Greenwich, Eltham and Chislehurst Conservatives have a long history of public and community service in the areas we work in.
On this page we have recorded the contributions of former Conservative councillors, candidates, MPs, and voluntary party officers in what is now known as the Royal Borough of Greenwich over the decades.
Public figures who have at one time represented local residents or otherwise served the Conservative cause in Greenwich borough include:
- Former Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss MP (who served as Eltham South ward councillor 2006-10)
- Sir Peter Bottomley MP (MP for Woolwich West and then Eltham from 1975-1997, and since 2019 the Father of House of the Commons)
- Gareth Bacon MP (who previously stood for London Assembly for Greenwich & Lewisham) and Louie French MP and Anna Firth MP (who both stood for Parliament in the borough before being elected to the House of Commons).
- Antony Higginbotham MP and Jackie Doyle-Price MP (who were Conservative council candidates in local elections in the borough before their election to Parliament)
- Cabinet Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP (who stood for Parliament in the borough, in our neighbouring constituency of Erith & Thamsemead in 1997)
- Former MP and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman MP, who served as President of the Greenwich Conservative Federation
- Former Cabinet Minister and Conservative Party Chairman Baron Deben (John Gummer) who contested the Greenwich Parliamentary Constituency in 1964 and 1966, and former Minister in the Thatcher and Major governments John Cope who fought Woolwich East in 1970
- Wartime Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood (MP for Woolwich West from 1918-1943)
Conservatives represented parts of the borough in Parliament for most of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in the period between the wars, variously in the 1940s, 50s and 60s and then for a long period from 1975 to 1997.
The Conservative Party has been the main Opposition Group on Greenwich Council since 1971 (after a three year period running from Council from 1968 after the London-wide Conservative landslide in that year) and the only Opposition to Labour since 2010.
Local government
Leaders of the Conservative Group
on Greenwich Council
2022-present: Matt Hartley
2020-22: Nigel Fletcher
2015-20: Matt Hartley
2006-15: Spencer Drury
2004-06: Rhodri Harris
1998-02: Peter King
Alec Miles
Peter King
1982-86: Arthur Rolfe
1978-82; Dermot Poston
1974-78 :David Hubber
1972-74: Hector McDonald
1968-72 Charlie Miles (Council Leader 1968-71)
1966-68: Leslie Smith
1964-66: Sam Manners
Deputy Leaders of the Conservative
Group on Greenwich Council
2024-present: Charlie Davis
2020-22: Charlie Davis
2018-20: Nigel Fletcher
2015-18: Mark Elliott
2014-15: Matt Hartley
2013-14: Nigel Fletcher
2012-13: Alex Wilson
2010-12: Nigel Fletcher
2009-10: Graeme Coombes
2006-09: Peter King
2004-06: Spencer Drury
2002-04: Rhodri Harris
Group Whips of the Conservative
Group on Greenwich Council
2022-present: Pat Greenwell
2014-22: Geoff Brighty
2013-14: Adam Thomas
2006-13: Eileen Glover
2004-06: Chris Taylor
-04: Dorothy Mepsted
Greenwich Conservative councillors
