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I stood for election as a County Councillor because I want to see Cheshire County Council really help the people of Cheshire to have a positive influence on the way their Council Tax money is spent for the good of all and in particular the support of vulnerable people in our community.  If I can make a positive contribution to that aim while I am an elected member the time spent will have been worthwhile.

I was born and brought up in the West Country and went to university in London where I met my wife Sandra. I worked for the Post Office and an Insurance Company before beginning to teach at Northwood Secondary Modern school. Once started as a teacher I knew I had found the job for me. Helping young people gain new skills and understanding of the way the world works brings a buzz of excitement to every day in the job.

I and Sandra have worked in schools and colleges in Uganda and Botswana but developed careers in education in Essex where we brought up our two children, Claire and Matthew. I retired from being head of a secondary comprehensive school in Essex in 1996.

We retired to Bollington, a delightful small town tucked into the foothills of the Pennines where we have lived since 2000 having taught in Botswana in between times. For me it was a return to the wonderful countryside I enjoyed as a child.

I have always enjoyed working with other people in the community as well as with young people in schools. I first became interested in socialist politics at the London School of Economics and after returning from Uganda joined the Labour Party in Harlow where I was a District Councillor.

In 2005 I was elected to represent the people who live in Macclesfield West on the County Council. I regard this opportunity to serve that community as a privilege.

We have created an energetic group known as the Weston Community Development Group bringing together with local people officers and elected members to improve the quality of life. We hope that local people will play a stronger and stronger role in this venture.

As a County Councillor I share in the work of governing Cheshire although as a backbench member of the Labour opposition one inevitably plays a minor role in direct decision taking.

I am a member of the Development Regulatory Committee where we take into account public concern over waste and mineral developments in recommending giving planning permissions.