Independent Members
Independent Members
Below are biographies of the four Independent Members of the Council's Standards Committee.
Eric Blackburn
Independent Member of the Standards Committee
Eric Blackburn, OBE,QPM,CPM,MPM (Port) C.I.Mgt., was a career police officer. He served in Hong Kong from 1954 to 1989, when he retired in the rank of acting Commissioner of Police. In retirement he served as an Executive Director with a Hong Kong property company before moving to Cyprus. In 1993 he was selected to join the Macau Jockey Club in order to restructure security and spearhead a drive to eradicate illegal, off-course, triad-related bookmaking activity, which threatened the existence of the Club.
In recognition of his achievement he was appointed as Director of Administration, a position held until retirement in 2000, when he settled full-time in Horsham. In 2003 he applied successfully to join the Independent Remuneration Panel and served until he was appointed as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee in 2005. Initially he served as Vice-Chairman and was first elected as Chairman of the Committee in 2006.
Mary Jagger
Independent Member of the Standards Committee
Mary Jagger BA(Hons) DMA was a senior manager in local government during the main part of her career. She then undertook consultancy, subsequently becoming Chief Officer of Age Concern in Guildford for several years. Having been trained in advocacy, she now undertakes various assignments in the public and charitable sectors. Throughout her life she has undertaken a range of voluntary and charitable roles.
Mary was a member of Elmbridge Borough Council’s Standards Committee for several years prior to moving to Sussex and became an Independent Member of Horsham’s Standards Committee in 2005. Mary was re-appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee for the ensuing Council year on 9 June 2010.
Paul Byford
Independent Member of the Standards Committee
After a private education, Paul Byford worked for a clearing bank for 34 years in the city, regional and local offices. Skills gained at management level included controlling 80 staff, listening to customer needs, investigating fraud within the inspection department and finally lending to businesses and companies. He established a business consultancy, undertaking probate, employment tribunals and advising solicitors and accountants. Paul ran an event florist with his wife for five years, experiencing business from the sharp end. He also lectures, using his hobby of philately to help describe a variety of topics.
Paul involved himself in local politics and charitable work for ten years, becoming Chairman of both his local parish council and of the Horsham Association of Local Councils. During this period he was also appointed to the Standards Committee as a Parish Council Member. Paul was elected as an Independent Member of Horsham's Standards Committee in 2007.
David Tilsley
Independent Member of the Standards Committee
David is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, where he studied economics and statistics. Starting his career as a graduate trainee with the Sun Alliance Insurance Group, David has worked in a variety of roles in the IT sector before specialising in project and quality management. Currently he works for Oracle Corporation UK Limited as a risk management director.
As a keen singer, David is a member of several choirs, including Horsham Parish Church Choir, which he also conducts. He also enjoys walking and squash and has been a School Governor at The Holy Trinity School in Crawley since 2004.
David was appointed as an Independent Member of Horsham’s Standards Committee in 2007.