serving since 2022
Matt Hartley (first elected 2014, 2022-pres: Mottingham, Coldharbour & New Eltham)
Pat Greenwell (first elected 2018, 2022-pres: Eltham Town & Avery Hill)
John Hills (first elected 2000, 2022-2024: Mottingham, Coldharbour & New Eltham)
Roger Tester (first elected 2018, 2024-pres: Mottingham, Coldharbour & New Eltham)
Charlie Davis (first elected 2016, 2024-pres: Eltham Town & Avery Hill)
Greenwich Conservative councillors serving during 2002 to 2022
Geoff Brighty (first elected 1982, 2006-22: Blackheath Westcombe)
John Hills (first elected 2000, 2002-22: Coldharbour & New Eltham, served until 2024)
Spencer Drury (2002-22: Eltham North)
Nigel Fletcher (2005-14: Eltham North, 2018-22: Eltham South)
Matt Clare (2010-22: Eltham South)
Matt Hartley (2014-22: Coldharbour & New Eltham, still serving)
Charlie Davis (2016-22: Eltham North, still serving)
Roger Tester (2018-22: Coldharbour & New Eltham, still serving)
Pat Greenwell (2018-22: Eltham South, still serving)
Mark Elliott (2014-18: Eltham South)
Nuala Geary (2014-18: Eltham South)
Mandy Brinkhurst (2006-18: Coldharbour & New Eltham)
Dermot Poston (first elected 1968, 2002-14: Eltham North)
Eileen Glover (2002-13: Eltham South)
Alex Wilson (2006-14: Blackheath Westcombe)
Adam Thomas (2010-14: Eltham South)
Neil Dickinson (2010-14: Coldharbour & New Eltham)
Peter King (first elected 1978, 2002-10: Eltham South)
Liz Truss (2006-10: Eltham South)
Graeme Coombes (2006-10: Kidbrooke with Hornfair)
Andy Jennings (2006-10: Kidbrooke with Hornfair)
Chris Taylor (2002-10: Coldharbour & New Eltham)
Dorothy Mepsted (first elected 1986, 2002-06: Coldharbour & New Eltham)
Rhodri Harris (first elected 1992, 2002-06: Blackheath)
Douglas Ellison (2002-06: Eltham North)
Conservative councillors serving during 1978 to 2002
Dermot Poston (first elected 1968, 1978-90: New Eltham, 1993-02: Eltham Park, served until 2014)
Peter King (1978-02: Palace, served until 2010)
Geoff Brighty (1982-86: Kidbrooke, 1990-02: Blackheath, served until 2022)
Dorothy Mepsted (1986-02: New Eltham, served until 2006)
Rhodri Harris (1998-02: Blackheath, served until 2006)
Michael Simpson (1994-02: Eltham Park)
John Hills (2000-02: New Eltham, served until 2024)
Sidney Nicholson (1998-00: New Eltham)
Chris Phillips (1994-98: Blackheath)
Alec Miles (1982-86: Well Hall, 1986-98: Deansfield)
Derek Richards (1978-98: Tarn)
Wendy Mitchell (first elected 1974, 1978-94: Eltham Park)
Kenneth Kear (1978-82: Well Hall, 1982-94: Eltham Park)
Robin Henderson (1986-94: Blackheath)
Lewis Sergeant (1986-94: Shrewsbury)
Philip Dean (1986-94: Well Hall)
Martin Gooding (1990-94: New Eltham)
Rhodri Harris (1992-94: Kidbrooke)
Giles Brennand (1990-92: Kidbrooke)
Dingle Clark (1982-90: Sutcliffe)
John Antcliffe (1985-90: Blackheath)
David Hubber (first elected 1974, 1978-86: New Eltham)
Colin Coulson-Thomas (1977-78: Kidbrooke, 1978-82: Eltham Park)
Arthur Rolfe (1978-86: Blackheath)
Terence Jones (1978-86: Deansfield)
Jeremy Wise (1978-86: Vanbrugh)
Alice McCleery (1978-86: Vanbrugh)
Helen Gardener (1978-86: Well Hall)
Beryl Blackaby (1982-86: Vanbrugh)
Raymond Hatter (1982-85: Blackheath)
Robert Browne-Clayton (1978-82: St Alfege)
James Foreman-Peck (1978-82: Blackheath)
