I was brought up in London within an artistic/sporting single parent family, due to my father passing away at only 40 years of age. My mother’s advice was always ‘if you are going to do something, do it to the best of your ability’ you can do no more,” a maxim I have always followed, trying to give 100% to anything I have got involved in.
With acting, singing, art, and sporting ability within the family, Any ability in singing, inherited from my Welsh mother, a coloratura soprano, showed itself at an early age, performing at Covent Garden and the Albert Hall and elsewhere, later in playing various sports and even later coaching, wanting to give something back. Again something I feel we should all do.
I have been fundraising for many years, one cause being the village Sports Club (over £200,000) and have organised a Ball in aid of Pancreatic Cancer in memory of my brother which raised £10,500, with the intention to continue as my wider family have been affected several times.
I moved to Medbourne some 30 years+ ago and having been told it took that long to qualify as a villager, think I am now just about considered to be accepted.
I am passionate about the preservation of the countryside and believe that politicians should never forget that honesty, respect and support go hand in hand. My hobbies have been mainly sporting, including tennis, badminton, table tennis, organising functions etc but I also write poetry ….or attempt to!
I started Medbourne lunch club 5 years ago with a friend, and the help of a grant from HDC’s Community Grant Fund, to help loneliness and isolation, something I feel is more prevalent than we realise in villages
I was asked to stand as a councillor in 2015 having never before been involved in politics. I, like many it seems, listened to both sides at elections and voted for the person I felt gained my confidence - usually a Conservative!
I was elected with an overwhelming majority, helped by my previous involvement in all village activities,
After a year on planning, I was asked to take responsibility for a portfolio role, which I held for many years. Subsequently I have been successful in two more elections, each time with substantial majorities. Currently I am shadow portfolio holder for Leisure, Culture, Tourism and Economy.
Away from Politics I have had many roles, including a Production Planner, Internal Sales Rep, Menswear shop manager, partner in a specialist racquet shop, recognised as world class Racquet Stringer for major championships home and abroad. (The latter came about when by chance whilst coaching tennis, in 1997 I met a lady reputed to be the best racquet stringer in the world who taught me the craft, and we set up a specialist shop in London together and were responsible for the majority of Wimbledon champions for over 20 years with Borg, Connors, McEnroe, Edberg, Evert, Navratilova, Graf just a few of the names, were much in demand, and were taken to the US Open and other tournaments for our skill.)
I am an LTA Master Club Tennis Coach, a BHSAI riding instructor and qualified Aromatherapy Masseur, however I think that anyone entering Politics needs that experience outside of the subject to have a well rounded view of the world. I certainly do not consider myself a career Politician.
I have been a part of the Rutland and Stamford Management team for 5 years as an additional member, and the last year as Chairman, overseeing notably the dissolution of the RMCA but the setting up of the RSCA through to vesting day.
Teaching horse riding, I have horses at home- 6 to be exact, some home bred- which I compete on and two dogs, so I am very much an animal lover, and in addition I run a Seniors Lunch Club in my village to combat loneliness, something that can be endemic in rurality.
I believe the team we have put together for the new Association is talented, and one that will work well together, and I look forward to the future with enthusiasm, bringing the members of Rutland, Stamford, Harborough and Stamford villagers together.