Councillors

Gary Cullimore – ChairmanChairman

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Telephone:  07762812158 I was born in Luton but moved to Cornwall at the age of 6 months so I consider myself to be Cornish.  I lived in Redruth for most of my childhood and joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16, I served on ships for a few years and then joined Submarines where I stayed for the rest of my time in the Navy.

Whilst Serving I had an accident that led me to be wheelchair bound for the rest of my life.  After leaving the Royal Navy I came back to Redruth where I met my wife Nikki, we moved to Illogan with our children in 2004.  I have worked as a volunteer for the Royal British Legion and SSAFA.

We live in a vibrant and beautiful village, my aim is to help the Parish Council serve the people of Illogan to my best ability, and to help create and maintain our green spaces and to look after the facilities and services we already have.

David EkinsmythCouncillor

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Telephone: 07811 114971 Councillor David Ekinsmyth was born in London and spent some years of his childhood in Australia, returning to complete his schooling. He has a degree in Economics from London University and a post graduate Certificate in Education. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute by examination. He spent the first 10 years of his career in the Insurance industry before moving into Further Education as a business and management Lecturer. He moved to Cornwall and was able to develop his interest in sailing and was involved in yacht delivery around Europe and sail training. He was also employed within the Recycle for Cornwall Project as a canvassing supervisor. In 2007 he was elected to the Parish Council and has subsequently served on all Committees and as Chairman of the Council for 3 years. In July 2014 he was elected to Cornwall Council and is the current member for Illogan. Outside of Council roles David is a proud father and grandfather and has maintained the interest in sailing and has just retired after 5 years as Commodore of Blind at Sea. He also enjoys playing the piano and guitar and walking his two dogs. David is a Liberal Democrat member.

Lee HodgeCouncillor

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Telephone:  07592136620 Hi my name is Lee Hodge, Originally from Portreath but moved to Illogan at about 14. I have been a chef and in the hospitality trade for the last 26 years and have recently taken over the Robartes Arms. I have my wife Beth who I have been married to for 5 years, my eldest boy Freddie who's 6 and Reggie who is 18 months old and our newest edition who is due in August. I joined the Council to give back to the community and hopefully bring the village back a central, friendly local pub that the village can be proud of we will Try and assist in as many events as we can and hopefully keep them going for as long as I own the pub.

Tara O’DonnellCouncillor

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I was born and grew up in the seaside village of Perranporth, and spent most of my early years living in a guest house that my mother owned. During the school holidays, I worked in hospitality to earn extra pocket money, and got to know many of the locals living in the village at that time.  It was a comfort that people knew each other and looked out for each other as neighbours used to – a bit of a rarity these days. I attended university at De Montfort University from 1992, where I studied Performing Arts with the view to pursuing an occupation teaching Drama.  Unfortunately, I hated being away from Cornwall and could not wait to return home. On my return in 1997,  I bought my first home for my son and I in Pool, before moving in to the Illogan Parish in 2014, an area that I have loved.  Our daughter attended Illogan Primary school and it was wonderful to feel part of a community, where I feel that schools play an integral part.  My Husband and I have 5 children between us and 5 delightful grandchildren, who all live close by. I have worked in retail, education, health care and admin. I am constantly updating my skill set and have a zest for learning. I am passionate about my family, good friends, live music and theatre performances and of course walking on our beaches.   We recently lost our beloved Lucy (Golden retriever) who we walked regularly through the park and Illogan woods, again meeting lots of local folk who we could chat to, especially the elderly who love having that 5 minute chat. By joining the parish council, I am really hoping to make a difference and put something back into a community that has been wonderful to us since we moved here.

Jenna SimmonsCouncillor

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Tel: 07748 461842 I'm a proud Cornish woman, born and raised here in beautiful Cornwall.  Illogan and it's surrounding areas have always been home to me, and for the past 10 years, I've been lucky enough to call Illogan Parish my home. Over the years I've tried my hand at various roles - from working with horses and dogs to being involved in different areas of hospitality, including restaurants and holiday lets, alongside my family.  More recently, I've been focusing on the clerical side of our family's development company, where I've been expanding my knowledge around planning and finance. I'm also a very proud mum, which has deepened my passion for making sure our community offers welcoming, inclusive spaces and opportunities for children and young people to thrive. I decided to join Illogan Parish Council because I truly care about our area and want to help ensure that all voices - young and old - are heard and respected.  I believe a council should reflect the diversity of its community, and I'm grateful for the chance to play a part in that.

Sue SimmonsCouncillor

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Telephone:  07984 552527 I’m a proud Cornish woman, born and raised in this beautiful county, with deep roots in the local community. I’m a mother, grandmother, and a local business owner with extensive experience in the planning and property development sector. In my free time, I enjoy gardening and horse riding—two passions that keep me connected to nature and our rural heritage. I joined the council because I believe my many years of experience can be put to good use in helping shape the future of our area. Having witnessed the changes in Cornwall over the years, I understand both the challenges and opportunities we face. Now living in Illogan, I’m proud to call it home and am committed to working hard to support positive changes that will benefit our community.