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After a career in the Royal Navy, I worked in local government and as a company director in Shropshire. A charity trustee for many years, I have been chairman, secretary, treasurer and independent examiner. I have experience of establishment, registration, amalgamation, reorganisation and closure of charities, besides acquisitions and disposals of charity land and buildings.

As a member of the committee which built a new village hall on a new site at Aston on Clun I have experience of community consultation, hall design, planning and building regulations, fundraising, project management including purchase of materials, employment of contractors and coordination of volunteers. Chairman of Aston on Clun Village Hall Committee for the last four years I have been a Village Hall Working Group member since 1991.

I am a retired career civil servant (welfare services) who has also worked for several years for a Special Health Authority serving the disabled. I have been an Alveley Parish Councillor since 1983, including being its Chairman for four years. Since 1995, I have been an Independent Bridgnorth District Councillor, where I am currently the Leader of the Council. Since 1978 I have been a member of Alveley Village Hall's Management Committee. I have served two spells as Chairman, the first for 15 years and the second occasion for three years. Until May 2002 I was its Secretary for several years. I continue to serve on its Management Committee as well as being a Holding Trustee.

Over the years I have been involved in many Alveley Village Hall improvement projects, including in 1980, the creation of a large purpose-built extension for Youth Movements in the community. Also since 1978 I have been a member of the County's Village Halls Working Group, although I took a 'sabbatical' from 1988 to 1991 when I was working away from home and outside Shropshire county. During these years I have been actively involved with the Group giving advice and opinion on a miscellany of Village Hall issues.

My role as a District Councillor has enhanced my capacity to promote the interests of Village Halls in the County by forming contacts and liaisons with representatives of Local Government. I hope to continue in Village Hall activity for a little while longer!

I have been involved in the work of Kinnerley Parish Hall for approximately 30 years; I have served as Committee Member, Short Term Secretary, Vice-Chairman and Booking Officer. At present, I am booking officer and licensee. Living near the Parish Hall is useful as I can keep in close contact with events. My job as booking officer is interesting as I am aware of activities in the village and am often an 'Information Bureau' for the community.

I have contact with a wider community i.e. Colleges of Further Education, Community Council of Shropshire, Parish Council, Borough Council and County Councils. As a member and past Chairman of Kinnerley Parish Council it has been useful to bring the two Organisations into a dual-working-situation!

The Parish Hall Committee consists of representatives of users of the Hall and we have an excellent nucleus of volunteer practical workers i.e. electrician, general repair and even landscaping. I try to keep up with information both through the press and various other sources, which can be implemented into the full use and 'innovative action' taken at times.

Chairman of Chelmarsh Parish Hall Committee since 1980 when the Hall, owned by Hereford Diocesan Board of Finance, fell into disrepair and a steering group was formed to explore possible 'Albermarie Scheme' to run the hall as a registered charity. This came about 1984 since then the committee has spent thousands of pounds improving and extending the hall. In July we had our Annual Fete - the main fundraising event, last years profit was £3,200. We also promote many interesting Arts Events. The hall is well used by the community. I am a Parish Councilor (for 28 years) and work for Bridgnorth District Council Benefits Service.

I have been a member of Alberbury Village Hall committee for over 30 years and also the Village Halls Working Group. I have served the village halls as Chairman or Vice Chairman for most of the period. I was also village halls Chairman and the architect for the building of a replacement new hall in the late 1970s.

As an architect I have worked in both the private and public sectors and for the substantial part of my career worked for Shropshire County Council. I Advised many village hall committees particularly on development and building matters.

I am currently Chair of Little Wenlock Village Hall and Playing Field Committee. I've held this position for four years and have been a Committee member for 25 years. For many years I was secretary of the Committee.

During the last year I've led a major building project in Little Wenlock. In August 2001 The Old Village Hall was demolished, and on 25 July 2002 we were handed the keys for our new Village Hall. The project which has cost nearly £314,000 was to replace a hall built in 1965 and which was badly affected by structural deterioration. The new hall has been designed with energy conservation very much in mind. Double glazing, low energy lighting and sound insulation all feature in the new building. The enterprise has taken four years from conception to fruition and it is hoped our new hall will continue to provide a focus for the community activities of many future generations.