Telegraph Hill

The Telegraph Hill Team

Parliamentary Candidate: Gemma Townsend

Gemma is a native Londoner, who grew up in Wapping in the East End. Since graduating from the University of Manchester where she studied Sociology, she has lived all over London including Deptford where she was a candidate in the 2006 local elections. Gemma has been the Conservative Association Deputy Chairman in Deptford since the beginning of 2007.

Currently Gemma works for the GLA dealing with policing and crime issues for the Conservative Assembly Members, where she works closely with the Deputy Mayor for Policing. She has previously worked in a number of social policy and research roles for Southwark Council, Ofsted and Populus.

Over the years Gemma has been proud to have had an impact on policies to improve standards in education, youth crime, housing, health and social care and has learnt a great deal from a wide range of practitioners in the field. She has been volunteering with her local youth offending team since spring 2007 and also volunteers with the charity Age Concern.

Gemma is particularly concerned by the levels of violent crime in Lewisham. She will also be campaigning on regeneration, transport and education. Having worked in local government, Gemma is adamant that local authorities could be more resourceful and provide significantly better services, she will ensure her campaign holds Lewisham Council to account.

Andrew Deane:

Originally from Rochdale, Andrew moved to Brockley after finishing his degree in Applied Genetics at the University of Liverpool in 2004. During his time in Liverpool, Andrew was a special constable for Merseyside Police, and later served in the University Royal Naval Unit (URNU). He currently works in a Catholic secondary school teaching 11-16 year olds Science. Andrew’s priorities include: Education and Child Welfare, Law and Order, and Housing.

Julie Kitson:

Julie has lived in Lewisham since early childhood. She was educated at John Stainer Primary School and Deptford Green Secondary School. She is a registered nurse employed within the NHS from 1979 – 2008 and she worked as a Ward Sister at Lewisham Hospital until given redundancy. She is now running her own business as a publican. She has been interested in politics and local issues for many years and contested Telegraph Hill Ward in 2006. Her priorities include: Health care provision in the local community and law and order as she is a recent victim of a violent street mugging.

Lara Robson:

Lara moved to Lewisham in May 2008 from Oxford, she loves the community feeling in Telegraph Hill and is really enjoying living in the area. She is a solicitor working part time in the City and has a young son who has just celebrated his first birthday. As a young working mum in the area Lara’s main priorities and concerns are education, crime & antisocial behaviour and transport issues. Her interests outside work include dressmaking, tennis and photography.