Cllr. Stuart Beese

Stuart Beese has been a District Councillor for Alveston Ward for the past four years. He has lived in Stratford upon Avon for over 35 years and his wife Julie is a descendant of one of Stratfords notable families – the ‘Quineys’. He has three children, the youngest being 14, and two grandchildren.

Having previously been a senior manager with a Tea & Coffee Company for 28 years, he now together with his wife Julie owns a small Hotel in Stratford and fully appreciates the balance that must be maintained between the quality of life for Residents and the economic importance of tourism.

Whilst Stuart is a Conservative he believes that ‘people come before politics’, and on a local level that should be every District Councillors priority.

Having assumed responsibility for planning, probably the most onerous job you can have under this present Government, he inherited a plan adopted some years earlier, a plan that gave little or no protection for the Town or the environment.

Whilst most decisions regarding housing numbers etc. are imposed upon Planning Authorities by the Secretary of State, there are a number of initiatives that can be implemented.

Albeit a very difficult responsibility, he enjoys the challenge facing him, although he finds the length of time it takes to introduce new policies very frustrating.

Cllr. Vince Seaman

Vince Seaman has lived in Alveston ward since 1979. He moved to Stratford following a career with the N.F.U. Mutual, spending many years in senior management.

Vince is married to Joy, a teacher. They have three grown up children.

Vince' interests in community affairs spans 20 years. His involvement includes being a non-executive director of an NHS Trust and acting as a lay chairman for the patient's complaints procedure.

Vince is chairman/trustee of the Council for Voluntary Service and has been a governor of Stratford College since 1989 and it's chairman for 11 years.

Vince is also a trustee of Stratford Town Trust. He is proud to have been its chairman leading a small team which transfered the running of the trust to the people of Stratford, following a highly critical report by the Charity Commission on the mis-management of the Ancient Guild and College Charity finds.

Vince has now been a Town Councillor for 7 years.

Vince says, "I have always enjoyed being actively involved in the community and trying my best to help those less fortunate members of our society".