New Councillors for Sketty
Local residents cast their votes on Thursday to decide who they wanted to elect as councillors for the area. There were five seats up for grabs, and below you'll find a brief profile of each winning candidate.
Mike Day
Mike Day has served as a Sketty Councillor since 1999, successfully campaigning to keep the Library open, supporting community action especially during the pandemic and helping out in the Foodbank, local breakfast and friendship clubs. He organised a public meeting for people to express their concerns over proposals to sell off land in Singleton Park, and he continues to hold the Council to account over decisions such as the Clyne Shared Use Paths. He has lived in Sketty for over 33 years and is a Governor of Sketty and Olchfa schools and until 2021, a member of the Gower College Swansea board. Married with two children and three grandchildren, Mike is also a local Church leader and a Swans season ticket holder.
Dr James McGettrick
Dr James McGettrick is a local campaigner and a materials engineer at Swansea University. His work gives him a keen insight into environmental issues and this is a passion he has brought to his life in Sketty, where he has campaigned hard against Labour’s plans to build housing on the Home Farm site in Singleton Park as well as being a dedicated volunteer with the Friends of Singleton Park. He volunteered with the Sketty Foodbank throughout the pandemic and is now a trustee. He helps out regularly at Sketty Park food bank. In his spare time he enjoys board games, cycling and is a regular in the Swansea 10km and half marathon.
Cheryl Philpott
Cheryl has lived in Sketty for 40 years and has been married to husband Steve for 45 years, with their three children all having grown up in Sketty and attended local schools. Prior to becoming a Councillor she was a development manager for a large insurance company and has found the skills of communication and negotiation to be invaluable in her community role. Cheryl is well known throughout Sketty for her hard work and willingness to be hands-on in fixing problems large or small. She loves working with residents and has a knack for finding sustainable solutions that make Sketty a clean, green, safe place to live.
Nicola Furlong
Nicola lives on Brynewydd Gardens by Sketty Green. She runs her own small business in Killay and is active in the community, organising a Christmas celebration event in Eversley Road and is on the committee of Sketty Park Community Centre. She has recently been helping to organise aid for Ukraine.
Michael Locke
Michael was born in Swansea and moved to Sketty in 1967. He worked in the Pathology Department of Singleton Hospital and then towards the end of his career in Morriston Hospital. He was on the Joint Staff Consultative committee for several years. He is a music loverand supporter of live music in Swansea. Michael believes we must emphasise the community in the post pandemic world. With a lot more people now working from home he believes we must build up facilities in our local community.
