Welcome To

Ravenshead Parish Council

Serving the heart of Ravenshead, the Parish Council provides local services, maintains community facilities, and works with residents to shape the village's future.

More about the Council

Councillor Martin Smith

RPC Chairman and Gedling Councillor

Martin has recently retired after serving as a teacher in Nottinghamshire for 37 years. Prior to his retirement, he was Head of Physical Education in a Nottingham School. Since moving to Ravenshead in 1981, he has voluntarily served the community in a variety of ways. In recent years he has taken on the role of Chairman of Ravenshead Parish Council in addition to being a Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, a member of Ravenshead Community Road Safety Group and a supporter of the volunteers developing the open space on the Cornwater site. He was elected in May 2019 as a councillor on Gedling Borough Council and enjoys serving the residents in the Newstead Abbey ward. Martin has taken the lead on the maintenance of the outdoor facilities at Ravenshead Leisure Centre, working closely with the football club. He is also Chairman of Ravenshead Petanque Club. Martin has a particular interest in the needs of younger people and has previously served as the Chairman of Governors at Joseph Whitaker School.

Contact:
councillormartinsmith@hotmail.com

Councillor Tracey Barnfather

RPC Councillor

Tracey has lived in Ravenshead with her husband Chris and family since 1985. She served in the Nottinghamshire Police Force for 32 years from 1980, until her retirement in 2012. Early in her career she worked primarily as a Detective in several inner-city locations, but subsequently spent many years specialising in the area of child abuse investigation across the whole County of Nottinghamshire. Tracey has two daughters, who both attended Abbey Gates Primary School followed by The Joseph Whitaker School and subsequently the University of Nottingham. Tracey was heavily involved as a volunteer in the PTA at Abbey Gates, also serving as the Association Treasurer. Following her retirement from the Police Force in 2012, Tracey spent eight years as a Lead Examinations Invigilator at both The Joseph Whitaker School and the University of Nottingham, retiring for a second time in 2020. During the same period, Tracey also acted as a Voluntary Driver for Ravenshead Ready Call. She was first elected to Ravenshead Parish Council in 2015, where she currently sits on the Planning Committee and has responsibility for both Abbey Gates and the Leisure Centre Children’s Play Parks. Tracey particularly enjoys reading and is a member of a local Book Club, as well as being a member of the popular Ravenshead Petanque Club.

Contact:
councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk

Councillor Mr R Stevenson

RPC Councillor

A resident of Ravenshead for the last 14 years and a business owner for 37 years. I have previously been an elected member of Nottinghamshire County Council and look forward to being involved with the local community of Ravenshead. I am currently a trustee and booking secretary of Ravenshead Village Hall.

Contact:
councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk

Cllr Carl Pitt

RPC Councillor

Carl has been a local resident for 15 years, having moved to the village with his wife Barbara. A business owner for over 25 years, working within the professional recruitment sector, Carl is married with 4 boys – two of whom attend local schools and are active team members of Ravenshead Reds. Having previously served as a long-term committee member and treasurer for Sutton-in-Ashfield sailing club, Carl continues to enjoy playing badminton and golf and supports Nottingham Forest football club.
With a strong interest in issues affecting residents, he is keen to help with the continuation of local improvements and interventions which benefit the wider community. For the past 3 years, Carl has assisted Jon Carnelley in helping maintain “the common” close to the leisure centre, something which he will continue to do as part of his role on the parish council.

