About BBET’s Core Group

Bring Back Euro Trains is managed by a small core group of dedicated volunteers working together for the good of Ashford, Kent and Cross-Channel rail networks. A larger committee supports and informs our work and beyond that are all the good people who have signed the petition, who occasionally contribute when they can.

Listed below are members of BBET Core Group.

Phillip Gay

Phillip was originally drawn to Ashford due to the Eurostar Link and has lived here since 2017. He is considered as a bit of a computer geek because he works in IT and can usually find a solution. His hobbies include going for walks, especially on a nice Spring/Summer day either on the beach or nature reserves, trying to keep active by going to the gym and socialising with close friends and family.

Stephanie Boucher

Is a web designer living in Great Chart near Ashford. She is half French and has family in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. She believes there is a strong business and moral case for reinstating rail links between Kent and the continent, particularly via Ashford’s well-connected station.

Stephanie designed and manages the website and supports the campaign with admin and French outreach.

Alex Bienfait

Alex Bienfait is currently serving as Acting Chair of Bring Back Euro Trains, a campaign group working to restore and expand international rail connections from Kent and across the UK. In this role, he coordinates and facilitates the work of the group’s core team, advocating for sustainable, accessible cross-border train travel as a key alternative to short-haul flights and car use.

Alex is a dual British Dutch national, with family and friends in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and travels to the continent frequently.

Pablo John

Pablo grew up in Matfield, near Tunbridge Wells. He supports the campaign on political, policy and public affairs engagement.

He manages the Taskforce for Lung Health – the largest ever coalition of charitable organisations interested in clean air and respiratory. Before then he worked in the renewable energy industry, for Alex Sobel MP and for the Labour Party.

In his spare time Pablo primarily works on democracy campaigns, serving on the Boards of the Electoral Reform Society and Politics for the Many – the trade union campaign for political reform.

Diccon Spain

Diccon was born and raised in Kent and has had a long career in IT consultancy and project management in the City of London before founding and running his own consultancy based in Kent. He supports the campaign on strategic matters and through engagement in the political, local authority, business and public spheres.

He is Deputy Leader of the Labour Group in Ashford Borough Council as well as the Borough Councillor for Bockhanger ward in north Ashford.

Lauren Clare

Lauren is a marketing expert and Ashford resident who travels frequetly to Amsterdam.

Harry Burr

Harry is Joint Chief Executive and Chair of the Board of Enroute, a company promoting sustainable transport in Great Britain.

Last updated on October 2nd, 2025