About Us

About Us

Julie Abraham - Biography

Julie came to North Ferriby in 1994 after meeting her husband, Mike, who already lived in the village. She has two grown-up step children and an 18 year old son.

Keen to get involved in her community, Julie joined North Ferriby Parish Council in 1997 and was elected to East Riding of Yorkshire Council in 2003 as a member for the South Hunsley Ward.

She writes, ‘I enjoyed getting involved in local issues through the parish council so much that standing for East Riding of Yorkshire Council seemed like a natural progression. I am proud to serve the residents of North Ferriby, Swanland, Melton and Welton and hope that I do a good job for them.

I regularly attend all parish council meetings in my Ward to ensure that I am up to date with all issues and concerns. My greatest achievements as a ward councillor have been securing the new footpath and safety barriers alongside the A63 for children going to South Hunsley School, and lobbying for and getting the improvements to drainage in North Ferriby, a £2.2m scheme that protects many homes from flooding.’

On East Riding Council, Julie enjoyed eight years on the Strategic Planning Committee which gave her a good grounding to understand the complexities around major planning applications such as Humberfield Farm waste facility and Melton Fields as well as numerous unpopular wind farms.

She has also served on other committees including the Environment & Transport Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the Audit Committee which provided an invaluable source of information about the running of the Council.

She was Chairman of the Children & Young People Overview & Scrutiny sub-committee for four years and took on her current role as the cabinet member with the portfolio of Children, Young People & Education and the statutory lead member for children’s services in 2011. She writes, ‘My ambition is for every child in the East Riding to be safe and happy and to fulfil their potential and I would like every one of our schools to be judged to be good or better at their next inspection. I am concerned about the lack of funding for schools in the East Riding compared to other authorities across the country and I am very proactive in lobbying Government for a National Fair Funding Formula.’

Julie is also a governor at North Ferriby CE School and a trustee at the Hull based Sailors’ Children’s Society. In her spare time she enjoys walking her rescue dog, a black Labrador cross.

Vanessa Walker - Biography

Vanessa has lived in Welton since 2006. She is married with two grown up children and three grandchildren. Her daughter Rachel and family also live in Welton.

Vanessa took early retirement in 2011 from a career in local government. She has previously worked in the NHS as a district nurse, the civil service and the voluntary care sector. When Vanessa retired she was very keen to work in the community on a voluntary basis.

She is a member and previous chairman of Welton Parish Council. Vanessa is particularly interested in the health and wellbeing of local communities and is the Chairman of Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, a trustee at Pickering and Ferens Homes and is a non-executive director of Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Vanessa says ‘I have always enjoyed working with people and through my role on the parish council I feel as if I understand the issues that affect local people and I am keen to address the challenges brought to our attention from local residents.

I am very concerned about the possible impact austerity has on individuals and communities. I am keen to support people regarding any aspect of public services so it seemed very appropriate for me to stand as a Conservative candidate alongside Councillor Julie Abraham in South Hunsley Ward at the local elections in May 2015.

I hope to have positive influence and would be proud to support and represent the communities of North Ferriby, Swanland, Welton, Melton and Wauldby’.

In her spare time Vanessa is a part time carer of her elderly father, she enjoys walking, art and culture, cooking and spending time with her family.