Graveney

Billy Hayes has been a Graveney Councillor for 4 years and has been part of Siobhain’s Labour Action Team for 12 years.

Billy was born and raised in Liverpool, where he served his community as a local postman. He moved to London in 1992 to become an officer at the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to advocate for those in his profession. Billy served as the General Secretary, “the boss”, of the CWU from 2001 up until his retirement in 2015.

Since his retirement, Billy has invested his time into Graveney, the place where he has called home since 1995. He has spearheaded many local campaigns, including the tarmacking of Grenfell Road, the implementation of lifts in Tooting Station and the installation of defibrillators at NEMCA and the Civic Centre. He also serves as the Council’s Living Wage Champion.

Billy is particularly looking forward to the Renters Rights Bill becoming law, after spending years campaigning across Graveney on landlord licencing.

Outside of politics, Billy is an avid fan of his boyhood club Liverpool FC and loves attending concerts and live music venues with his wife and two children.

Graveney

Devina has been a proud resident of Merton for over 40 years, with deep roots in the borough she calls home. Devina attended the Ursuline Convent through to sixth form and, as a mother to a young son, understands first-hand the importance of strong local schools, community spirit, and the sense of belonging that makes this borough so special.

Devina is a Chief Financial Officer at a financial services firm and she specialises in helping businesses get started, grow and scale. She is a Trustee of two charities and has sat on the boards of several businesses. Her professional experience in leadership, finance, and governance has given her a deep understanding of how to balance budgets responsibly. Devina is committed to making sure that Merton’s Council Tax is kept as low as possible and that residents get value for their money.

As a huge advocate of financial literacy and wellbeing, Devina gives workshops in local communities to teach about finance to help everyone have better control of their money.

Outside of her professional life, Devina enjoys exercise and is an enthusiastic amateur runner who supports the Figges Marsh Parkrun

Graveney

Linda Kirby grew up in neighbouring Wandsworth and moved to Mitcham in 1974. Linda trained as a teacher and did her teaching practice at Links Primary School where she is now a School Governor. Linda has taught at Bond, Gorringe Park and Cottenham Park (now St Matthews) schools in Merton.

Linda lives here in Graveney Ward with her husband, and she has a son and a daughter and four grandchildren. She has been your local councillor since 1986 and has a huge amount of experience. Her heart is in her local community of Graveney.

Linda has been instrumental in establishing a phenomenal number of local charities and projects around here: North East Mitcham Community Association (NEMCA); Faith in Action Merton Homelessness Project; The Colour House Children’s Theatre (now closed); Figges Marsh Junior Park Run; North East Mitcham Parks Friends Group; Graveney in Bloom; Graveney Street Champions.

Linda has written 32 musicals, some for her school and some for the Colour House Children’s Theatre. One of them, Paradise Merton, was performed by 9 Merton Schools in Wimbledon Theatre to celebrate Horatio Nelson’s 200th anniversary.

Leader of Merton Council

Ross Garrod’s parents moved to Mitcham when he was six months old, and it has been his home ever since. Ross attended Bennedict Primary School, Priory Middle School, and Rutlish High School. After moving out of the family home, he now lives on Grove Road near to St Mark’s Academy.

Ross has represented Longthornton ward for four years and is now the Leader of Merton Council. As part of Siobhain’s Action Team, Ross has secured investment in shop fronts on the shopping parade on Northborough Road and upgraded the facilities in Oakleigh Way (refurbished tennis courts) and Rowan Road Rec (new splash pad, children’s playground, refurbished basketball court).

Ross worked with residents to open a new pocket park on Meopham Road, turning a fly tipping hotspot into an area the whole community can enjoy.

Ross is a season ticket holder for AFC Wimbledon although he admits that his main team is Aston Villa. He used to play football for a team at Three Kings Piece in Mitcham, but now most of his physical activity is in a gym – or out walking, speaking with residents.

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.

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