Peter Bassett (1978-82: St Alfege)
Eileen Sharp (1978-82: Shrewsbury)
(Trevor) Roy Hart (1978-82: Sutcliffe)
Patrick Jiggins (1979-92: Blackheath)
Greenwich Conservative councillors serving during 1964 to 1978
Dermot Poston (1968-71: Horn Park, 1974-78: New Eltham, served until 2014)
Wendy Mitchell (1968-71: Middle Park, 1974-78: Eltham, served until 1994)
Albert Serves (1964-78: Shooters Hill and Mayor 1970-71)
David Hubber (1968-71: Horn Park, 1974-78: New Eltham)
A Rooth (1974-78: Eltham)
R J English (1974-78: New Eltham)
Sidney Wayment (1972-78: Shooters Hill)
Dennis Mills (1974-78: Vanbrugh)
Stephanie Read (1975-78: St Margaret's)
Charlie Miles (1964-74: Shooters Hill - also Leader of the Council 1968-71)
Frank Newland (1964-74: Eltham)
Geoffrey Stow (1968-74: Blackehath)
Hector McDonald (1968-74: Eltham)
Jim Manners (1964-71: Vanbrugh - also Deputy Leader of the Council 1968-71)
Donald Thurley (1964-71: Blackheath and Mayor 1969-70)
Winifred Hulbert (1964-71: New Eltham)
Leslie Smith (1964-71: New Eltham and Mayor 1968-69)
Jim Manners (1964-71: Vanbrugh)
Silvio Bertram (1968-71: Eastcombe)
John Lewis (1968-71: Eastcombe)
Maurice Pollard (1968-71: Academy)
Olive Wood (1968-71: Academy)
Margaret Mendez (1968-71: Charlton)
Frederick Mills (1968-71: Charlton)
Minna Cole (1968-71: Coldharbour)
Evelyn King (1968-71: Coldharbour)
Kenneth Johnson (1968-71: Hornfair)
Arthur Rolfe (1968-71: Hornfair)
Gladys Barry (1968-71: Kidbrooke)
Anthony de Silva (1968-71: Kidbrooke)
Kenneth Valpy (1968-71: Kidbrooke)
Stewart Atkins (1968-71: Marsh)
Michael Pattenden (1968-71: Middle Park)
Paul Batterbury (1968-71: New Eltham)
Dennis Mills (1968-71: Park)
Kathleen Ross (1968-71: Park)
Jack Helm (1968-71: St Margaret's)
Neil Hughes-Narborough (1968-71: St Margaret's)
Eileen Sharp (1968-71: St Margaret's)
Percy Conie (1968-71: Slade)
George Gibbs (1968-71: Slade)
Jean Avery (1968-71: Well Hall)
Elsie Pennington (1964-68: Vanbrugh)
Roger Fyson (1964-68: New Eltham)
Elsie Pennington (1964-68: Vanbrugh)
Ian Hay Davison (1964-68: Blackheath)
Evelyn Middleton (1965-68: Eltham)
Sheila Bradley (1964-65: Eltham)
Conservative Aldermen of the
London Borough of Greenwich
Arthur Rolfe (1974-78)
Roger Fyson (1968-74)
Bob Wykes (1968-74)
John Barnes (1968-74)
Ian Hay Davison (1968-74)
Dr Derek Wigginton (1968-71)
David Hubber (1966-68)
Sam Manners (1964-66)
Conservative Mayors of the
London Borough of Greenwich
1970-71: Albert Selves
1969-70: Donald Thurley
1968-69: Leslie J Smith
Conservative Leaders of the
London Borough of Greenwich
1968-71: Charlie Miles
Conservative Deputy Leaders of the
London Borough of Greenwich
1968-71: Jim Manners
Conservative London Assembly Candidates for Greenwich & Lewisham
2021: Charlie Davis
2016: Adam Thomas
2012: Alex Wilson
2008: Andy Jennings
2004: Gareth Bacon
2000: Rhodri Harris
Members of Parliament and Parliamentary candidates
Conservative Members of Parliament
1975-1997: Peter Bottomley (MP for Woolwich West 1975-83, Eltham 1983-97)
1959-1964: Colin Turner (MP for Woolwich West)
1950-1959: Sir William Steward (MP for Woolwich West)
1943-1945: Francis Beech (MP for Woolwich West)
1918-1943: Sir Kingsley Wood (MP for Woolwich West)
1922-23, 1924-28, 1931-45: Sir George Hume (MP for Greenwich)
