I am a husband, father of three middle aged ‘children’ and have six grandchildren, and moved from Northumberland into the village in 1976.
I have seen the village change enormously in that time, much of it for the better.
During those years I have been on the Middle school PTA, a school governor, on the carnival committee, one of the founders of the boys football club, and been a parish councillor for over 30 years.
On the Parish Council I am the vice chairman, I sit on the Finance Committee, and I represent the council on the EHDC Community Forums, the East Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils, and the EHDC Transport Forums. I am also the chairman of the St James Place (referred to as Down Farm Park) Community Facilities Working Group.
Like all 10 of your parish councillors, I must be a masochist to do a thankless, unpaid role, to be criticised by those who are unwilling to put their own heads above the parapet, and to put in many unseen hours. We are not experts - we are volunteers - but at the end of the day, now and again we 'get it right' and get some satisfaction doing this essential role serving the community.
