I was born into a mining family in Boldon Colliery, I am married, and have one son and I am retired from a career in Finance. I have lived at Woodham, Cobblers Hall and Greenfield for the past 34 years and I know our area and it’s people well.
I have a long and successful track record of voluntary community involvement endeavouring to improve conditions for us all as residents of the Aycliffe area. As an indicator of my commitment I was awarded Durham County Council’s 2012 Chairman’s Certificate for Outstanding Community Service.
As Treasurer and a Trustee of Woodham Village Community Centre I have helped make it one of the best equipped and used community venues in the area, I am proud to say we have over 38,000 visits per year.
I was integral to the introduction of the successful “Computers for the Terrified” program to our community which has provided adult training to over 1,000 people, with an average age of 70. With the rapid growth of new technology, I will be actively seeking to further involve the County Council in similar local learning initiatives, as these are life changing for our residents, empowering them and giving them better control and understanding of technology.
As Vice-Chair of the Great Aycliffe Neighbourhood Plan, I have also been involved in making sure a consultation of all residents was undertaken to establish our area’s planning priorities for the next twenty years.
I am now into my second 4-year term as a Public Representative with the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership. This scheme is set up to work in partnership with local people to support schemes to improve their areas and lives, I know our Area Action Partnership team has been a great success and I will work to expand its role in the future.
The project I am particularly proud of is the ongoing installation of potential lifesaving Public Access Defibrillators located in Aycliffe and training nearly 600 people in their use. Many of the town’s population are now within a 500-meter radius of a unit. This is a great example of what we can achieve working together.
Our future lies with our younger citizens. They need our help to encourage confidence and responsibility. The very small minority that creates the grief that anti-social behaviour brings needs to be tackled but it’s no good continuing the same things that don’t work. If elected I would work for a closer liaison and more local resources for the Police and Community Groups, to achieve positive results for our ward.
Our Ward is a great place to live but we can always do more.
Your input on your priorities is essential, and I will take your concerns directly to County Hall. I will use local media to report back to you all. I will never forget the importance of a clean environment, to report potholes in our roads and to educate dog owners to clean up after their dogs!
With this background and a positive view of our future I am fully prepared and keen to work on representing all points of view of voters in this Ward.