Your community councillors are all volunteers, who give their time without remuneration to help initiatives and good causes in Dunbar, and endeavour to influence good decision-making. They represent a cross section of the community, as you will see in the profiles below:
Kirsten Harper (Chair)
Kirsten has lived in Dunbar since 2013 with her two children, Ollie and Caoimhe, who go to the local Grammar and Primary. Kirsten is a self-employed bookkeeper and works for a number of businesses throughout East Lothian. She is currently the Treasurer for Dunbar Primary Parent Council and Bleachingfield Centre.
Kirsten is passionate about strengthening community connections and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard. She believes a thriving community is built on collaboration, inclusivity and shared responsibility. Dunbar, our town, is a place where Kirsten wants to engage positively with the community. This includes with ELC over the parking charges, the police and schools to create more opportunities for engagement across all age groups. Kirsten wants to advocate for positive impacts on renewable contracts and to support the work on the heritage and appearance of the High Street.
Stuart Cameron (Vice Chair), has been an active member of DCC for just over 2 years. He has worked to try and resolve anti-social behaviour within the town, working alongside Community Police and attending quarterly CAPP meetings. Stuart’s main hope is to serve his hometown and put the residents at the heart of what he does.
Catherine Acton believes in the community of Dunbar, and is keen to gather the views of local people and make sure they are heard in the right places at the right time. She wants to work with the other Community Council members to enable this.
Beverly Anderson has been a business owner for 6 years, running Wishing Tree by the Sea in Lauderdale Park. Bev also sits on the Traders Committee. Bev has introduced a successful Food and Craft marker to Dunbar, and collaborates with Dunbar Music Festival. Bev has also been part of the Dunbar Civic Week team for four years.
Jacquie Bell A native of Sheffield, Jacquie has lived with her family in Belhaven since 1989. She is a qualified Social Worker and previously worked at Liberton Hospital. Jacquie was a member of Dunbar Community Council from 2000-07 and returned in May 2012. From 2007-2012 she was an elected member of East Lothian Council for Dunbar & East Linton Ward. She belongs to a number of Dunbar and wider East Lothian community groups and is passionate about the Dunbar community
Alexander Coull retired in 2022 after having served East Lothian Council for over 47 years, in the Planning Department. His last years at the council were working alongside SEPA. He currently serves as a Director for Winterfield Golf Club and Dunbar Community Development and Heritage Trust (Hallhill). Alexander is also the Club Secretary of Dunbar Rugby Football Club.
Ree Rolph is a high street resident and building surveying student, with a particular interest in maintaining, developing, and promoting Dunbar’s built environment. He joined the community council in 2025 and is active in several projects around the town centre.
Hannah Renton is a long standing business owner in Dunbar, and has built relationships with Traders on the High Street. Hannah wants to contribute to ideas around local events, marketing initiatives and projects to encourage more footfall to the High Street.
Gayle Bell has been involved with Dunbar Civic Week for the last four years and will be leading Civic Week for 2026. Gayle has worked in the third sector for over two decades, and lived in Dunbar for nearly thirty years. She is involved with fundraising for the local Grammar School and is also a current Coastguard Rescue Officer.
Bea Taylor is fully invested in the Dunbar area having lived here for over 8 years. Bea runs a shop on Dunbar High Street, and has recently sponsored the girls hockey team. She is also an active DTA member.