Brighton and Hove OPC members 2011

Jack Hazelgrove (Chair)

Moulescoomb and Bevendean, Hollingbury and Stanmer

Jack spent a career in teaching specialising in social work studies, special education and government and politics. His principle interests on the OPC are transport (he chairs the Central Sussex branch of Bus Users UK); housing and health and social care. His leisure interests include supporting Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, learning Italian and attending films at the Duke of Yorks Cinema.

Francis Tonks (Vice-Chair)

Hanover and Elm Grove, Preston Park, St Peters and North Lane

Born in York and studied in Leeds Francis lives in Central Brighton with wife Jean. He taught in Moulsecoomb and at Brighton Technical College and retired after being Departmental Head at East Ham College of Technology in East London. Francis is a former Councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean and serves as a Governor for Falmer High School and is a member of the management committees of Bridge Community Centre and the Pensioners' Forum. He is currently a member of the city council's Equalities Forum and Community Safety Forum. Interests: Housing, personnel, social care, adult education and the arts.

Mike Bojczuk(Secretary)

Central Hove & Westbourne

Mike was born in Oldham and studied at Essex, Canterbury and Reading. He spent 10 years teaching Chemistry and Sciences before switching to a career in computing where he has worked for computer manufacturers, software providers and Central Government as a programmer, project manager and consultant. Currently working for a Housing Group in London, he hopes to use his experience to improve communications and make the work of the OPC more widely known, and also to better organise how the OPC manages the work it does.

Colin Carden (Treasurer)

Woodingdean & Rottingdean Coastal

Many will remember me as President of Brighton Trade Labour Club during the eighties. l am member of a well known local family, some of whom are well known on the political scene. My main interests are community safety and housing. I am still working but endeavour to attend as many meetings concerning older people as time permits.

Val Brown

Hangleton and Knoll, Stanford

Val has lived in Brighton & Hove for 10 years. She is interested in local and family history and believes that the enormous wealth of Brighton and Hove’s history and heritage should be safely preserved for the future and easy access for older citizens provided. She would like the rights, demands and choices of older citizens to be heard, and lifetime experiences to be visibly valued - in particular, the social and cultural aspirations of all senior taxpayers to be flagged up as continuing key concerns. She values her bus pass, would like to see clean streets and bicycles that stay on the roads. .

John Eyles

Brunswick & Adelaide, Goldsmid and Regency

John has a civil engineering and project management background with 18 years teaching in colleges. Born in Barry Glamorgan but been resident in Brighton & Hove for over 20 years. Main interests are environmental, DIY, travel, sketching, writing and helping others.

Colin Vincent

Patcham, Withdean

Colin has an interest in Social Care, an issue of primary concern to the elderly and those approaching that period of their life in the city. He expects to utilise his life experiences through work in the private, public and voluntary sectors by contributing to the advancement of the interests of the elderly citizens of Brighton & Hove and in particular those who reside in Patcham & Withdean.

Harry Steer MBE

North Portslade, South Portslade and Wish

Harry Steer was born in Brighton and is a former Councillor on both Brighton and Hove Councils, and on the City Council. He was Mayor in 2001 and for many years was a teacher in Portslade until retirement. He is Chairman of the Hove Bluebird Society for the Disabled, and is Chair of the Portslade Local Action Team. He is also on the Management Committee of the Pensioners' Forum, and is a Director of Grey Matters Productions CIC, a company which makes radio programmes for the over 60's. He has been honoured with an MBE for services to the community in Portslade.

Peter Terry

East Brighton, Queens Park

Peter movedg to Bristol Estate in 2003, and has been involved in running a social club as chairman and a garden club. He is interested in transport and wants to help in areas such as transport for older people in keeping doctor and hospital appointments. He feels very strongly that transport such as buses should meet the needs of older people on low incomes, and on hilly areas of Brighton and Hove such as Bristol Estate and Mile Oak.