Member Profiles
Members of the council are summoned to appear at meetings on dates set at the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.
The Transparency and Accountability Codes of the Localism Act requires all councils to inform the public where members sit on specific committees, have specific responsibilities and/or represent the council on outside bodies.
Jessica Bedford (Clerk)
Jessica joined the Parish Council as the Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer in October 2021. Jessica has come from a local authority background at Kirklees Council and Wakefield Council working initially as a Registrar and subsequently as a Senior Registrar. Jessica has not been a Parish Clerk before but is looking forward to the challenge and meeting as many people as possible in the community.
Keith Anderson
Keith Anderson is a lecturer at the University of York. He has lived in Dunnington since 2013 and has brought up his two sons here. He joined the Parish Council in January 2023 and is one of the emergency contacts in the Community Emergency Plan
Andrew Dykes
Andrew moved to Dunnington in 2012 with his wife Jacky and is now retired having spent a career in property management. Andrew has been a member of the Parish Council since 2016. He is involved with the Finance, strategy and audit group, Planning group, Highways group, Footpaths group, Allotment group, Communications group, Parish land and buildings group, and the Neighbourhood Plan group, as well as representing the Parish Council on the YLCA. He enjoys living in the village and wants to put something back into the community.
Nick Ford
Nick is a farmer who has lived in Dunnington all his life and has been a member of the Parish Council for over 25 years.
Karen Jackson
Karen has lived in Dunnington for 15 years. She currently works in local government following a 30 year career in banking. Karen joined the Parish Council in March 2021 is a trustee of the Playing Fields Association and has an interest in planning and financial strategy. Karen is involved with the finance, strategy and audit group, planning group, and the neighbourhood planning group.
Gary Kay
Gary is a farmer who has lived in Dunnington all his life and is one of the longest serving members of the Parish Council since 1988.
John Maggs
John has lived in Dunnington for 40 years and has been a member of the Parish Council since 2015. He is involved with the Activity park group and the Highways group.
Paul Major
Paul Major is currently an SMCR Office Senior Consultant at Aviva Life in York having had a varied career as a Stockbroker, Archaeologist and Business Language Coach. He has lived in The Netherlands, Sudan and Norway.
Now living in Dunnington, he is a Trustee of Over The Rainbow Pre-School and After School Club, and is also actively researching the archaeological and cultural history of Dunnington Parish.
Zoe Rees-Gay
Zoe has lived in Dunnington since 2008. She joined the Parish Council in 2021 and is part of the Police liaison and police matters group, Dunnington Playing Fields group, Activity park group, Scouts and Guides group, Highways group, and Allotment group.
Martin Rowley BEM
Martin lives in Osbaldwick and has represented the Osbaldwick and Derwent Ward on the City of York Council since 2019. He is a Parish Councillor both in Osbaldwick and here in Dunnington. He and his wife own and run a family funeral directors in York. In 2021 he was awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours for services to the community in York. He is an active member of the Royal British Legion, a school governor at Archbishop Holgate’s School, and the ‘Armed Forces Advocate’ on the council. In the spare time he does have, he plays golf, plays the tuba in the York RI Development Band, and is a season ticket holder at Sheffield Wednesday.
Marian Ruston (Vice Chairman)
Marian has lived in Dunnington since 1998 and brought up 2 children here. She was a Senior Sister in intensive care at St James' University Hospital Leeds for 23 years before retiring in 2016. Marian Joined the Parish Council in April 2021. She is involved in the planning group, cemetery management group, allotment group, communications group, and is the current vice chairman of the Parish Council.
Gillian Shaw (Chairman)
Gillian has lived in Dunnington for 31 years and is now retired having spent a career in finance. Gillian has been a member of the Parish Council since 2018 and is the current Chairman. She is involved with the Finance, strategy and audit group, Neighbourhood Plan group, Allotment group, Communications group, Special events group, and represents the Parish Council on the Reading Room Committee and on the YLCA. Gillian is also one of the emergency contacts in the Community Emergency Plan. She is Interested in the planning and future developments of Dunnington and would like to see Dunnington remaining a safe and great place to live. A place that residents of Dunnington are proud of.
David Swallow
David lives and works in Dunnington. He moved to the village with his wife, Sarah, in 2013. They have two young daughters, both of whom attend Dunnington C of E Primary School. David joined the Parish Council in 2019 and is involved in Police liaison and police matters group, Highways group, Footpaths group, and the Scouts and Guides group. David leads the Communications group, where he is responsible for maintaining the website and promoting the activities of the Parish Council.
Mick Thompson
Mick has been a member of the Parish Council since 2020. Mick is involved with the Planning group, Police liaison and police matters group, Highways group, Footpaths group, and represents the Parish Council at Dunnington Primary School.