Some details about me

I moved to West Bergholt with my family in 1983, after completing service with the Royal Air Force.  I held a technology lecturers position in Chelmsford and my wife and I chose to live in West Bergholt because of its rural setting, village community, good local schools and easy access to public transport and public roads.  We believe that Colchester remains a town to be proud of and is ideally placed to experience the delights and benefits of Essex.

As a West Bergholt Parish Councillor for over 23 years and its chairman for the last 9 years I have learnt the importance of local people being able to influence local decisions to provide a thriving rural community.

I believe in collective representation, achievable through a common voice.  My local influence extends to being

• Chairman of the Colchester Association of Local Councils promoting collective Parish and Town Council views within the Borough as well as establishing a conduit for shared learning on common issues affecting our rural communities.
• Executive Member of the Essex Association of Local Councils.- has an important role in liaising with local, regional and national bodies by serving the Local Councils of Essex on various partnerships and committees, and with other authorities.
• Chairman of the North Colchester Rural Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP) pursuing issue resolution for Eight Ash Green, West Bergholt and six other rural communities from Wormingford in the east to Dedham in the west.
• Sole Parish Council member of the 20mph Task & Finish group which was set up to evaluate if and how lower speed limits should be implemented in our rural and urban communities.
• Member of the Local Highways Panel (LHP) determining funding priorities for highway related projects in our Borough.
• Member of the Essex Affordable Housing Group, providing a rural community perspective on this vital housing programme initiative. I am the only Parish Councillor in this group.
• A Trustee for five local Trusts.

As a local resident, I actively support local community endeavours that provide residents with quality community facilities in an affordable manner.  To achieve these aspirations takes teamwork, tolerance, patience, understanding, and an appreciation of how to get things done.

As a member of the Essex County Council rural broadband pilot project, I was the project manager of the supplier selection panel.  This project will provide an innovative high speed, business and residential rural broadband service to the district of Maldon from May 2010.

I am a freelance business consultant, which permits me to maintain a good balanced family lifestyle and allows me the opportunity to fulfil my community aspirations in an effective manner.  My hobbies include golf, fishing and flying.