Blackheath Westcombe

I first came to live in Greenwich borough when I was in the Royal Marines Reserve unit in Bermondsey in the 1980s when I would cycle to work from Blackheath and did my physical training in Greenwich Park. My wife and I now live in East Greenwich. It's a busy, energetic, vibrant, diverse place and I find people who live here are kind, thoughtful, and considerate. 

I spent 25 years in the Royal Marines and worked for Her Majesty's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I was and still am a sailing instructor and yacht skipper. I spent a lot of time in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles”. There I learned that hatred, division, unkindness and intolerance are terrible things. Acceptance, fairness, tolerance, understanding, kindness and helping others make for a better life for everybody.

I am a Liberal Democrat because the policies and aims of the Liberal Democrats align with my beliefs outlined above. I am prepared to work in cooperation with anyone for the good of our local area and community, I will always promote Liberal Democrat policies and values. If you support democracy and the values outlined above please consider making me your local councillor.

I am an architect, teacher and local parent standing for the Liberal Democrats in Greenwich. I have over fifteen years of professional experience as a registered architect, having worked on projects across London, Manchester and Shanghai, including schools, housing and major mixed use developments. Alongside architecture I now teach Design and Technology in London schools, bringing real world design and problem solving into the classroom.

I believe strongly in the Liberal Democrat values of liberty, community and internationalism. As both a qualified teacher and a parent I care deeply about education. I support the Liberal Democrat commitment to properly funding schools, reducing class sizes, supporting teachers and ensuring that every child has access to a broad, creative curriculum that includes the arts, design and practical subjects. 

Living locally and raising my child in the area, I am passionate about supporting small businesses, protecting high streets and ensuring new housing development benefits existing communities. I am also committed to evidence based environmental policy, drawing on my professional background in sustainable architecture and energy systems from CAT in Wales.

I want to bring practical experience and a strong local voice to Greenwich politics.

I moved to Blackheath Westcombe twenty years ago and cannot imagine living anywhere else. I value the proximity to beautiful green spaces and wonderful architecture as well as our local cultural, retail and recreational opportunities. Daily walks with my dog in Greenwich Park are an important part of my life. However, parts of our area are overlooked and services under-resourced. I am standing as a councillor to represent local residents in every part of this large and varied ward.

I have been a Liberal Democrat for many years and believe our party’s values of tolerance and inclusion are more vital than ever at a time of growing populism and a shift to extremes. I am a retired teacher and spent the last fifteen years of my career working at a state school in the borough. Although I still do a little part-time teaching and consultancy work, I have the time and energy to devote to the responsibilities of being a councillor and would do my very best to represent your interests and concerns. Labour’s dominance on the council has led to complacency and too often residents are taken for granted. It is time that some alternative voices were heard in constructive opposition.