The necessary experience and skills

Born and brought up in Newbury, I moved to North Leigh, via London, over thirty five years ago. I have, therefore, experienced the many changes that have happened in our villages over recent years and understand the issues we face as a community.

Originally qualified as a professional Mechanical Engineer I subsequently also qualified as a professional Marketer. However, I've spent forty plus years in the constantly and rapidly changing word of IT, and the past twenty five running my own specialist software and consultancy business. This has taken me all over the country and across all types of business and organisation. This, coupled with extensive global travel, has given me an invaluable insight into the workings and nature of the wider world.

My two grown up children both attended local primary and secondary schools, before university, and are now having families of their own. And it is through my family and personal relationships that I have experienced the challenges of children with special needs and the needs of those as they grow old. I recognize the importance of Social Care Services and how we all need these at some point in our lives.

I have been involved in the community all my life. Setting up and running a residents association; being a church warden here in North Leigh; being part of the team responsible for building the Turner Hall; helping set up the North Leigh Youth Project; directing, producing, appearing in and writing for the local am-dram productions involving those from ages 8 to 80 plus!

Welcoming the new leaders to North Leigh Youth Group

More recently I have set up and run a support group for those in Oxfordshire with a particular challenging condition, all of which in turn has lead to me appearing regularly on local TV and radio. The challenges of obtaining funding for these valuable community projects and the grants to keep them going is something I am actuely aware of.

And in between this I have a wide range of arts and sports activities that keep me busy - oh and a fifty two year old MGB Roadster that keeps my engineering skills in.