Key Personnel
Jason Hedley
Town Clerk
Jason was formerly a member of the Diplomatic Service, serving in the UK and overseas for a number of years. He was promoted from Assistant Town Clerk to Town Clerk in March 2025.
His Environmental Management degree has been very beneficial to the Town Council when discussing environmental and planning issues in Darley Dale.
Jason grew up in the Peak District and now lives in Bakewell.
Ian Adkin
Responsible Financial Officer (RFO)
Ian joined as Assistant Clerk in 2020, a week before lockdown and quickly found himself in the hotseat!
He later became Town Clerk in December 2020 and handed over the Town Clerk position to Jason Hedley and he himself become RFO in March 2025.
He has lived in Hackney in Darley Dale for over 10 years and his role involves advising Councillors, balancing the books and making sure all the office technology works.
He is though most passionate about improving the town and the local environment in any way he can.
Sarah Rivett
Community Engagement Officer
Sarah joined Darley Dale Town Council in November 2022 taking on the newly created role as Community Engagement Officer. The purpose of Sarah’s role is to forge connections with residents, groups and businesses, enabling them to have more of an influence and say in Darley Dale.
Sarah previously worked as a Community Development Manager for a property management firm. Prior to that, she worked in marketing for a London-based investment management company.
Antony Crowder
Footpath Warden
Antony has been working for Darley Dale Town Council for 19 years. He is local to Darley Dale and takes great pride in helping maintain the footpaths and is appreciated by many in the community.
Councillors
Cllr Jason Farmer
Chair of the Council
Jason spent many years in retail and now runs a family business which owns a large portfolio of properties.
He was co-opted onto the Council in 2021 and was elected as Vice-Chair in October of that year and became Chair in January 2024. He is also Chair of the Planning Committee and is a member of the Finance Advisory Committee and Personnel Working Group. Jason is also the lead councillor for Darley Dale Twinning.
Jason represents the South Ward and joined the Council to make a difference and give something back to his local community, where he has lived all his life.
Cllr Alan Atkin
Having lived in Darley Dale all his life, Alan wanted to become a Councillor to help give back to Darley Dale what it has given him.
Being the former Landlord at the Church Inn and the Square and Compass he knows how important the community of Darley Dale is. Now he is retired he has time to dedicate to the town.
Alan was co-opted onto the Council in February 2024 and he is one of the lead councillors for Platform Housing. Issues particularly important to him are looking after our environment and resident’s wellbeing.
Cllr Gee Atkin
Gee has lived in Darley Dale all her life, apart from the three years she was at De Montfort University studying Journalism. She therefore understands the importance of communicating within the community.
She currently works for Matlock Town Football Club where she witnesses the benefits of community spirit and would like to help apply this to Darley Dale.
Gee was co-opted onto the Council in January 2025. She is passionate about ensuring younger people’s voices are heard and there are initiatives in place for them to partake in. Preserving the local countryside and it’s wildlife to be enjoyed by everyone is also of great importance to Gee.
Cllr Julie Bishop
Julie moved to Derbyshire in 2001 and now lives in Morledge in Darley Dale. During her working career she has had various roles including working as a business development manager, an ambulance driver and air cabin crew for a large airline.
Julie was co-opted onto the Town Council in March 2023 and represents the North Ward. She is also part of the Planning Committee and is one of the lead councillors for Platform Housing.
Her motivation to become a councillor has stemmed from listening to people locally and feeling a need to help them have their feelings, views and ideas heard.
Cllr Dave Chapman
David is a retired engineering business owner. He was co-opted onto the Town Council in May 2024 to represent the South Ward. David is on both the Finance and Planning Committees and is a member of the Environmental Working Group.
David’s main interests are sustainable energy solutions for the local community and supporting residents in their views of planning applications. He is a former Director of Derbyshire Dales Community Energy which helps identify suitable local businesses for free solar installations offset by long term energy purchase agreements.
Cllr Wendy Godber
Wendy was previously a councillor at Four Marks Parish Council in Hampshire, where she served for four years.
She previously worked for Camden and Islington Community Mental Health Trust and has been a volunteer Bereavement Counsellor at a number of hospices.
In 2017 Wendy moved to Darley Dale and was co-opted onto the Town Council in November 2022 to represent the North Ward. Wendy is a member of the Planning Committee and is the lead councillor for Fairtrade and is also a member of the Environmental Working Group.
Her passions for the Green Movement have always led her to support or become involved with the promotion of environmentalist projects.
Cllr John Mordue
John Mordue worked for the local authority adult social care services sector for 30 years before retiring.
He was co-opted onto the Council in June 2021 and represents the South Ward. John is a member of the Environmental Working Group and is one of the lead councillors for allotments.
John has lived in Darley Dale since 1992 and his interests include allotments, the environment and promoting local community activity.
Cllr Sophie Paterson
Sophie joined Darley Dale Town Council in July 2024. Canadian born to British parents, Sophie came back to England in 2015, moving to Belper with her husband in 2019, and to Darley Dale with their new daughter in 2022.
She spent fifteen years working in theatre before transitioning to marketing and communications. Career highlights include numerous projects with young people and vulnerable communities as well as time spent in sustainability. She now writes and builds website content in the charity sector.
Cllr David Wheeler
David has lived in Darley Dale since 1977 and previously worked at HJ Enthoven & Sons before retiring in 2012.
He was a founder member of Matlock Canoe Club and is a keen skier and fell walker. Also for a number of years David was Chair of Trustees for Friends of Blencathra Ltd and Trustee at the LEVEL Centre in Rowsley. Since October 2024 David became a member of The Whitworth Trust.
David has a plethora of experience organising events and is keen to put that experience to hand when helping the Town Council organise events in Darley Dale.
Cllr James Wilson
James moved to Darley Dale in 2019 after being a regular visitor to the area for work. He has worked in the brewing industry for the last 14 years, with community playing a big role in his work.
He wanted to join the Town Council to make sure that the local community had a voice and to improve the area for everyone.
In particular, he wants to make sure that young people in the area get the help and support they need, and that the local environment is cared for and improved.
James joined the Council in May 2023 and is a member of the Planning and Finance Advisory Committees, a lead councillor for Youth Provision and a member of the Environmental Working Group. He is also a member of The Whitworth Trust.
We currently have one vacancy to become a Town Councillor in the South Ward, if you’re a resident or work in the town and you want to make a real difference locally we’d love to add you to our waiting list, please contact 01629 735248 or email: townclerk@darleydale.gov.uk
Other Local Elected Representatives
Derbyshire Dales District Council
District Cllr David Burton
T: 01629 734072
E: david.burton@derbyshiredales.gov.uk
District Cllr Marilyn Franks
E: marilyn.franks@derbyshiredales.gov.uk
District Cllr Roger Shelley
E: roger.shelley@derbyshiredales.gov.uk