Cricket Green

Michael Butcher has lived in Mitcham his whole life, having been born at St Helier Hospital and attended SS Peter & Paul Catholic Primary School, where he now serves as a School Governor. Michael learnt to swim at the Canons, played football in Mitcham Little League and he used to march in parade as part of the 11th Mitcham Scouts.

You might have seen Michael sing or play guitar in one of Mitcham’s pubs! A highlight was Merton’s 60th Birthday celebrations last year, where Michael got to sing live on stage with Sean Williamson (Eastenders’ Barry)!

Michael recently got married, and like many young people, he and his wife are currently trying to buy their first home where they can raise a family right where he grew up.

Michael was delighted to play a leading role recently in securing a banking hub for Mitcham, and will continue in 2026 to advocate to save the front desk at Mitcham Police Station.

Cricket Green

Usaama Kaweesa has lived in Mitcham his whole life and his family are still around the Phipps Bridge estate, so this place really is home for him. Usaama went to school at Liberty Primary, then St Mark’s Academy, and later Merton College. He is now Chair of Governors at Haslemere Primary School and was proud to help lead the school to a ‘Good with Outstanding features’ Ofsted rating.

Usaama volunteers with the Dons Local Action Group, helping to get food to people who are struggling. He raises money for the AFC Wimbledon Foundation, even doing a skydive for them, to help fund activities for young people.

As Merton’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Usaama has led work that supports families every day. From free holiday activities for children on free school meals to our new family hubs, including one in Phipps, making it easier for people to get the help they need in one place.

Usaama is delighted to help his home area, particularly making the Canons and Vestry Hall lively community spaces again, full of family events, and the free swimming sessions for children and older residents.

Cricket Green

Gill Manly has supported many local groups, including Churches Together in Mitcham, where she cooks lunch for over 80 guests on Christmas Day. She has also organised and run community events such as the King’s Coronation Tea Party, Macmillan fundraisers on the Cricket Pitch, and she founded the Mitcham Community Film Club in 2024.

As a disabled person, Gill is particularly passionate about supporting disabled residents and drivers with issues around Blue Badges and Disabled Parking Bays. Gill spearheaded campaigns to save Mitcham’s banks and, more recently, with our MP, has helped to bring a banking hub to Mitcham. She also secured a pop-up for the Polish café owners, Paweleks, to run the hugely successful café at the Canons, now a permanent contract.

Gill studied classical acting and went on to have a wonderfully varied career in theatre, music, TV, radio, and the arts. In her spare time, Gill immerses herself in gardening and caring for the landscape at the Almshouses, where she lives. She also enjoys helping residents with free plants and encouraging them to create their own street gardens.

Mitcham and Morden MP

Siobhain has lived in the constituency of Mitcham and Morden her whole life and was elected as the Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden in 1997.

Siobhain is renowned as one of the country’s hardest-working MPs, and regularly leads the list of MPs who have written the most letters, taking up thousands of new cases on behalf of constituents every year. She has led a variety of campaigns, including the opening of a new train station at Mitcham Eastfields, saving St Helier Hospital, introducing new community ‘Safer Neighbourhood’ police teams, and tackling graffiti, abandoned cars, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour.

Twitter: @Siobhain_Mc

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