People

We have a team of officers and committee members who run the local party and coordinate our activities.

Co-Chair - Melanie English

I have been a member of the Green Party since just before the 2015 General Election, which then co-incided with our local town and county borough elections, when I first put my name on the local elections ballot slip on behalf of the Green Party. I’ve stood for most of the local elections since then.
I’ve lived in Crewe East since 2005, moving from Berkshire.
I am married and have 3 children and a step-daughter, all of whom, have been educated at various levels in the area.
I am self employed as a birth and post-natal Doula, supporting women, birthing people and their families around South Cheshire and neighbouring counties. I am also the vice chair of the Central Cheshire Maternity Voices Partnership.
The Green party ethos of practical sustainability and compassion are a natural extension of my own passion for supporting and encouraging human connection, to each other and to our environment at every level. We have an international climate emergency, but also many local issues that the Green Party can really make a difference to.
When I have a minute spare, I enjoy reading widely, cooking and baking, being outside with my kids, gardening, social media (I can’t deny it) and occasionally writing stuff!"

Co-Chair - Rich McCarthy

General Election Candidate 2019. Many thanks if you voted for me!
I joined the Green Party a little over 20 years ago in Scotland. I had been a very active campaigner for Greenpeace, FoE, and local Glasgow charities, whilst working for Energy Action Scotland, the national Scottish fuel poverty charity for about 5 years– and had been forced to realise again and again that no matter how much proof was given to push policy, a simple lack of political will at the top could easily prevent essential changes from taking place.
MSP list Candidate twice – for Glasgow in 2003, and for West of Scotland in 2007
Secondary Maths teacher for 20 years: Glasgow, East Kilbride, Wolverhampton, Stoke and Crewe.
Former foster carer.
Coordinator of the GPEW Energy Policy Working Group since June 2019
Member of the GPEW Climate Emergency Gap Analysis Policy Working Group since Oct 2019
Fortunate to sing wonderful songs with Alsager Community Choir!
Co-host of the podcast “Dithering on the Edge of Europe” @ditheringE
Enjoy playing tennis, running, Gym visiting, reading, watching films, and learning languages (German (wife), French (brother), Welsh(University) and Spanish (Why not?))
Former Energy Auditor and Trainer; environmental volunteer; Security Guard; temp worker coordinator; temp; bartender; factory worker - stores/beer controls cleaner/assembly; supermarket trolley person and shelf-stacker; paperboy and womble!
I twitter - @richmaccarthy1 and struggle to understand facebook – richard.mccarthy.351
RichGMcC@Gmail.com

Deputy Chair - Nigel Hennerley

General Election Candidate for Tatton 2017 and 2019
Council Election Candidate for High Legh ward 2015 & 2019
Fighting Fracking and HS2 in Cheshire and the North West. Currently a committee member of Mid Cheshire Against HS2.
Covid – 19. I was very proud and keen to accept a call from High Legh Parish Council to assist in organising our local volunteer network of Street Champions during this pandemic. Offering support and help to vulnerable people in the community. The programme has been up and running since mid March making sure no one is left behind without assistance for medical supplies and food during self isolation.
Plastic Free High Legh – I am the community lead in this initiative to gain the Surfers Against Sewage National accreditation. More information.
As a volunteer at my local football team for the last 25 years I am very proud to have been involved in various initiatives such as “Kick it Out” established as a campaign with the brand name 'Let's Kick Racism Out of Football' in the 1990’s and more recently for the last couple of years, Altrincham have led the way in inclusion and diversity, they were the first ever football team to swap their usual red and white home kit for a rainbow-coloured strip based on the LGBT pride flag. The kit celebrated Football v Homophobia month and demonstrated the club’s solidarity with the LGBT community. More information.

Co-Secretary - Amanda Iremonger

After 35 years living in London and working in “the City” I returned to the North West at the beginning of the Pandemic.
I have always tried to live a life which is kind to the planet in many ways. I joined the Greens this year (2022) after a conversation with a friend. We were wondering what more we could do to change the course of the UK’s disastrous approach to the Climate Emergency - and now here I am, hoping to demonstrate that anyone can make a difference.
As the most recent local elections have shown, the people of the UK are beginning to realise that the Climate Emergency is real and that we need to act now to ensure a sustainable future for our children, and their children’s children. Who doesn’t want a better future for their family, friends and the world?

