Mayor
Nicola Gilbert
The Mayor sits on all committees.
Cllr Gilbert has lived and worked in Launceston all her life and managed a charity-based pre-school in the heart of Launceston for 30 years until her retirement. She has been married since 1973, has two daughters who live locally, and four grandchildren.
Cllr Gilbert has been a long-standing member of Launceston and District Twinning Association, is a member and past President of Kensey Vale Bowling Club where she helps to coach primary school children the game of bowls, which helps them learn and develop new skills and is a School Governor for Windmill Hill Academy.
Cllr Gilbert represents Launceston Town Council within Launceston and District Twinning Association, as a Trustee of Coronation Park Trust and Community Emergency Plan. Councillor Gilbert joined Launceston Town Council in 2019.
Deputy Mayor
John Conway
The Deputy Mayor as an ex-officio sits on all committees.
Cllr Conway is a retired HM Inspector of Taxes, part time motorcycle instructor and Parish Clerk.
He has served as a councillor several times, the first being in 1995. Cllr Conway has served twice as Deputy Mayor.
Councillors
Helen Bailey
Cllr Bailey moved to Launceston in 2004 and is employed locally as an accounts manager. Her interests are varied but include volunteering with Lions International as a member of the Helen Keller Internet Lions Club, she is currently the club President also she is Membership Officer for Launceston Inner Wheel Club.
Cllr Bailey and her husband enjoy socialising and spending time with family, she has a son and step-daughter.
Cllr Bailey is a member of the Finance and General Purposes committee and the Estates and Properties committee as well as representing the Council at the Cornwall Association of Local Councils (CALC), and as a Coronation Park Trustee.
Cllr Bailey joined Launceston Town Council in 2017 and was Mayor 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Paula Bullen
Cllr Bullen sits on the Finance & General Purposes Committee.
She moved to Launceston in 2014 and has worked at Launceston College since 2018 as part of the Finance Team. She lives with her partner and has 3 grown up children and 4 wonderful grandchildren who keep them young at heart. She enjoys cooking and trying new food, music, travelling and watching rugby.
Councillor Bullen is a Trustee of Coronation Park Trust, and a non-voting member of Launceston Youth Partnership at The Orchard Centre.
Cllr Bullen has served as a Councillor several times, the first being in 2016.
Dave Gordon
Cllr Gordon sits on the following committees: Planning and Economic Development, Estates and Properties and Library, Arts, Business and Information.
He was born and raised in Launceston and worked for 30 years as a full time fireman until his retirement in 2008. He has been married to Carol since 1976 and has three children and three grandchildren.
Cllr Gordon represents the Town Council on the Emergency Plan Group, Launceston Town Plan Group and Connect Launceston
Cllr Gordon joined Launceston Town Council in 2007 and served as Mayor in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Cllr Gordon has always been actively involved with our community over many years. He organised road races for 18 years, before turning his attention to Launceston Carnival of which he is Chair
As Chair of the Coronation Park Trust, he worked with a local business person and manages to secure the leisure centre form closure. The Trust actively support the infrastructure of Coronation Park and it recently partnered the installation of the skate park, with Launceston Town Council.
Cllr Gordon is the Chair of Connect Launceston, who are working on a campaign to get Launceston and North Cornwall connected to the rail network.
Davey Green
Cllr Green sits on the Planning & Economic Development Committee and represents Launceston Town Council within Launceston Sports.
He attended Launceston College from 1979 to 1984 and was a School Governor at St Stephens Community Academy where both of his sons were educated.
Cllr Green has been a local football referee since 2002 and is the Cornwall County FA Mental Health Champion.
Having completed 229 official Marathons, and penning two books on the subject, he is the Director of firstandlastrunning Ltd which he also uses as a vehicle for his fundraising activities.
Cllr Green worked for 30 years with British Airways.
He joined Launceston Town Council in 2021.
John Harris
Cllr Harris sits on the following committees: Estates & Properties and Planning & Economic Development.
Cllr Harris moved to Launceston from Bude with his wife Barbara in 1982 and has two children. He has worked in the social housing sector for many years, sat on the board of Cornwall Housing Ltd from its creation in 2012 until April 2021 and retains an active interest in social housing, especially housing law, complaint appeals tribunals and tenant liaison. His biggest interest is art, both as a painter/sculptor and art history.
Cllr Harris is a School Governor for Windmill Hill Academy and represents Launceston Town Council within; CALC (Cornwall Association of Local Councils), Launceston CCTV Committee and Launceston Street Pastors .
Cllr Harris joined Launceston Town Council in 2008.
Joan Heaton
Cllr Heaton has lived in Launceston since 2002, after returning from abroad.
She joined Launceston Town Council in 2019 and is also a councillor for St Stephen by Launceston Rural Parish Council. Cllr Heaton is a school governor at St Stephens Community Academy and Lewannick Primary School.
