Andy was born, raised and spent the formative years of his life in Shotts, a mining village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The seventies and eighties experienced profound change in the area, with the eventual closure of all ‘pits’ and it was in this changing environment that caused him to become interested in politics, albeit from a distance. During the nineties he married and started a family, then had the opportunity to move to Darlington with his work. Together with his wife and two children, he relocated to Darlington mid 1996, and, after many viewings selected a house in the Whinfield area as being the most suitable for the new family home. They have been there ever since.
When Andy retired from work, he found his interest in local politics reignited. He had time to offer and believed that the life/work skills and experience he gained working locally, throughout the UK and globally, were transferable into local politics and could be used for the benefit of the residents of Whinfield. He has the Local Services portfolio on Cabinet and is a member of the Planning Committee.
Andy believes that listening, having a strong team ethos, along with his energy and experience, can be used to drive positive change in Darlington, particularly for the residents of Whinfield.