About the Chairman

Our current Chairman is Richard Palmer.

Richard is married to Christine (Chris). They have 3 grown-up children and 9 grandchildren, aged 8 to 23. Richard has lived in Newington for the past 37 years. He was born in Sheffield and spent his formative years in Bexhill-on-Sea.

He left school at 16, in 1974, and joined the army, serving the 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s Regiment, until February 1985.

After leaving the army in 1985, he joined the Kent Ambulance Service (now South East Coast Ambulance Service). He was a fully trained paramedic stationed in Gravesend (Northfleet), the Medway Towns, and ended his service at Queenborough Corner Ambulance Station on the Isle of Sheppey. He had to leave the ambulance service on medical advice after attending an incident and sustaining a back injury.

After leaving the ambulance service in 1996, he formed a training company, which he still runs.

From 1997 to 2009, Richard was involved in the Air Training Corps (ATC), now known as the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. He gained an officer’s commission and became the Commanding Officer of 1404 (Chatham) Squadron. He became involved in local issues and politics after giving up his commitment to the ATC.

He has been a parish councillor on Newington Parish Council since 2010.

Richard was elected to Swale Borough Council in 2019, representing the Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch ward. He was Cabinet Member for Communities and later the Chair of the Community and Leisure Committee at Swale Borough Council.

Contact

To contact the Chairman, either email or call our Civic Office: