Steven Campkin was born and raised in Ashford and has seen many changes in the town. He has worked for Wastenot Recycling and the PDSA, volunteered at the RSPCA cattery in Station Road and currently works for Cooksons on Henwood industrial estate. Campkin joined first Greenpeace, then the Green Party, and stood as candidate for Ashford Central at the local elections in 2009. He is also a keen local animal-rights campaigner.