Working within Local Government

In May I was elected as a Councillor to represent Atherstone Central. I have helped residents with a variety of issues and worked with the staff at North Warwickshire Borough Council to solve a number of problems affecting everyone in town. I am not afraid to get stuck in and persevere if something needs to be done and I have spoken out at Council meetings on behalf of the area I represent. I am grateful for the support of everyone around me. Local councils are strapped for cash and it is essential we find innovative ways to save and improve our services especially our Leisure Centre in Atherstone which needs major investment.

Championing Communities and Campaigning

I have always been a campaigner, even at school speaking up for girls to study woodwork. In the 1980s I campaigned for LGBT rights when the tide was very hostile and against the introduction of Section 28. I campaigned for women’s safety and a better deal for women in the workplace. At the National Union of Students I fought the introduction of student loans and tuition fees so that any young person regardless of their background could go into higher education. I worked at the Low Pay Unit in Birmingham providing advice to some of the lowest paid workers before the introduction of the National Minimum Wage which I campaigned hard for with the trade union movement. I worked with the Citizens Advice Bureau as a regional officer setting up new advice centres right across the midlands and finding new ways to fund and improve access to advice for everyone. I helped enrich the student experience at Warwick University as part of the management team who created a modern students’ union building and new student services and activities. I worked at the RNID to improve services for deaf people across the midlands and the north west. I also worked as a tennis umpire and line judge at grassroots events and at Wimbledon. I played tennis and hockey for local clubs. I also acted and directed with my local amateur dramatic group.

Experience in Business & Law

In 2000 I was made redundant and decided to retrain as a Solicitor – one of the best decisions I ever made. After 2 years of studying I was lucky to get a job with a local firm where I qualified and went on to work for 20 years as a property solicitor dealing with residential and commercial property. For many clients, purchasing their first home was an exciting but stressful time and I was the first solicitor they had dealt with. I always tried to take time to listen and explain things, I’m so pleased many of them came back to me when they moved and recommended their friends and family. For my commercial clients speed and experience mattered as I could help them achieve what they needed to in their businesses and most of those clients have remained with me for many years because I get things done. In 2014 I decided to invest in and help run a new business with a friend, her dream and hard work. I understand the challenges of running a retail shop, the highs and lows, the stresses of paying the bills but the joys of the great staff we worked with, the fun of the fashion shows ordering the season’s stock and our wonderful customers; we even won an award along the way before having to close our doors as a result of the pandemic.