Helen McMillan: Constituency Office Manager
Hello my name is Helen McMillan and I’m the Constituency Office Manager for Mark’s constituency office based in Cinderford, in the centre of the Forest of Dean.
I have worked for Mark since he was elected to Parliament in May 2005. My role consists of managing the office by providing a full range of secretarial and administrative support, and supervising my excellent part time ladies Georgie, Heather & Ruth. My duties involve looking after Mark’s constituency diary, checking and monitoring his emails, overseeing budgets and drafting letters on a range of issues, including case work.
I am married to Stephen, a Conservative Councillor for Gloucestershire County Council, and have three expensive daughters. I have lived in the Forest of Dean for nearly 12 years. After completing my A Levels I joined House of Fraser on their Management Training Scheme and completed a 3 year HNC in Retail Distribution. I then spent many years in Retail, most notably working as a Store Manager for Next managing 35 staff at one of their largest branches in the UK in Nottingham. When the children were born I moved into Marketing and managed teams for accounts including the Post Office and BT (this involved cold calling and selling BT products to small businesses throughout the South West).
I have always been a compassionate Conservative in my political views, and have enjoyed working here in the office. Every day is different, we meet such wonderful people and it is so rewarding helping constituents, including some of the most vulnerable in our community, on a daily basis.
Heather Harris: Caseworker
My name is Heather Harris and I am one of Mark’s team working in the constituency office in Cinderford, where I have worked part-time since the General Election in 2005. I have always been a keen Conservative and for many years have assisted with elections at all levels.
I was born in Lydney, in the Forest of Dean, and educated at Lydney Grammar School. After training as a shorthand typist I joined the WRNS and served for six years, including an exciting posting to Singapore. Foreign travel was in my blood and I later lived and worked in Libya, Switzerland, Canada and Iran. Later, as a mature student, I attended Hull Polytechnic (now the University of East Yorkshire) and achieved a BA (Hons) in Office Systems Management. Although officially a pensioner I still enjoy working and keeping up-to-date with world and current affairs.
As a result of my Service background I am deeply committed to the Royal British Legion and I am currently the Branch Secretary of the Cinderford Branch.
On the family side, although now divorced, I have a 30-year old son, Douglas, and twin grandchildren.
Georgie Bensted: Caseworker
My name is Georgina Bensted and since August 2005, I have been employed part-time in Mark’s constituency office as a caseworker, primarily dealing with direct enquiries from constituents of the Forest of Dean.
I have lived in the Forest of Dean all my life, and by working in Mark’s Cinderford office, I am pleased to be able to continue working close to the community in which I grew up.
In the course of my employment history, I have undertaken a series of jobs, including volunteer work at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. I have an English law degree from the University of Leicester, and I have recently completed a Masters degree in Commercial law at the University of the West of England, Bristol, gaining a distinction. I wish to take my studies further by embarking on a PhD in Financial Crime in the near future. Since my election in May 2007, I am also a Forest of Dean District Councillor, representing Bream.
Working for Mark is a challenging yet rewarding and often varied experience and one which I thoroughly enjoy.
Ruth Quaile: Caseworker
I had been working in Mark’s constituency office as a volunteer for about 12 months before joining the team in November on a permanent basis working 1 day a week. My duties are mainly as a case worker. I find this work very interesting and rewarding.
I have lived overseas for many years with my husband and two daughters. We spent 3 years in Nigeria, 4 years in New Zealand, 8 years in Vanuatu in the South Pacific and 13 years Hong Kong.
I have had a variety of jobs over the years, office work, beauty therapy, riding instructor for both able and disabled people and teaching English as a foreign language in Hong Kong.
I worked as a riding instructor in Vanuatu for some years. In Hong Kong I joined Riding for the Disabled, completed the Group Instructors course and worked as an instructor for HKRDA.
Currently I am making jewellery in silver and semi precious stones.
My husband and I bought our cottage in the beautiful Forest of Dean in 2002 and moved in permanently in 2003. We have always been Conservatives helping in local elections in Wiltshire in our early 20’s and members of Conservatives Abroad when we were overseas. We joined the Conservatives Association in Gloucestershire in 2003 and helped in the elections in 2005.
Westminster Office
Myles Bailey: Parliamentary Assistant
Hello, I’m Myles and I run Mark’s Parliamentary Office in Westminster and support Mark in fulfilling his functions on the Conservative frontbench. I assist in drafting Parliamentary questions, speeches and press releases and undertake research on his behalf in a variety of areas.
Having graduated with a degree in Theology from Keble College, University of Oxford in 2007 I spent some time deliberating over which career path to follow. Ultimately I decided that I wanted to put my talents to use in helping to change Britain for the better and began seeking a career in public life. Having interned with the civil service and the think tank, Reform, I had the great fortune of being able to take up my post in Mark’s office at the start of summer 2009.
Malcolm Morton: Policy Researcher
Hello, I’m Malcolm and I am Mark's front bench researcher. I am 25 years old and live in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. I went to Kings College School Wimbledon before going to York University where I read Politics, graduating in 2006.
Working for Mark is a challenging but simultaneously rewarding experience in the fast-paced environment of Parliament.
George Schooling: Parliamentary Intern
Hello, I’m George. I am currently working in Mark Harper’s Westminster office as an intern, assisting on constituency affairs and media in order to gain political experience.
Despite growing up in Cambridgeshire, I have a close affinity with the Forest of Dean, particularly the Newent area where my family once lived and spent a lot time there myself as a child. After graduating in Politics from the University of Leeds in June 2008, I have spent the past year gaining experience with a range of companies and organisations before ending up in Team Harper.
Outside of work, I have a particular interest in international politics. I should say, I do realise there is life outside of politics! I am passionate about sports and not being very good at any! I also enjoy travelling and spent my gap year before University travelling across SE Asia and Australia.