Parish Council Introduction

East Farndon Parish Council is a small local authority that represents the first level of local government and it is invariably the first place that people will go with concerns or ideas on how to improve our community.

The Parish Council considers and comments on all local planning applications and manages a wide range of services on behalf of the Village including areas such as burials, street lighting, public benches, litter bins, etc. It also acts as a focal point in bringing together and supporting a number of Village events as well as coordinating community services such as footpaths, grounds maintenance, tree protection, etc. 

Meetings usually take place at 7.15pm on the second Wednesday of alternate months, and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. The Parish has a Council of seven voluntary Councillor positions and one professional Parish Clerk. If a vacancy occurs it will be advertised via the notice board and this website. If you would like to help build our community, or have any comments or queries, please email the Parish Clerk at: clerk@eastfarndon-pc.gov.uk.

Comprehensive Parish Council information is published on this website and you can read more about our Parish Clerk and Parich Councillors below. Please use the menu or click the links to go directly to:

East Farndon Parish Clerk

Photograph of Caroline Burton
Caroline Burton (Parish Clerk)

Caroline has been Clerk to the Parish Council since September 2018 and also held the post previously from 2003 to 2007. She is a retired civil servant and qualified accountant. She has lived in the village for 25 years with her husband and now grown up children. Her hobbies include reading and making greeting cards and jewellery for charity. Caroline lives at Ivy House, Main Street, East Farndon, LE16 9SH.

email Caroline at: clerk@eastfarndon-pc.gov.uk.

East Farndon Parish Councillors

Bernie Fallon (Chair)

Bernie settled in East Farndon with his family in 2018 having previously lived in Dorset. He runs his own business providing technology solutions to other businesses, mainly in the film and TV industries. Bernie is a keen aviator, having obtained his pilots licence a number of years ago, and an accomplished drummer, percussionist and pianist. He has performed with many well known artists. Bernie lives at 7 Harborough Road, East Farndon, LE16 9SF.

Tom Knott (Vice Chair & Member of Staffing Committee)

Tom was born in Kettering, and has lived in Market Harborough for his whole life (except for a 3 year stint in Nottingham whilst studying a Business Management and Accounting degree), joining the Parish Council in 2023. He is currently employed as an Insight Analyst at CDS Global in Market Harborough, and has previously worked as a client relations executive. In his spare time, Tom enjoys travelling and engaging in new cultures, as well as occasionally baking. Tom has previously engaged in a number of volunteering opportunities, having assisted at the Great Oxendon youth club in his younger days, and more recently sitting on both the Platinum Jubilee and War Memorial restoration committees in East Farndon. Tom lives at 28 Naseby Close, Market Harborough, LE16 9NX.

Samantha Beesley

Sam moved to East Farndon with her husband Neil and son Jack in 2017. She grew up in Horsham, West Sussex and in 1990 moved to Market Harborough to work for Next as a Buyer and met Neil at the Crown pub in Tur Langton. Her work has been based in London, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Turkey where she has undertaken leadership roles for various clothing retailers. She now works for Lands’ End as Senior Director for Product Europe. No surprise, she loves to shop! Sam lives at Twin Elms, Marston Lane, East Farndon, LE16 9SL.

Photograph of Mervyn Curtis
Mervyn Curtis

Merv was born in Northamptonshire and moved to East Farndon in 2017, joining the Parish Council in early 2019. He is an engineer by background and a retired Vice President of IT having worked for British Timken, RTZ and Honeywell. He is a keen but average golfer, enjoys diy, taking as many holidays as possible and spending quality time with his wife Laurel, grown up kids and young grandsons. Merv is acting as Webmaster for the Parish Council and lives at Mill House, Main Street, East Farndon, LE16 9SJ.

Melanie Duke

Melanie moved to East Farndon in late 2019 and joined the Parish Council in March 2022. She grew up in Northamptonshire and, after a few years working away, moved back in 1998, living in nearby Draughton for many years. Melanie is a chartered accountant and has worked in the banking, media and leisure industries. She and her husband, John, have two daughters, both at university, and a very bouncy, friendly dog called Moriarty. Melanie lives at 1, Rectory Court, East Farndon, LE16 9SU.

Photograph of Paul Hodgetts
Paul Hodgetts (Chair of Burial Ground Committee & Chair of Staffing Committee)

Paul moved to East Farndon in 2016 with his wife Judy and joined the Parish Council in 2017. He is now retired having previously run the Worldwide Enablement Business for a large US based computer firm. Paul has since re-qualified as a Yoga teacher and runs a regular practice. In his spare time Paul plays golf, runs, bakes and is an avid follower of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, but please don’t hold that against him! Paul lives at 4 Rectory Court, East Farndon, LE16 9SU.

You can click this link to access the official WNC information held about East Farndon Parish Council, including the Register of Members’ interests.


West Northamponshire Councillor for East Farndon Parish

As a result of a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission in 2024, East Farndon moved from the Welford Ward, with 3 WNC Councillors, to a new Rural North East Ward with a single WNC Councillor. Following the elections on 1st May 2025,  Cécile Irving-Swift was elected as the WNC Councillor for the next four years for the Rural North East ward. WNC Councillor Irving-Swift can be contacted by email at cécile.irving-swift@westnorthants.gov.uk or by telephone on 07769740468.


Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

In May 2024, Danielle Stone was elected as the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Her role includes coverage of the East Farndon Parish, please click this link to make contact with her office.


You can read our Website Accessibility Statement via the link here: https://eastfarndon.org/parish-council-website-accessibility-statement/ If you require any information in an alternative format, please email the Parish Clerk at: clerk@eastfarndon-pc.gov.uk.