The Calleva Society was formed in March 2017 after a public meeting attended by over 200 residents to represent the interests of Parishioners of Silchester and surrounding areas as required. The Society will only act in circumstances not covered by the charter of other organisations in the area such as the Parish Council(s) and Silchester Association.

At this stage the Calleva Society has formed a Planning workgroup whose aim is

“To participate in the planning process to ensure all necessary steps are taken by the appropriate authorities and to represent the interests of the village in controversial or major applications, appeals and planning inspectorate processes”

The Workgroup is currently heavily involved with the Travellers planning application for land between Culhams Mill and the Sewage works off Little London Road. The Society and the Planning group is lead by Steve Spillane assisted by Simon Mahaffey and consists of a team of eight volunteers from a variety of professions.

Steve Spillane – Chairman of the Calleva Society.

Steve has lived in Silchester for 36 years and has always been actively involved in the community. Steve is a retired Company Director having had a career in Marketing and Business Management with companies such as Evo-Stik, Cadbury Schweppes, Digital Equipment Corporation (now HP) and the Consumers Association (Which?). Steve also ran his own company and sat on the boards of others. He is currently secretary of the Hewlett Packard Pension Association.

Steve was Vice Chairman of the Silchester Association for many years and recently served for 5 years as Chairman of Silchester Parish Council. Steve is currently Chairman of the Managing Trustees of Silchester Village Hall and a Trustee of the Silchester Playground charity.

Simon Mahaffey – Calleva Society

Simon moved to Silchester in 1978 and although having been intermittently resident in the village since then, has always considered Silchester to be home. With an early career in conservation and international development he lived overseas working for wildlife parks in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Peru and Venezuela. In the mid nineties Simon was one of a handful of individuals in the UK to work full time on carbon dioxide mitigation and was instrumental in setting up one of the UK’s first carbon offsetting firms. Following a short stint in the City, Simon moved back to the village in 2007 to take up permanent residency with his wife and two young children. Now a company director, he is keen to promote community engagement in developing a vibrant and prosperous future for the village without losing any of its rural character. Simon is also currently the Chairman of Silchester parish Council.

Will Benton – Calleva Society

Will grew up on a small farm in Suffolk, Will moved to Hampshire in 1997 and to Silchester in 2006. Will is a Cyber Security professional and has run two of the largest Cyber Security companies in the UK. Will is currently Vice President for a managed security services company based in Westminster, London.

Will has served as Chairman of the Reading & Wokingham agricultural society which in its day ran the Wokingham Show. He is a keen advocate for promoting and protecting rural life and enjoys spending time with family and friends taking part in county pursuits. Will takes an active part in the running of the Calleva Society and our current work with the Travellers planning application.