Our Candidates
Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Independents
Jonathan WALTER
Jonathan has had a varied career, starting as an apprentice Weights and Measures Engineer on Avonmouth Docks. He then worked for BCE, a Bristol company building and installing full size snooker tables. He then moved on to a career with HSBC, working his way up to Bank Manager at Aztec West.
Jonathan and his wife opened Roly’s Fudge Pantry in 2002 in Burnham High Street, and many of you would have seen him making the fudge in the shop window. He has worked at Positive Wealth Creation Ltd on Victoria Street as Operations Executive for the last eight years.
Jonathan is a family man with two grown up children, one working in London as a Graphic Designer and the other working in a busy WSM Pharmacy. Jonathan's wife works for the NHS at Weston Hospital and he could not be prouder of her, supporting her work during the Covid pandemic
Jonathan's main hobby is cycling. He's a member of Audax UK, the long distance cyclists’ association. Together with his wife they also enjoy hiking, especially on the Quantocks Hills and coastal paths. The best bit about cycling and hiking is the food. Jonathan loves a cooked breakfast or a decent coffee and cake!
Jonathan was a member and Director of Highbridge & Burnham Carnival for ten years. He still enjoys helping across the Carnival circuit and he's also the Collection Officer for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival - who are currently working on a Pageant Cart for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Parade in London on Sunday 5th June.
"As an independent I will help residents without any restraints. I want to make Burnham & Highbridge a better place to live. I want to help the Town Council listen more and listen better to the residents who I hope will give me the honour of representing them for the next five years."
Join us to make the change.
Our Candidates
Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Independents
Ollie HULME
Oliver Hulme moved, with his family, to this part of Somerset in 2001. First to a rented flat in Berrow, then to East Huntspill. Oliver moved to the middle of Burnham on Sea in 2007 and has been here ever since. “We love the place” he says.
Oliver has been a postman, a haulage contractor and a mechanic. Since 2000 he has worked in journalism and the media. He was the district reporter for the Burnham and Highbridge Times, eventually news editor for Mid Somerset News and Media. Oliver became a freelance writer working in magazines in 2016.
Oliver is the Chairman of the Peaty Sea Theatre Co (formerly the Princess Theatre Company) and has written and performed in several plays with the company. Oliver was bar manager for the Burnham on Sea Folkfest, and musical director of Wells May Fair on the Cathedral Green from 2010-2016.
Last year Oliver drew Burnham and Highbridge Town Council’s attention to the police funding that allowed the installation of motorcycle ground anchors in Burnham and Highbridge. “I believe that sometimes it’s the tiny steps that make life better, not the grand plans,” Oliver says.
"In 15 years of sitting as an observer on town and parish councils as a reporter, Oliver realised that the councils that served their communities best were the ones run by Independent councillors.
When Highbridge and Burnham Independents was formed, for me it was clear politics at this level should not be about parties, but about looking after people. That is what I want to see in Burnham and Highbridge. With the arrival of the new Unitary Authority in 2023 having a strong community-focussed town council will be vital..
Burnham and Highbridge are great places to live. We are lucky – tens of thousands of people come here every summer and would love to live here. Let us love and cherish this most special of places for the future of ourselves, our friends, our families and our neighbours."
Join us to make the change.
Our Candidates
Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Independents
Claire APREES
Claire grew up in Somerset and has lived in Burnham-on-Sea since 1987, moving from the town centre to Berrow Road in 1994. She has two daughters, both of whom now have their own careers, with one still living in Burnham.
Professionally Claire works in publishing, managing three international aviation titles and overseeing all aspects of running a business. In 2005 this resulted in her being presented with the Excellence in Communications Award by the Helicopter Association International.
Claire has been a volunteer at The Helicopter Museum since its inception and spent 20 years organising the successful and popular Helidays charity event on the Seafront in nearby Weston-super-Mare. This dedication saw her win The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2014.
In a different sphere Claire offers help with rescue terriers, finding homes for dogs and offering advice to owners.
This wide range of skills means she can bring a wealth of business experience to the council.
"I’ve always believed that our elected representatives should work with residents to make life better. I would hope to use my business skills to make the most out of the Town Council's assets and to deliver good value for money, as well as use my communication skills to encourage better engagement with residents on an ongoing basis.
I believe independent thinking and decision making are key to leading the community in all efforts to make Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea better places to live, work and visit."