Sheila Potipher

Sheila is now retired following a successful career in the insurance industry. Sheila started in the City of London with a large insurance company moving to broking a few years later.

Sheila is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and also a Chartered Insurance Broker.

Sheila specialised in construction insurance all of her career and in 1986 formed a specialist broking firm with a business partner. 12 years later when her business partner wished to retire, she merged the business with previous colleagues and worked from offices at Turkey Mill, Maidstone.

Sheila sold her share of the business in 2008 and has not been involved in the insurance industry since although she retains her professional qualifications.

Sheila was a governor of Mid Kent College and stepped down in March of this year after being on the board for 21 years, the last 7 years as Chairman. Sheila became a magistrate in 2004 and is now both an adult and youth magistrate and Chairtaker in both courts. Sheila sits on the Central Kent bench in Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Medway. Sheila is a member of The Lord Chancellors Advisory Council in Kent.

Sheila has been a leader in Girls Brigade for many years and is active in the 1st Maidstone Company and attends Tonbridge Road Methodist church where she is also active in the Junior church. She has been a Trustee of the national body, Girls Brigade England & Wales and is currently president of the Mid Kent District. Sheila has also been a Street Pastor in Maidstone for about 9 years.

She is the Chair of the Valley Park School Local School Board.