Page 35 - Phonebox Magazine July 2006

Olney Town Council
Introducing Olney’s Chair of Recreation and Services Committee
Profile Tony Evans
I was born in Rugby in 1940 and educated at Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby. My father was an electrical engineer and my mother a music teacher and so my two brothers and I all play
instruments. Mine were the Piano and Viola, but sport took up much of my spare time. With strong farming connections on my mother’s side of the family I soon had a yearning to farm and went to Harper Adams Agricultural College in Shropshire to learn the basics and play lots of good rugby until I damaged my knee. After five years managing a mixed stock and arable farm at Naseby, Northants, I was lucky enough in 1968 to obtain the tenancy of Olney Park Farm from the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1979 Yardley Chase was chosen as one of seven possible sites for a third London airport and as the south runway would have buried our farm I took a leading role in trying to avert the threat. When eventually Stansted was chosen, as Chair of OARA (Olney Airport Resistance Association) I was persuaded to join Olney Town Council and have been a town councillor for 26 years.
During that time, including four years as Mayor, there have been many changes in the town, but my special interest has always been the recreational and sports facilities and the creation of The Olney Centre which Viv and I were honoured to host the Duchess of Kent when she performed the opening in 1992. Viv and I have five sons between our two families and at the last count five grandchildren. We love our home and garden and feel very privileged to live and work in such a friendly and lively small town. Although we have now handed over the well known turkey business to James, my eldest son, we still farm the 350 acres on a contract farming arrangement and are busy converting the lovely old farm buildings to non agricultural uses.
Tony Evans
As Olney expands it is my hope that facilities will grow with it and with my special interest in sport in the town. It is my intention to work continually to improve on our already excellent facilities. I feel very strongly that junior sport and recreation needs all the help we can give. We are extremely fortunate in Olney to have so many people prepared to give their time to helping the youth of the town whether it is with the sports clubs, all the various youth organisations, the schools or churches. This work is vital in encouraging the young people to take on a constructive and responsible attitude towards our town and become the future leaders of it. In our semi-retirement Viv and I have decided to do more travelling while we are still fit and able, but our involvement in the life of the town will, I hope, be as full and enthusiastic as it has been over the last 20 years.
My best regards, Tony Evans
Town Clerk’s Profile Pat Slaney
Pat has lived in Olney for 35 years with her husband Bill. After 31 years working in the commercial sector, 25 years of which were with Barclays Bank, Pat joined Olney Town Council as Town Clerk
in 2003. Pat’s job embraces a wide variety of duties including overall management of the Olney Centre and Recreation areas of the town where she is assisted by a staff of five personnel. The Olney office is open Monday to Thursday 9.00 am – 4.00 pm and Friday 9.00 am to 3.00 pm. Residents and visitors are always welcome at the Town Council Office situated in the Olney Centre at any of the above times or alternatively contact can be made by telephone and e-mail.
Pat Slaney
Ann Hopkins Smith Trust
On Wednesday 17th May the Annual General Meeting of the Almshouses of the Ann Hopkins Smith Trust took place. Prior to the AGM the Warden, Brenda Harris, held a small reception for the residents and Trustees.
Seated is the Chairman of the Trustees, Councillor Tony Evans and the Treasurer, Councillor Jeremy Rawlings. Other Trustees include Jane Cox and John Kent who are pictured together with residents and the Mayor, Councillor Paul Watson and his wife Dorothy. At the Annual General Meeting Councillor Michael Hughes was co-opted as a Trustee.
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