I am a husband, father of three middle aged ‘children’ and have six grandchildren and one great grandson, 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, a trustee of the Bowls Club, and been a parish councillor for more than 35 years.
On the Parish Council I have been over time been vice-chairman, chairman of the Green Lane Community Facilities Working Group, and the St James Place (referred to as Down Farm Park) Community Facilities Working Group.
I was Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Working Group, and am now a member of the Property Management Committee, the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Planning Committee. I represent the council on the East Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils (EHAPTC), and the EHDC Transport Forums.
I represent East Hants District Council at meetings of the Hampshire Association of Local Councils.
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.
