Cllr Noel Atkins lives in Worthing.
Noel was educated at Whitgift, where he continues to provide school bursaries for students. From the school naval section Noel gained a Queen’s commission into the Royal Navy in 1964.
Noel qualified in the Royal Navy as: Watchkeeping Officer, Navigation Officer, Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Officer, Diving Instructor Officer, Communications Officer, Gunnery Officer, NBCD (Nuclear Biological Chemical and Damage Control) Warfare Officer.
Promoted to Lieutenant Commander, Executive Officer Warship HMS Kellington 1978-84, serving during the Cold War period, the IRA Insurgencies and Combined NATO Operations in the Mediterranean. Decorated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1980.
After leaving the Royal Navy, Noel became Consultant to the European Commission in Brussels managing the project between EU and Israel by generating major contracts from business in Denmark to fund employment in Israel for the repatriation of over 600,000 Ashkenazi Jews back from Russia to Israel.
Upon returning from Israel and Denmark in 1998, Noel joined Bond International Software, a Public Company with a turnover of £35 million and 500 staff. He was promoted to sales director in 2000 and retired in 2009 when he was elected to Mayor of Worthing. As Mayor he became Queen’s representative of Royal Borough of Worthing 2009/10 and was invited to Buckingham Palace on completion of duties.
Noel became Chairman of Trussell Trust National UK Foodbanks, initiated Worthing Foodbank and encouraged the vision of social franchising so every major town in UK should have a foodbank, established over 1,500 free foodbanks in UK.
Noel then worked for Heene Community Association from 2012 as a Business Development Manager, securing Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service ‘MBE for Volunteer Groups’ and retiring in 2022 after 10 years’ service.
Noel is currently the Borough Councillor for Salvington Ward in Worthing having first been elected in 2004, and County Councillor for Durrington and Salvington Division. Noel is Chairman of Planning at Worthing Borough Council and Vice-Chairman of Planning and Rights of Way Committee at West Sussex County Council.
When not at Council, Noel works for CAP (Christians Against Poverty) in partnership with New Life Church, Durrington, as Debt Centre Manager, responsible for taking residents through the process of insolvency to becoming debt free. Gained City & Guilds Diploma in Debt Counselling.
Noel continues his association with the Royal Navy as chairman of the Worthing Royal Naval Association looking after the welfare of local veterans and widows.
Noel is pleased to serve as a trustee of Building Heroes Education Foundation and as Director of Building Heroes Property Services.
Map of Durrington & Salvington division (opens in new window)