Governor Profiles

I have lived in Harpenden with my family of six children for most of the last 33 years and I first became involved in School Governance in 1999 when I was elected as a parent Governor at High Beeches where my children went to school. Since then I have served in a number of school Governance roles at Sir John Lawes School, Wood End Primary, Harpenden Academy and now Buntingford First School.

Throughout my professional life I worked in law enforcement, predominantly in the investigative specialism, in a number of different agencies. Latterly, while serving as a senior manager at the National Crime Agency, my role involved working with the Home Office on the strategic planning and governance of various government multi agency organised crime initiatives.

Now retired, I also volunteer as a selector for the International Citizen Service, a project for young people volunteering overseas funded by DFID and delivered through VSO. What little "me time" I have, after my family and being an active Governor, is spent involved in the local branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists' motorcycle section. I am a keen biker - it is great for blowing away the cobwebs!

I have lived in Buntingford for the last 5 years.  My son attends Buntingford First School and I am excited to be part of the Board of Governors at such an exciting time.

I am a qualified accountant and specialise in the audit of Universities and other Not for Profit entities.  I have previously audited schools, multi academy trusts and independent schools and have an interest in the education sector.  I have also been a Trustee of a newly incorporated multi academy trust and parent governor at a primary school, both located in Derbyshire.

As a Buntingford resident for the last 11 years, I am excited to be part of the growth of Buntingford First School. In my time as Acting Chair of Governors (1980's) at Raglan School in Enfield which my children attended, I was centrally involved in the move to Local School Management and its implication for finances. During the last 50 years, I have been a teacher in various capacities until I retired. This included, Head of Music and Pastoral Head of Year in Enfield and latterly, Assistant Headteacher and Advanced School Teacher in Music, in Essex. For the last 11 years I have been Director of Essex School Direct which trains both Primary and Secondary teachers in over 35 schools.

My passion is music and I was a session musician and undertook tours abroad in my younger days but more recently was Artistic Director of the prestigious Thaxted Festival which ran for a month each summer.

I have been married for 50 years and have 3 children and 5 grandchildren aged between 9 and 15, including triplets. I will be retiring in August to enjoy more time for music, bridge and wine appreciation

I have lived in the Buntingford area for the last 26 years with my wife Jill and two children Alex and Jenna, plus many dogs!

We previously lived in Enfield and the move to Buntingford enabled our two children to enjoy a wonderful education locally, and live in a beautiful part of rural Hertfordshire.

We have been active members of the community with my wife the Town Clerk at Buntingford Town Council. I have been a Parish Councillor, District Councillor and currently the County Councillor for Buntingford Division. I chair the Buntingford Community Area Transport, (BCAT), community bus project which provides transport for residents and has been used on humanitarian aid trips to Ukraine and recently to the Turkey earthquake disaster. I am also a committee member on the Buntingford branch of the British Legion and Buntingford Town Football Club. So I am well known in the community for being active and supportive of the town’s residents.

My working life started on an apprenticeship as a Professional Photographer, qualifying as a Press Photographer on the Fleet Street national. I then moved into Corporate Photography working directly for blue chip companies and specialising in the Oil, Gas, Energy and Pharmaceutical Industry. Now retired from the profession I devote my time to politics  as an active Conservative Councillor, supporting the community at Council level.

I have previously been a Governor at Freman College and Layston CofE First School. I look very much to bringing this wealth of experience and local knowledge to Hertfordshire’s first net zero carbon school, and supporting the Board of Governors at Buntingford First School.