Dr Ian Calder – President
Ian read medicine at St. Andrew’s University (in the days when Fife elected a Conservative and Unionist MP!). After spending some years in hospital and academic pathology, he now enjoys running his own diary as a forensic pathologist.
Ian has been a member of the Conservative Party for nearly forty years and has served his apprecticeship in support of fund raising – particularly in marquee erection and `fetching and carrying`.
Ian feels very privileged to be President of South Cambridgeshire Conservative Association and to be working with Andrew Lansley, Donald Douglas and the management team at a particularly vital time in politics.
He has known Andrew since he was selected and has immense regard for him. With Andrew now in the Cabinet, Ian feels that this is a personal high point in his own 'career' with the Association.
Donald Douglas – Chairman
Donald is a graduate of Edinburgh University and a Chartered Accountant. After a long career in the City with J P Morgan and N M Rothschild, he now runs Cambridge Risk, advising on derivatives, hedging and risk management.
Donald was a Councillor for Trumpington and has stood four times in Queen Ediths Ward, which includes Addenbrooke’s Hospital. He is passionate about the development of Cambridge and is a trustee of Cambridge Past, Present and Future.
With his wife Pamela, Donald has lived near Addenbrooke’s for 25 years; they are often visited by his three children, their spouses and eight grandchildren.
Donald Douglas – 01223 245 357 / 07889 657 590 / donald.douglas@cambridgerisk.co.uk
Stephen Frost – Secretary and Election Agent for South Cambridgeshire Conservative Association
Stephen has been our Agent since early 1999. Prior to that he was the Agent in West Suffolk... before that Bury St Edmunds... and before then Rossendale and Darwen, in Lancashire, where he started his career.
Stephen is one of the Party’s more experienced Agents with over 20 years’ in the role. He has been the Election Agent for five different parliamentary candidates and (in his own words) too many to remember local election candidates.
He was the Chairman of the National Society (the Conservative Agents professional body) from October 2007 until 2009 and currently serves the Society as its senior Vice Chairman.
In June 2009 he was elected to Suffolk County Council as the member for Mildenhall.
On the personal side, he has three children – his eldest daughter is married and lives in America, his son is serving in the RAF and his youngest daughter took her A levels in 2010.
Julie Simpole-Clarke – Deputy Chairman for Membership
“I have,” says Julie, “been a Conservative (with a capital ‘C’! ) since my early twenties. After Quentin Davies defected to the Labour in 2007, I worked with Stamford and Grantham Association in their Business Group and to help elect Nick Boles to Westminster in the 2010 general election.
“I’ve served on the Cambridge City Executive. and I was ward candidate for Trumpington in 2010 – not an easy seat to do well in!”
In addition to her new Membership role, Julie also leads the Business Group for the Federation of the three Associations based in Hardwick (South, South East and City). “Our plan is to broaden the membership so Cambridgeshire has real clout at Westminster and with local government,” she says.
Julie is a Lincolnshire Farmer's daughter and very proud of her country roots. “After I left College in the 1980s, I worked as a trader on the money markets in the City. During this period I was an activist in my constituency of Kensington and Chelsea and helped with Michael Portillo's election campaign.
“After leaving the City, I established a food business which included a retail outlet in Stamford, ran the concession at Burghley House and provided editorial and media support for Rosemary Conley, Delia Smith, Nigella Lawson, Nigel Slater and many household names. Some recent projects include media concept development for Celebrity Master Chef, The Bubble and Hat Trick Productions.”
Julie is a single Mum, now living in Cambridge. Her daughter is reading Chemistry at Bristol University and coxes for the University, having coxed for Cantabs when she was at school at the Perse Girls.
“We’ve a tough time ahead and the Coalition is having to make some difficult and unpopular decisions to put right the terrible mess we inherited from Gordon Brown,” says Julie.
“Making sure that we recruit and retain members will be a crucial task for the Association over the coming years. I want to bring my energy and experience with people to ensure this happens.
“I know I can count on the support of each and every member of the Association to help with this incredibly important task.”
Julie Simpole-Clarke – 01223 569 150 / 07778 589 311 / simpole-clarke@hotmail.co.uk