1921-22: Captain Robert Gee VC (MP for Woolwich East)
1910-1922: Ion Hamilton Benn (MP for Greenwich)
1895-1906: Lord Hugh Cecil (MP for Greenwich)
1873-1895: Sir Thomas Boord (MP for Greenwich)
1910: William Augustus Adam (MP for Woolwich)
1902-1903: Lord Charles Beresford (MP for Woolwich)
1885-1902: Sir Edwin Hughes (MP for Woolwich)
Conservative Parliamentary Candidates
for Eltham constituency since 1983
2024: Charlie Davis
2019: Louie French
2017: Matt Hartley
2015: Spencer Drury
2010: David Gold
2005: Spencer Drury
2001: Sharon Massey
1997: Clive Blackwood
1997: Peter Bottomley (sitting MP)
1992: Peter Bottomley (sitting MP)
1987: Peter Bottomley (sitting MP)
1983: Peter Bottomley (sitting MP)
Conservative Parliamentary Candidates
for Greenwich & Woolwich since 1997
2024: Jonny Goff
2019: Thomas Turrell
2017: Caroline Attfield
2015: Matt Hartley
2010: Spencer Drury
2005: Alistair Craig
2001: Richard Forsdyke
1997: Michael Mitchell
Conservative Parliamentary Candidates
for Erith & Thamesmead since 1997
2024: Richard Mark
2019: Joe Robertson
2017: Edward Baxter
2015: Anna Firth
2010: Colin Bloom
2005: Chris R Bromby
2001: Mark Brooks
1997: Nadhim Zahawi
Conservative Parliamentary Candidates
for Woolwich West from 1918 to 1983
1979: Peter Bottomley (sitting MP)
1975 by-election: Peter Bottomley
1974 Oct: Peter Bottomley
1974 Feb: Peter Bottomley
1970: Maurice Patrick Gaffney
1966: Maurice Patrick Gaffney
1964: Colin Turner (sitting MP)
1959: Colin Turner
1955: Sir William Steward (sitting MP)
1951: William Steward (sitting MP)
1950: William Steward
1945: Francis Beech (sitting MP)
1943 by-election: Francis Beech
1935: Sir Kingsley Wood (sitting MP)
1931: Sir Kingsley Wood (sitting MP)
1929: Sir Kingsley Wood (sitting MP)
1924: Sir Kingsley Wood (sitting MP)
1923: Sir Kingsley Wood (sitting MP)
1922: Sir Kingsley Wood (sitting MP)
1918: Sir Kingsley Wood
Conservative Parliamentary Candidates
for Woolwich East from 1918 to 1983
1979: Patrick Rock
1974 Oct: Barry Watson
1974 Feb: Barry Watson
1970: John Cope
1966: Anthony Andrews
1964: David Clarke
1959: Edgar Porter
1955: Henry Crawford
1951: Richard Harvey
1951 by-election: Richard Harvey
1950: J D Campbell
1945: Reginald Bennett
1935: John Francis Finn
1931: Edward Shrapnell-Smith
1931 by-election: Edward Shrapnell-Smith
1929: Edward Shrapnell-Smith
1924: D A Gooch
1923: Ernest Taylor
1922: Captain Robert Gee VC (sitting MP)
1921 by-election: Captain Robert Gee VC
1918: No Conservative candidate
Conservative Parliamentary Candidates
for Greenwich before 1997
1992: Alison McNair
1987: John Antcliffe
1987 by-election: John Antcliffe
1983: Arthur Rolfe
1979: Narindar Singh Saroop
1974 Oct: Suzette Harold
1974 Feb: Suzette Harold
1971 by-election: Stuart Thom
1970: Stuart Thom
1966: John Gummer
1964: John Gummer
1959: J Rodney Holmes
1955: William F Rhodes
1951: William H Bishop
1950: Ronald Gilbey
1945: Augustus Agar
1935: Sir George Hume (sitting MP)
1931: Sir George Hume
1929: Sir George Hume (sitting MP)
1924: Sir George Hume
1923: George Hume (sitting MP)
1922: George Hume
1918: Ion Hamilton Benn (sitting MP)
1910 Dec: Ion Hamilton Benn (sitting MP)
1910 Jan: Ion Hamilton Benn
1906: Lord Hugh Cecil (sitting MP)