Second Co-Secretary - VACANCY

Treasurer - Walter Houston

I joined the Green Party after retiring from a lecturing career because it is the only party taking the environment and climate change seriously and linking them with social justice.
I have twice stood as our candidate in the Macclesfield Tytherington ward for Cheshire East Council, and once for the Macclesfield Town Council.
Reading, walking and cycling are my main leisure activities.

2nd Officer to the Treasurer - Te Ata Browne

I am environmentalist, I think it is in my blood. I have descended from a long line of feminist women.
I grew up on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, it is only island in the world to be awarded Dark Sky sanctuary status, there is no light pollution. It is truly unique place. It endowed me with a love, respect and appreciation of our natural environment.
I am a devoted beekeeper and fear further decline. The insect species are declining eight times faster than larger animals.
I am fiercely passionate about wildlife and sustainability, with a background of woodland planting and management having planted so many trees I have lost count! We have limited time to change our ways. So here I am standing up for our environment!

Election Officers - Gareth Woods

As a keen person to make a better change for our community, I share the views of the Green Party manifesto. I personally believe in a balance between growing our community that creates a synergy with green spaces that everyone can enjoy. I have lived in Crewe for over 10 years, I have taken part in campaigning for better broadband and also an active voice to save green spaces. I have volunteered for the Cinnamon trust locally in Crewe, I like to keep our streets and parks tidy and I love to find great

Cerys Jones

The Green Party is the only political party taking the threat of climate change, loss of our green spaces and protecting biodiversity seriously enough. Saving and increasing our green spaces and prioritising community is particularly important in Middlewich, which is seeing considerable housing development without proper consideration of the impact on existing residents and nature, and without much needed improvement to public services.

I would campaign for more efficient, affordable public transport, better insulated housing and fight for sustainability and biodiversity to be at the forefront of all of Cheshire East's planning. I have lived in Cheshire East for 25 years of my life, 23 of those in Middlewich. I'm a mum of two and work part time as a solicitor, representing severely injured military service personnel and veterans. I am motivated by advocating for others. In my professional life I get to grips with complex issues, support vulnerable people through the litigation process, problem solve, negotiate and budget, all of which I can utilise to proficiently represent Middlewich and Cheshire East Residents.

In my spare time I enjoy fundraising for charity and recently organised a sponsored cold water swim. I enjoy comedy gigs, walking, swimming and am learning to grow my own fruit and veg.

Membership (2) Nigel Hennerley, Carol Goodwin

Communications Officer - VACANCY

Fundraising Officer - VACANCY

Inclusion Officer - Amanda Iremonger

Additional assistance:

Website: Nick Speakman
Assistance with Communications and work with Young Greens: Wolfgang Hamilton; John Knight Macclesfield Express
Fundraising: Cerys Jones.

Green Party Programme for Cheshire East

The Green Party realises that the Biodiversity Emergency is as important as the Climate Emergency, whilst other parties seem to have only just gotten on the train – and the wrong one, with HS2 – at the last moment.

Other parties still think that both as a country and as a county, we can expand our way out of this. The Green Party realises that unless we come up with another couple of planets, we have to do less in future, but make different choices about what we do; so that we radically cut emissions and allow Nature to grow back, recover, remove CO2 naturally and still provide us with food, work, and peace of mind.

It can’t do that if the Council builds unnecessary roads - like the virtually empty Congleton Bypass; or if it allows big unnecessary housing developments run by overseas companies such as the one threatening Danes Moss, or other housing developments like that threatening the rewilded Longridge Wildlife Site in Knutsford; or if it allows HS2 to tear through the countryside of Cheshire East – for a train that nobody can use till 2040 - after which we should have built a society where nobody needs to do much travelling.

The Public recognise this, we are hearing that the public want Cheshire East to have a Green Conscience, and we will be there to do just this.

Find out more