been a councillor since March 2020 when life changed for everybody not least a steep learning curve of learning how to be involved in the running of a Council remotely with the use of Zoom technology! Jon and his ( Cornish ) wife have lived in Shutta since 2017 having decided to relocate from Gloucestershire where he served as a Councillor for a number of years. They both work part time as Criminal Defence Solicitor Advocates in Cornwall in their own firm. Jon appreciates a quieter pace of life in a community which he and his wife had got to know well over many years particularly with visits to the music festival. Jon is a member of the Finance , Planning and Library and Community Committees. Jon and his wife enjoy walking , working on their allotment, socialising with friends and being involved in the community of Looe in any way they can.

Jasper is an experienced mechanical and marine engineering academic with over three decades in higher and further education. He is a former Associate Professor in Mechanical and Marine Engineering at the University of Plymouth. He has taught and led programmes across manufacturing, marine and sustainability-focused engineering, and has supported degree apprenticeships and local skills development. After many years working with industry and universities in the South and South West, he settled in Looe, where the blend of maritime heritage, community spirit and coastal environment matches his passions for sailing and kayaking.

He served as a Looe Harbour Commissioner for nine years before becoming a councillor. He has also volunteered as an RNLI lifeboat crew member (Hayling Island and Looe) and as an HM Coastguard rope technician for 25 years.

Professionally, Jasper has authored over 85 publications and secured significant project funding, often centred on practical problem-solving—manufacturing, welding, composites, failure analysis, the circular economy and low-impact making—working in 24 countries with 66 organisations. He brings this hands-on, evidence-based approach to council work, believing that clear data, collaborative working and kindness deliver better results for residents and local businesses.

Jasper cares deeply about enabling young people and career-changers to thrive in Cornwall through training, apprenticeships and good local jobs; about supporting Looe’s small businesses and festivals; and about protecting the town’s marine and river environment while keeping the working harbour at the heart of community life. He is particularly interested in safe active travel, resilient infrastructure and practical sustainability suited to Looe’s geography.

He says: “It’s a privilege to serve the people of Looe. My aim is to listen carefully, work openly with partners, and help deliver straightforward, affordable improvements that make daily life easier—while safeguarding the harbour, coastline and character we all love.”

Michala lives at Woodlands View and is a Mother of 3 and Grandmother of (nearly) two. She loves animals and has 2 dogs and a smallholding where she keeps her ponies, goats, pigs and chickens. She is a trained IT teacher and is passionate about people and the environment.