Contacting the Council
To contact the Hermitage Parish Council in the first instance please email the Parish Clerk: hermitagepc@outlook.com
Parish Councillors
If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor or finding out a little more about the role, please contact the Clerk.
Ms Ruth Cottingham – Chairperson
My family and I came to Hermitage in 1990 because it was in the right location and we found a property with a large enough garden. We are still growing our own vegetables, as those of you who suffer from our gluts will know, but I do not manage to find the time to do my share. I still walk with a group I joined in 1972. I have been a member of Hermitage parish council since 2007, including as chair from 2008 to 2021.
Contact: ruth.cottingham@hermitage.org.uk
Ms Ann Goldsmith
Ann moved to the village in 2013 to be closer to her work at Tadley as a Technical Consultant, having lived in Wantage for over 20 years. Her main interest is her animals: she has a dog, cats and pond fish, and keeps llamas, horses and ducks, whose eggs and offspring she sells, at Chieveley.
Contact: ann.goldsmith@hermitage.org.uk
Mr David Brown
Married with four children who have all attended local schools, I have been a Hermitage resident since 1971.
My interests include walking, music and photography and I have served on the parish council twice, from 2007-2008 and from 2011 to the present.
Contact: david.brown@hermitage.org.uk
Mr Ian Govier – Vice Chair
I moved to the village in 2003 from Thatcham. I owned and operated Newbury Mazda from 1994 to 2004 and after selling the business have spent my life running other people’s motor trade businesses. Believe it or not, cars don’t do it for me, but I do love the cut and thrust of running a company with all the dynamics of the people.
Before becoming a parish Councillor, I was involved as a trustee on the Hermitage village hall committee. I got involved with another person from the village with the sole purpose of getting the second hall finished, progress seemed to have stalled, and I felt it needed an injection of energy to complete the project. I am pleased to say that within a year and with a lot of help from local people the second hall was open for business.
I go out cycling at the weekends with my wife (I have an electric bike) but my true passion is that I am an audiophile. I am into hifi and listening to music.
I joined the Parish Council with a mission to make it become a very important, beneficial and inclusive part of the community.
Contact : ian.govier@hermitage.org.uk
Mrs Vanessa Burgess
Originally form South Africa, I have lived in the UK for just over 21 years with a couple of those years spent in Abu Dhabi. We moved from Curridge to Hermitage in 2016. When I am not exploring on foot with our dog, you will find me spending quality time with my family and friends. I also enjoy listening to podcasts, reading and watching my favourite rugby team – The Springboks! I love organising a monthly get-together with other South African ladies based in and around the Newbury area. Sharing experiences and forming friendships with women who understand our unique background is something I truly value. Giving back is also a big part of who we are as a family. For the past 6 years, we have volunteered our time and skills on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day by preparing meals for the elderly who are not fortunate to have loved ones around. Building a strong community is important to me which is why I decided to join the Hermitage Parish Council.
Contact : vanessa.burgess@hermitage.org.uk
Mr Nick Brett
I have been a Hermitage resident for a little over 10 years, living with my partner Nicola and our dogs Dexter and Elmo in Forest Edge. We are very settled here and enjoy the village surroundings, both to walk our dogs and being part of the community. Professionally, I am a sales director in the Software world, having worked mostly for American multi-national corporations covering EMEA as a territory managing diverse sales teams. My interests include messing about in boats, fixing my old Land Rover and the occasional trip to The Fox with some of my neighbours for a cold beer.
Contact : nick.brett@hermitage.org.uk
Mr John Rigby MBE
I moved into the village in 1988 as a young soldier in the Royal Engineers and having recently retired as a Lieutenant Colonel I am now looking forward to settling down and enjoying a gentler pace of life. Prior to joining the Parish Council I served as a Governor for Hermitage Primary School; a Governor for Trinity Secondary School and subsequently as a Director for the Newbury Academy Trust. I love all things mechanical, with a particular passion for interesting cars and motorbikes. I enjoy most outdoor activities however these have recently been reduced to dog walking and the occasional mountain bike ride. In an effort to grow old gracefully I seem to now spend more time in my garage which has become my happy place! I very much look forward to my tenure as part of the Parish Council and hope to continue helping to make Hermitage a lovely place to live.
Contact : john.rigby@hermitage.org.uk