Contact:
councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk

Councillor Stuart Bestwick

RPC Vice Chairman, Nottingham County Councillor & Gedling Councillor

Stuart lives in Ravenshead with his partner, Sue. Together they have 4 grown up children. After a long business career that has taken him all over the World, he now owns a small business in Calverton. On a voluntary basis, he helps start ups and small businesses. Stuart is Chair of Cornwater Evergreen Trust, in the village and was Chair and Founder of Brighter Futures Through Sport, a charity set up to help vulnerable young people through interaction with professional footballers. Stuart is also Chairman of Newstead Abbey Branch of the Sherwood Conservative Association and stood in the 2019 General Election in Nottingham North. Stuart has also previously served as School Governor and Nottinghamshire Magistrate. He enjoys cricket, history and travel and is a season ticket holder at Nottingham Forest FC. https://democracy.gedling.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=500000424

Contact:
councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk

Councillor Anne Smith

RPC Councillor

Anne first moved to Ravenshead in 1981. She is a retired teacher who has taught in Nottinghamshire for over 35 years working in a variety of roles during that time. Since retiring Anne has become increasingly interested in local issues including becoming a member of the litter force team. She is also interested in the needs of younger people within the village

Contact:
councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk

Councillor Hugh Stoddart

RPC Councillor

Hugh and his wife Pamela have lived in Ravenshead since 1984. He had a managerial post with HSBC Bank from which he took early retirement. Hugh has served as a Ravenshead Parish Councillor since 2011. Hugh was elected as a trustee and Chair of the Village Hall Committee in May 2017. He has a continuing interest in local issues and in representing our growing community and its widespread interests. Hugh is also a member of the Ravenshead Branch of the Sherwood Conservative Association.

Contact:
councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk

Councillor Sue Pickering

RPC Councillor and Gedling Councillor

Having previously lived in Ravenshead 20 years ago, Sue has returned to the village with her partner Stuart, and together they have 4 grown up children. Sue is a Partner at one of the UK’s leading Wealth Management Companies, a role she has enjoyed for the past 28 years. When not working, she is passionate about improving the lives of older people and is a Trustee of Cornwater Evergreen Trust in the village. Sue is keen to help in the development of facilities in Ravenshead, especially for older residents.

Contact:
Councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk

Councillor S Harris

RPC Councillor

Sue has lived in Ravenshead since 1991. She served as a police officer between 1979 – 1990 and, for a few years, worked alongside the Crime Prevention Officer where her interest in crime prevention grew. She joined the Ravenshead Neighbourhood Watch committee in 2000 and has been Chair since 2005. She worked in an admin capacity at the Joseph Whitaker School for a time and was also an invigilator there for a number of years. Since 2012 Sue has been a police volunteer based in Arnold. Sue enjoys sport and has played tennis and badminton at Ravenshead Leisure Centre for many years. She also enjoys travel and watching cricket – and, with her husband Nick, combines the two whenever possible

Contact:
sharris_rpc@icloud.com

Councillor Chris Barnfather

RPC Councillor

Chris has lived in Ravenshead with his wife and family since 1985. He served in the Nottinghamshire Police Force for 34 years from 1970, until retiring as a Detective Superintendent in 2004. In 2007, Chris was first elected as a Ravenshead Parish Councillor, where he was the Chairman from 2017 – 2021 and continues to chair the Planning Committee. He was also elected as a Gedling Borough Councillor the same year, where he was the Conservative Group Leader and Leader of the Opposition from 2011 – 2020, standing down in 2023, but appointed to the position of Honorary Alderman in 2024. In 2009 he was first elected as the Conservative County Councillor for the Newstead Division, where he served four terms, until standing down in 2025. During that period, he held the positions of Chief Whip and Member of the Senior Leadership Team within the Cabinet, as well as at differing times, Chair of the Planning Committee and Member of the Policy Committee, Transport & Highways Committee, Pensions Committee & Audit Committee. Chris also served as a School Governor for over 20 years, becoming Chair of both, the Jospeh Whitaker School & Abbey Gates Primary School Governing Bodies. Additionally, he served as a Trustee of the East Midlands Education Trust, a multi - academy trust of over fifteen secondary and primary schools in Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire. He has previously sat on both the Nottinghamshire Police Authority and the Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Combined Fire Authority.

Contact:
councillor@ravensheadpc.org.uk