Cllr Heaton has a particular interest in healthcare and sits on the Launceston Medical Centre Patient Participation Group as well as being the appointed lay member on the North and East Cornwall Integrated Area Forum. She is also a member of The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and practices locally.
As a councillor advocate, Cllr Heaton works through the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and works as an independent custody visitor through the same body.
Cllr Heaton recently became a Causley Trustee, promoting Charles’ Causley’s work and honouring his legacy as a son of Launceston.
Brian Hogan
Cllr Hogan sits on the following committees: Estates & Properties and Finance & General Purposes.
Cllr Hogan worked for 47 years as an electrician and 3 years at Bowden Derra and is now retired. He has lived in the Launceston area for 38 years, has four grown up children and two grandsons. He enjoys watching rugby and has an active involvement in community events and projects.
Cllr Hogan was a long-standing lay trustee of the Eventide Trust, as well as being the Chair and Trustee of Launceston Town Band.
Cllr Hogan joined Launceston Town Council in 2007 and served as Mayor in 2015-16 and 2016-17
Sally Lankston
Cllr Lankston sits on the following committees: Planning and Economic Development, Library, Arts, Business and Information and the Youth Council.
Cllr Lankston has lived in Launceston her whole life and attended Windmill CP School and then Launceston College. She has been married since 2001 and has two lovely children.
She works for Kernow Health CIC and her hobbies include, reading, going to the theatre, eating out, watching rugby at Polson and she loves holidaying with her family in their caravan. She is also a Committee Member for Launceston Rugby Club.
Cllr Lankston joined Launceston Town Council in 2023.
Paul O’Brien
Cllr O’Brien served 34 years as a Sussex Police Officer as both Constable and Sargeant, retiring in 2000. His latter 17 years were spent as a member of the National Police Federation with the last 7 years spent at the Deputy General Secretary with responsibility for much of the legal work on behalf of its members.
In his role as a Launceston Town Councillor, Cllr O’Brien has been heavily involved in the refurbishment of the Town Hall, the introduction of a CCTV system in the town, the introduction of The Little Red Bus service, revisions to the Council’s Standing Orders and the creation of the Terms of Reference for its committees.
Bonnie Soanes
Cllr Soanes sits on the Finance & General Purposes Committee. Bonnie has spent the majority of his working life in the Ministry of Defence doing many interesting roles. He attended Launceston College for 3 years to be near his family.
He is a member of the Royal British Legion, The Royal Observer Corps Association, The EdyMead Trust, The Launceston Patient Participation Group and was the Treasurer of C2K Youth and Community Centre.
Cllr Soanes was a member of the Launceston Town Planning Group and is a School Governer for St Stephen’s Community Academy.
Cllr Soanes represents Launceston Town Council within the Coronation Park Trust.
Cllr Soanes joined Launceston Town Council in 2021
Rob Tremain
Cllr Tremain sits on the Planning & Economic Development.
He was born and raised in Launceston and attended Pennygillam Secondary School and Launceston College. He married his beloved wife in 1976 and they have three children and three grandchildren. He has been a member of St Mary Magdalene Parish Church since childhood and is a Local Worship Leader.
Cllr Tremain is a Member of the Royal Institution of Cornwall and President of Launceston Old Cornwall Society. In 1995 along with his father, he organised the re-introduction of the ‘Silence’ on November 11th in Launceston, and is proud that the ceremony grows year by year. He organised the first St Piran’s Day ceremony at Launceston Castle in 1999, and was involved in getting permissions for the St Piran Flag (which he presented to English Heritage) to fly from the Castle during its opening times. Cllr Tremain was made a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh 1998 and took the Bardic name Cryor an Dre Lanstefan.
Cllr Tremain represents Launceston Town Council within Friends of Launceston Priory and Launceston Municipal Charities. Cllr Tremain has been Launceston’s Town Crier for 45 years and was elected to the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers in 1982.
In 2019 he was made an Honoured Burgess of the Town of Launceston in recognition of his considerable contribution to the Town. Cllr Tremain joined Launceston Town Council in 1988 and served as Mayor in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Margaret Young
Cllr Young sits on the following committees: Finance & General Purposes and Estates & Properties.
Cllr Young worked at Launceston College for 32 years as Home Economics Teacher to Assistant Principal, and is now retired. She is passionate about promoting and supporting young people and enjoys catering and travel. She has two sons who both live and work in the Launceston area and a young grandson.
Cllr Young represents Launceston Town Council within the Launceston Town Youth Council, Launceston Municipal Charities and FLIC (Films Launceston in the Community). Cllr Young is a School Governor for St Catherine’s Church of England Primary School and is a Trustee of Launceston Youth Partnership at The Orchard Centre.
Cllr Young joined Launceston Town Council in 2009 and served as Mayor in 2017-18 and 2018-19.