Weds 17th June 2026
Members of the Wealden Business Group were treated to an engaging and highly personal presentation at our June 17th breakfast meeting, featuring Cllr Jane Mills, Mayor of Tenterden, alongside Tourism and Business Officer Ginny Hodges. Jane kicked off the morning by walking us through her remarkably diverse background. Long before taking up her civic duties, her varied career spanned classical violin training, early office administration (where she learned to operate an NCR machine!), and stock control at Ernest Jones. She eventually went on to earn full accounting qualifications and complete a part-time MBA. A dedicated community advocate and former trade unionist, Jane also shared her passion for education, having started a youth club, trained as a history teacher, and volunteered at Homewood School.
Having called Tenterden home for two decades, Jane’s passion for the town’s heritage was a central theme of the morning. Drawing on her involvement with the local history society, she captivated attendees with fascinating local trivia—such as the fact that a historic Tenterden mayor sailed to America on the Hercules, the very first ship to make the voyage after the Mayflower. She also highlighted the High Street’s walking history trail, the town’s blue plaques, and its unique Cinque Ports background, noting that the current warden is keen to modernize the institution. For her mayoral year, Jane will be dedicating her charitable efforts to two vital local causes: the Tenterden Counselling Service and The Mildred Trust, which organizes activities for children.
Following Jane’s historical insights, Ginny Hodges took the floor to outline the practical initiatives currently driving Tenterden’s local economy and community engagement. She pointed members toward the “Explore Tenterden” website as a key engine for boosting visitor footfall and emphasized the value of their dedicated business newsletters in keeping local merchants connected and informed. Beyond tourism, Ginny shared exciting upcoming plans driven by the Town Council to host youth-focused events featuring sports, cooking, and other activities. Together, Jane and Ginny demonstrated a fantastic balance of honouring Tenterden’s rich past while actively building a vibrant future for its businesses and residents.
