MenuLuke McTaggart, West Ward Councillor and Mayor of Amble Town Council
I am relatively new to Amble, I live in the Persimmons site off Percy Drive and have chosen to make Amble home to be closer to my daughter who is currently studying Medicine at Newcastle.
I have lived in the South East for the last 25 years and have run a successful business during this time, I have also spent six years working for an MP.
I hope my previous experience will be of benefit to me in my new role, I look forward to working with my Amble Town Council colleagues to ensure the best for residents of Amble.
Ciara Dawson, Councillor, East Ward
Ciara Dawson is an artist and activist for disability and LGBTQ+ rights. Their background is in grassroots community organising. Over the last decade they have led and supported campaigns for better social housing and an end to child and food poverty in Newcastle and Gateshead.
They currently run free sessions for children and their parents/carers in Amble library and Dry Water Arts Centre. They also give voice to the parents of Amble by sitting on the North Northumberland Family Hub Family Panel.
Ciara wants to work together with the community of Amble to make the town more accessible to those with disabilities and chronic illness. They also want to improve provisions for families and young people.
Tony Regan, Councillor, East Ward
Tony worked for the Home Office/Foreign Office and was Director of Trade and Investment in Latin America. He has experience on national and international government programmes and has lived in Amble for over 10 years.
Ivor Rackham, Councillor, West Ward
My family and I moved to Amble twenty-years ago and I’ve run my business here for the last ten. Previously, I worked at Coquet High School (now JCSC) where I was also a governor.
Historically, I’ve been a senior volunteer and an employee with a major youth charity. I’ve managed major projects and multimillion-pound budgets.
Having lived overseas and travelled extensively, I know most ordinary people everywhere are friendly and kind, wanting only to enjoy their lives peacefully. I want to help facilitate that here by pushing improvement to our local services and protecting our wonderful natural environment.
Claire Connolly, Councillor, West Ward
I have been a resident of Amble since 2019, and I have witnessed how supportive the town is and what a vibrant community we are. I have worked for 25 years as a therapist helping young people and families get the support they need. Locally, I have volunteered at Amble Youth Project and Dry Water Arts, also helping out with the Christmas Light parade. I am keen to put my experience in representing and helping people into practise as a Town Councillor. I would like to see more quality and accessible community leisure facilities and a provision of a family hub. I am also keen to see improvements to our highways, house builders held to account and better recycling provision for glass.
Michael Joyce, Councillor, Central Ward
I grew up in the village of Piercebridge in County Durham. I joined the Army in 1989 and was deployed to Germany, During my 22 years career in the services I served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia with the United Nations and then in NATO. I have done a number of tours in Iraq War. On returning back to the United Kingdom in 2009 I held the position of Regimental Company Quartermaster Sergeant at the Army Foundation Collage in Harrogate North Yorkshire. This Job was very interesting due to 16 and 17 year old students learning all aspects of Military life. I stand for honesty, Integrity and Fairness and I am proud to be your spokesperson at the Town Council by supporting local residents, youth and community groups which offer a variety of classes and social activities here in Amble. My interests are helping our Veterans, and our Green Community and supporting local farmers in many ways including economic, environmental and social aspects.
Kath MacColl, Councillor, Central Ward
