Hmmm. This could be another very long page (it isn't, though so don't worry).
Seriously, my background is nothing spectacular.
You won't find hereditary privilege. No major financial wealth to speak of and no savings in the bank.
Experience of life and the need to work hard, dream high and respond positively to life's major setbacks as they come along are probably my strongest points.
Compassion; a passion for helping others; a determination to constantly improve my life (and the lives of others) and a detremination to succeed in everything I do probably best sums me up.
Most of all, my 'real life' experiences have made me what I am today, and I'm extremely proud of that...
My father died when I was 5 years old, and this of course impacted my life in a massive way.
You won't find hereditary privilege. No major financial wealth to speak of and no savings in the bank.
Experience of life and the need to work hard, dream high and respond positively to life's major setbacks as they come along are probably my strongest points.
Compassion; a passion for helping others; a determination to constantly improve my life (and the lives of others) and a detremination to succeed in everything I do probably best sums me up.
Most of all, my 'real life' experiences have made me what I am today, and I'm extremely proud of that...
My father died when I was 5 years old, and this of course impacted my life in a massive way.
However, my mother did a fantastic job holding herself and her five children together, for which I have so much admiration and gratitude. She sacrificed so much for us and never, ever had a relationship with any other man. That is where the importance of true loyalty became etched into my soul. This is a fantastic personal characteristic my mother gave to me for which I am eternally grateful.
Throughout the years I have been involved in a wide range of voluntary work including supporting the Youth Service and helping residents develop community organisations across the region where I live.
My wife and I are foster carers and have been for the past decade. Mad, frustrating, tiring, funny, emotional, confrontational, restrictive ...but above all amazingly rewarding!
I am extremely positive in everything I do, and encourage others to adopt the same outlook. Nothing 'phases' me. Nothing at all.
I have tasted the indignity of being unemployed. Even worse, during 20 years of being self employed an arm injury forced me to undergo 'means testing' in order to claim 'sickness benefit'. I was denied sickness benefit at the time, but regardless of this it hurt on so many levels to have to go through that period of my life. Ultimately, a combination of that arm injury and my determination to 'make a difference' led to turning my attention to doing other things that did not require the use of a damaged elbow.
Once I set my mind to something I ALWAYS put 1000% into making it happen. As a result I have been successful in developing what has become the UK's number one crime prevention intervention. This was repeated across all cities of the UK during the period 1998 to 2011, and is set to protect hundreds of thousands of families nationwide for many, many years to come.
I have written a book - and yes, I have sold copies too (of which I am tremendously proud!). I am also currently half way through my second book.
I enjoy playing the guitar, I have written songs and I have performed live before an audience of one (me) in the bathroom. That concert was the best of my life!
I enjoy playing the guitar, I have written songs and I have performed live before an audience of one (me) in the bathroom. That concert was the best of my life!
I am 54 years old and during my life I have experienced many things not mentioned here that have made me a stronger, more determined individual.
My wife and I have been married for 34 years, and during this time we have experienced the high ...and low points of what life brings. Our amazing daughter and her equally amazing husband now have their own first child (a daughter) and as any Grandparent will know she has introduced another completely new dimension to our lives. What an amazing feeling it is to be a Grandfather!
My wife and I have been married for 34 years, and during this time we have experienced the high ...and low points of what life brings. Our amazing daughter and her equally amazing husband now have their own first child (a daughter) and as any Grandparent will know she has introduced another completely new dimension to our lives. What an amazing feeling it is to be a Grandfather!
The Changing Britain vision is my next 'project', and it is the BIG one for me. This is what my life experience has led me to.
I recognise this is the right thing to do at the right time for myself and millions of people around the UK who need to know that somehow, some way their contribution to society remains worthwhile ...and that there is a brighter future ahead.
This brighter future can deliver a fairer society supported by a stronger, participatory economy.
The only party having the values in place to do so is Tim Farron's Liberal Democrat Party.
This brighter future can deliver a fairer society supported by a stronger, participatory economy.
The only party having the values in place to do so is Tim Farron's Liberal Democrat Party.
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