"Sheila’s family has lived in and around Gainsborough for about thirty years and upon retirement she decided to move here permanently and also be within easy reach of her children and grandchildren.

Full statement

Apart from her career as a University lecturer and Anthropologist, Sheila also worked professionally for the Conservative party for ten years as a Party Agent in constituencies as varied as Cannock, Tonbridge & Malling, Ludlow, and Hereford.

Motherhood, grandchildren, and her varied careers have enabled Sheila to acquire many skills and also much experience within the political world. She was elected to West Lindsey District Council in May 2015 as a Councillor for the Gainsborough North Ward and has enjoyed representing the residents on a variety of issues. Sheila is currently the Chair of the Prosperous Communities Committee, one of the main policy committees and additionally she also sits on the Corporate Policy & Resources Committee as well as the Governance & Audit Committee. From 2016 - 2018 Sheila chaired the West Lindsey Health Commission which has seen a focus on Health & Wellbeing become a priority for the Council. Another aspect in which Sheila has been very involved is the regeneration projects within Gainsborough, particularly Market Street with the hotel and restored shop fronts. Not only has she been involved from the WLDC perspective but she is also a member of the Gainsborough Neighbourhood Plan steering group which seeks to produce a plan for Gainsborough which will facilitate growth and development while protecting and enhancing existing resources, particularly green spaces and walkways. She also represents West Lindsey on various groups within the County and East Midlands, ensuring that the people of the constituency are heard and their views and needs taken into account.

In addition to her Council work Sheila is a member of Gainsborough Choral Society; a voluntary mentor at Benjamin Adlard School; a member of the Gainsborough Uphills Community Centre steering group, and a member of the Mercer Wood Community Group which has worked so hard to bring about improvements to this valuable green area within Gainsborough. She also sits on the newly formed Board of Disability Network CIC as well as being active within her Church. Any free time is spent indulging her other loves – writing, reading, family history, theatre and music."