Meet the team
Councillor Jean-Francois (J-F) Burford
J-F has lived in Kew for the last 14 years and is passionate about the community and its welfare.
As a founder and chair of Kew Park Rangers Football Club, which serves the needs of 500+ children across the community, he hopes to use the knowledge and insight gained working closely with parents and young families to represent their interests in a wider forum and bring fresh thinking and ideas to local issues.
J-F has spent time over the last year with his fellow local Lib Dems knocking on Kew doors to develop a greater understanding of what Kew residents want from their Councillors. Their views are diverse and wide-ranging such as improving local facilities (creating a skate park and a farmers’ market) and tackling environmental issues (introducing bicycle clubs).
J-F chose to stand as a councillor because he believes that the welfare of the people is paramount to the welfare of a community and that these views are shared by Liberal Democrats.
J-F was elected as a councillor to represent the people of Kew on Thursday 6 May 2010.
Contact details
Address: 4 High Park Road, Kew, TW9 4BH
Email: cllr.jfburford@richmond.gov.uk
Phone: 07712 579380
George Crozier
George lives in Kenmore Close, at the junction of Kent Road and Mortlake Road. He was born in Fulham but grew up in Shropshire before moving back to the capital in the mid-1990s.
In his day job George is employed by the Chartered Institute of Taxation, where he works with the media, professional organisations and politicians from all parties to promote understanding of the tax system and improve the way it operates, especially for those on low incomes. Previously he worked as caseworker for a Member of Parliament, helping the MP’s constituents to get answers and action from government, and as speechwriter for Paddy Ashdown, during his time as Liberal Democrat leader.
George is passionate about the environment and, while working in Parliament, played a key part in getting the groundbreaking Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 passed into law. He is a strong supporter of Susan Kramer’s campaign to get the law changed to make it harder to build on back gardens (‘garden grabbing’).
With J-F, Serge, Susan and other local Lib Dems, George worked hard knocking on doors across Kew over the past year, asking local people for their views on the local environment, transport services, crime and other local issues. Although he was not elected in the May 2010 election he intends to keep campaigning locally.
George says: “What I love most about living in Kew is the village feel and sense of community here. I was disappointed not to be elected on May 6, but I intend to continue to work hard to protect our local environment and support local services.”
George is a member of the Kew Society, Friends of the Earth and Amnesty International, and a Friend of Kew Gardens.
Contact details
Address: 25 Kenmore Close, Kew, TW9 3JG
Email: crozierg@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: 07740 477374
Serge LourieSerge has lived in Kew since 1976 and was a Kew Councillor from 1982 to 2010.
Serge was a founder governor of Kew Riverside Primary School and still serves on its governing body. His children both went to the Queen’s School where Serge used to be a governor and active member of the PTA. They then attended Shene School and Richmond upon Thames College.
From 2006 to 2010 Serge was Leader of the Council. He has been a Trustee of the Kew Community Trust since it was founded and has been very active on a range of community and planning issues. He regularly attends Safer Neighbourhood meetings and also serves on the community liaison group for the hostel in North Road.
One way Serge has kept his eye on what is going on in the ward is by running through it with his running group. He recently enjoyed completing the Kew 10K race organised by St Anne’s Church.
Contact details
Address: 59, Burlington Avenue, Kew, TW9 4DG
Email: serge_lourie@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: 020 8876 3545
Susan Kramer
Susan is a key member of the Lib Dem team in Kew. She was the area’s Member of Parliament from May 2005 to May 2010.
Educated locally at St Paul’s Girls’ School, Susan first made her mark in politics as a candidate for Mayor of London in 2000, campaigning to stop the privatisation of the Tube and for dedicated local police teams. She has since been a board member of Transport for London and has served locally as a school governor. Susan is Patron of the Three Wings Trust and HomeStart locally.
Susan was elected to Parliament in May 2005, succeeding Jenny Tonge. Between 2005 and 2010 she served as a spokesperson on international development, transport, trade and industry and families.
Susan has led the fight in Parliament against the Government’s plans to expand Heathrow Airport. She has also campaigned to get the law changed to get back gardens classified as greenfield sites – meaning it would be much more difficult for them to be built on. She has been a consistently strong supporter of reform of MPs’ expenses, voting for greater openness and independent auditing at a time when Labour and Conservative MPs voted these reforms down. During her time in Parliament she never claimed second home expenses.
Susan has been not only a strong local campaigner, but also a strong national voice for our area, and worked diligently to make sure the voices of her constituents were heard.
You can find out more about Susan here.
Contact details
Address: Richmond Park Lib Dems, 42 Upper Richmond Road West, London, SW14 8DD
Email: info@susankramer.org.uk
Phone: 020 8876 8914
