New Councillors

Kevin Edser

I was born in Teddington, Middlesex in January 1959 and grew up in Kingston upon Thames and East Molesey in Surrey. Leaving Esher County Grammar School with 10 "O" levels, I joined Sir Robert McAlpine as a trainee civil engineer and continued my education via day release to achieve an HNC in Civil Engineering.

My working life has been spent entirely in the construction industry moving from the technical side to management, working my way up from Site Engineer, through Site, Project and Contracts Management and achieving an Associate Director’s role with Dew Pitchmastic, a National, Oldham based civil and building contractor, responsible for the Southern Regional activities from offices in Sidcup and Maidenhead. I later joined local specialist building contractor, GML, based in Horsmonden, as Operations Director where I continue to work.

I met my wife Carole in 1987, married in Tunbridge Wells in 1991 and our son Daniel was born in 1995. Carole is Tunbridge Wells born and bred and works part time for a stocks and shares analysis company in Tunbridge Wells. Daniel currently goes to school at Mascalls in Paddock Wood and is becoming an exceptional guitar player. Carole and I moved to in Pembury in 1995, shortly after Daniel was born and currently live in The Gill.

I have always been interested in football, playing for my primary school at left back and goalkeeper for my grammar school team. Later, I played as goalkeeper for Galleywood FC (Essex) on Saturday and Sundays, but a move from Chelmsford to Tunbridge Wells in 1987, together with a back and knee injury at the same time, put paid to my playing days!

I became involved with Pembury Athletic Youth FC in 2002 when Daniel joined the Under 7 age group. Carole came home one Saturday from training saying they needed a coach. I went down to the school the following Saturday and was joined up on the spot. I obtained my FA Level 1 coaching certificate in 2003. It became clear that more assistance was needed with the administration of the club, and took on the Secretary’s role.

During my time with the club, I have assisted the coaching of the Under 7’s through to the Under 10’s, assisted the club achieve its FA Charter Standard Status and obtain the massive £382,500 grant from the Football Foundation for the construction of the new Pavilion in Lower Green Recreation Ground. I was subsequently asked by the club and Pembury Parish Council to oversee the building works of the pavilion.

My other interests include collecting and listening to all genres of music. I also dabble at playing a bit of bass guitar to accompany my son’s guitar and keyboard playing.

I am very keen in getting involved with continuing to improve Pembury as a great place to live, and improving the facilities for the young people in the village.

I first came to Pembury in 1983. In 1986, I moved with my wife back to Scotland until returning in 1992. I have three wonderful children 19, 16 & 12, who live with their mother in Scotland. The oldest has just been accepted by Edinburgh University to study Interior Architecture. Like many people, I commute to London where I work as a client relationship manager for a national healthcare company delivering specialist nursing care to adults and children with long term illness. In my time off, I enjoy reading; my favourite book is The Labyrinth by Kate Mosse.

Favourite TV programs include The Apprentice, Gavin and Stacy and Heroes. I also enjoy the odd flutter so you might find me at the dogs in Brighton or putting a bet on at Lingfield. On Saturdays, you may well find me at the Camden Arms drinking my favourite beer, and on Sundays I attend church. Faith has always played an important part in my life and in this sense Pembury Baptist Church has shown me a warm welcome. Both my partner and I have a keen interest in local communities which is why I decided to become a Parish Councillor in order to give something back to the village. A place I am proud to call home.

I have lived in Woodhill Park, Pembury for the past 12 years and enjoyed every minute of it. My wife Kathy and I have been married for 22 years and I have two grown-up sons and one step-daughter. I achieved the young maturity of 60 years in May.