03 September 2010Content to be addedComputer scientist and now the District's latest chairman, Cllr John Lankester, has promised to use his year in office to promote two prominent local charities that help people and families facing dementia and terminal illness.
Cllr Lankester has lived in Dunton Green since 1971 after taking up a post at nearby Fort Halstead.
Originally born in Derby, Cllr Lankester moved to Gosport at the age six. In 1964 he completed a degree in electrical engineering at Imperial College and six years later he finished a part-time masters degree in computer science at City University at a time when the computer industry was very much in its infancy.
Cllr Lankester undertook various research and projects at the Fort before he was made Director of Systems and Techniques Unit of Military Survey in the mid 1980s. After various senior positions, including the Head of the Information Systems Centre at RAF Strike Command, Cllr Lankester left the Civil Service and set up his own computer consultancy and began lecturing on computer courses for the Open University.
Cllr Lankester married Hazel in 1964 and together they have three daughters who all went to Chevening School then Tonbridge Grammar School. The girls have since followed in Cllr Lankester's footsteps by all working in the computer industry. John and Hazel Lankester have five grandchildren aged from two to seven.
Cllr Lankester was first elected to Sevenoaks District Council in 2004 and has sat on Dunton Green Parish Council for the last 33 years, the last 19 years as chairman.
As well as his council duties, Cllr Lankester is actively involved in his local community and is a Kent Justice of the Peace.
Over the course of the next year, the Chairman will support and raise money for his two charities, the Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Service and Hospice in the Weald.
Cllr Lankester says: “When my mother began to suffer from memory loss and dementia towards the end of her life, I became acutely aware of how important voluntary support is not only to those suffering, but to their families as well. The Alzheimer's and Dementia Support Service provide help to families across much of Sevenoaks District so during the next year I am keen to help raise their profile and any money I can to support their important work."
The Chairman is the Council's principal ambassador representing the 113,000 residents of the District, as well as the Council, at a wide range of local and regional events and supporting local charities and voluntary organisations.
Cllr Keith Loney, member for Sevenoaks Town and St Johns, was also elected as Sevenoaks District's new Vice-Chairman.
The elections took place at the annual meeting of the Council on Tuesday 12 May 2009.