1900: Lord Hugh Cecil (sitting MP)
1895: Lord Hugh Cecil
1892: Sir Thomas Boord (sitting MP)
1886: Sir Thomas Boord (sitting MP)
1885: Sir Thomas Boord (sitting MP)
Conservative Parliamentary Candidates
for Woolwich before 1997
1992: Kevin Walmsley
1987: Anthony Salter
1983: P Brown
(see Woolwich West and Woolwich East for the period 1918-1983)
1910 Dec: William Augustus Adam (sitting MP)
1910 Jan: William Augustus Adam
1906: William Augustus Adam
1903 by-election: Geoffrey Drage
1902 by-election: Lord Charles Beresford
1900: Edwin Hughes (sitting MP)
1895: Edwin Hughes (sitting MP)
1892: Edwin Hughes (sitting MP)
1886: Edwin Hughes (sitting MP)
1885: Edwin Hughes
Voluntary party officers
Chairmen of the Greenwich
Conservative Federation
2023-present: Christopher Swift
2022-23: James Cowling
2017-22: Roger Tester
2014-17: Geoff Brighty
2013-14: Peter King
2011-13: Malcolm Reid
2007-11: Peter King
2003-07: Graham Attwood
Hon Presidents of the Greenwich
Conservative Federation
2023-present: Geoff Brighty
2008-23: John Hills
2004-05: Caroline Spelman MP
Hon Vice Presidents of the Greenwich
Conservative Federation
2023-24: John Hills
2022-23: Geoff Brighty
-23: Chris Swift
Dermot Poston
2007?-08: John Hills
2004-06?: Frank Hodgson
Deputy Chairmen (Political & Campaigns)
of the Greenwich Conservative Federation
2023-present: Roger Tester
2022-23: Charlie Davis
2022: James Cowling
2021-22: Alan O'Kelly
2018-21: Nigel Fletcher
2017-18: James Shipp
2016-17: Roger Tester
2015-16: James Worron
2013-15: Matt Hartley
2013: Thomas Turrell
2012-13: Spencer Drury
2011-12: Liz Drury
2011: Neil Dickinson
2009-11: Graeme Coombs
2007-08: Richard Shackleton
2006-07: Chris Taylor
2005-06: Graeme Coombs
2004-05: John Letizia
2003-04:
Deputy Chairmen (Membership & Fundraising)
of the Greenwich Conservative Federation
2024-present: Liz Drury
2023-24: Tania Wilkinson-Bewick
2022-23: Roger Tester
2022: Andrea Borbely
2020-22: Daniel McGinley
2019-20: Roger Tester
2017-19: Antony Higginbotham
2016-17: Thomas Turrell
2015-16: Mandy Brinkhurst
2014-15: Alex Wilson
2013-14: John Hills
2012-13: Thomas Turrell
2011-12: Ryan Acty
2010-11:
2009-10: Matt Clare
2008-09:
2007-08: Graeme Coombs
2004-07: Mandy Brinkhurst
2003-04:
Treasurers of the Greenwich
Conservative Federation
2022-present: Ben Crompton
2018-22: Reece Smith
2011-2018: Mo Burgess
2007-11: Malcolm Reid
2003-07:
Eltham / Eltham & Chislehurst Constituency Officers
of the Conservative Federation
2023-present: Pam Wicks
2022-23: Malcolm Reid
2014-22: John Hills
2011-14: Peter King
2008-11:
2007-08: Simon Tee
2006-07:
2004-06: Paul Clark
2003-04:
Greenwich & Woolwich Constituency Officers
of the Conservative Federation
2023-pres: Malcolm Reid
2022-23: Lucy Woodruff
2017-22: Geoff Brighty
2016-17: Chris Swift
2015-16: Thomas Turrell
2013-15: James Worron
2013: Toni Hale
2011-13 : Richard Shackleton
2007-11:
2007-08: Jackie Doyle-Price
2006-07:
2004-06: Andy Jennings
2003-04:
(Please note every effort is made to ensure accuracy of this information - if you have a correction or omission please email [email protected]. We are grateful to former councillors Andy Jennings, Geoff Brighty and David Hubber and former Chairman Malcolm Reid for their help compiling this information).