Deputy Chairman, Culture, Tourism and Sport Board since 2006

Strategy and Finance PRG 

Personal statement

Stephen Castle is the Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and the 2012 Games.  In addition he is Cabinet member with responsibility for the Thames Gateway sitting on the board of the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership representing the East of England Regional Assembly, and is he also Deputy Chairman of the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership. Stephen has recently been appointed as Sport England Regional Champion for Community Sport and  was also former President and Board member of the national Conservative Party.

Stephen has been the East of England's leading player in the London bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games since its inception, which has culminated in his chairmanship of the Nations and Regions East group (the organisation responsible for all aspects of Olympic activity in the East of England) and membership of the Nations and Regions Group of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. 

A lifelong resident of south Essex with two young sons, he is Director of Castle Opticians, the largest independent chain of optometrists within Essex, and a qualified ski instructor.  In his spare time he enjoys swimming, gardening and travel.