Leanne Edwards joined Olveston Parish Council in October 2025. Leanne moved to Bristol 26 years ago and has been living in Lower Hazel since 2009. She has two children and is a director of a private medical practice. Alongside her job, she manages a very busy smallholding of mainly chickens, sheep and pigs. Leanne is passionate about the area we live in and looks forward to being able to represent the community and help support members of the parish.

Hello, I’m Steve Ritchie, resident in Tockington and a new local Councillor from July 2023. I am now fully retired from a 47-year working career closely related to planning and building matters in both local authority and private practice positions, culminating with 30 years of self-employment running my own architectural/planning consultancy.

In conjunction with my fellow Councillors, I look forward to lending a hand, hopefully making a difference with a variety of local issues important to and affecting the people of Olveston Parish.

I live just outside the council area in Winterbourne Down and joined OPC in January 2019. I previously worked in the NHS and major blue chip leisure companies and housing associations in the Southwest. My experience from my previous roles covers the many aspects that is required for this role, and I very much enjoy adding value to the Parish activities. As Clerk to the Parish Council, I attend all committee meetings and manage all administrative aspects of council business; together with the Finance committee I monitor and maintain all finance transactions. I am the only paid member of the council and act in advisory capacity on council business procedures and protocols, but do not have a vote.

We have been in Old Down just shy of 30 years, with my husband’s family having been owners of The Fox. We have one daughter, and two grandsons and have a close affiliation with Old Down Cricket Club, both in playing and Dave, being The Groundsman, as well our grandsons playing for both ODCC and Olveston Football Club.

We love where we live, and I wanted to help support the community and so I joined OPC.  My proudest work since joining OPC was the installation of The Play Area at The Sports Ground in Old Down, the team I worked with, demonstrated what could be achieved with a great community spirit.

I have been a Parish Councillor for eight years and was appointed in 2005. I am Chair of the Finance Committee and sit on the Recreation and Leisure Committee. I have lived in the Parish for over thirty years with my husband Roger and raised our four boys here. I am a Governor of Olveston CEVC School and a member of the Parish Hall Committee. I see myself as very much a community person even if my family tease me for always putting my hand up!

John Hughes, an Olveston resident of over 20 years, has sat on Olveston Parish Council in various roles in the last decade.  Currently, as Chair, he oversees the running of the Parish Council, ensuring that it operates on a commercial basis.  He is actively involved in parish activities and enjoys the challenges that are continually presented in this changing environment.

He considers biodiversity and the pledge of ‘Making Space for Wildlife’ one of the most challenging aspects of village life. He wants to ensure that every group within our parish has an opportunity to be heard and appreciates the dedication of his colleagues and numerous volunteers who undertake various roles with the Parish.

A resident of the Parish for over 20 years Miles is married to Melanie and they have two children educated in Tockington, Bristol and Monmouth. A Sales Manager for the bulk of his career, Miles is still working, currently in IT and networking sales at a business in Chippenham. As a working parent,free time has to date been limited but with retirement not too long away, Miles is wanting to get more involved in Parish activities. A member of the Parish Council since 2021, Miles heads up the Traffic Management Committee.