Elected: March 1995 in a bye-election for Bangor West as an Ulster Unionist Councillor.
Fought and won local elections – 1997, 2001 and 2005
Deputy Mayor 1997/98
Mayor 1999/2000
I play a prominent and very active role through the following committees:
CHAIR: Policy Committee – this is one of the 5 major committees within Council
Tourism Task Force
Corporate
Planning & Public Service Liaison
Leisure, Tourism and Community Development
Environment and Amenities
Queen’s Parade Development Project Team
Arts Advisory Panel
North Down Sports Advisory Council
Finance Sub Committee
Audit Committee
Economic Sub Committee
NI Local Government Association
Neighbourhood Renewal
Disability Concerns

Chaired: Arts Advisory Panel
Education Committee
Health Committee
Disability Concerns Committee

I carry a heavy caseload of constituency problems, averaging 100 enquiries per month. I am a full time Councillor, devoting my time to working for the Borough.

Other Agencies
Ulster Architectural Heritage Society
Helen’s Bay Residents Association
Seahill Residents Association
Bangor West Conservation Group
Carnalea Residents Association
Friends of the Earth

Within the Ulster Unionist Party
Spokesperson for the Arts
Delegate for North Down to Ulster Unionist Council
Helped write two Party Policy documents on health

Have served on the following:
Chair of the Party Health Sub Committee
Chair Bangor West Branch
Secretary Bangor West Branch
Secretary U.U. Women’s Association North Down Party Executive

I have been a speaker at many Party Conferences.

Other Public Appointments
CHAIR - NI Housing Executive Bangor District Office Liaison Panel
VICE CHAIR Local Government Staff Commission
District Policing Partnership
INTERREG IIIB & IIIC Monitoring Committee (Sub)
NI Museums Council
Non-Executive Director – Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust (gained place on Trust as a result of open competition)
Served on the following Committees:
Complaints (Chair)
Audit
Board Remuneration
Standing Orders (part of UCHTcommittees)

Board of Governors:
Kilcooley Primary School
Rathmore Primary School
St Columbanus College Bangor

Committee Member:
Holywood Rudolf Steiner Bursary Fund

Other Organisations:
Friends of Bangor Community Hospital
Omnibus Partnership
Festival Committee Bangor Drama Club
Abbeyfield Society
Associate Member Bangor Drama Club
Patron Bangor Amateur Operatic Society
Member of Royal Ulster Yacht Club
Organised and set up a branch of Friends of the Earth North Down

I have represented the Borough of North Down in many parts of the world, both in a personal capacity and as a Councillor e.g. in New York during my period as Mayor I launched the Titanic Trail endeavour. I have always fulfilled my duties with a sense of pride for my Borough and always with dignity.

General Background
I am a practical person who likes to do things efficiently and effectively.
Have had vast experience of chairing committees and giving constructive contributions to many groups.
Take pride in ability to resolve a very wide range of problems affecting constituents. This goes well beyond solving individual problems e.g. have been very closely involved in the establishment of the Bangor Community Hospital.
I have been invited to speak to many and varying groups throughout the Borough.

Personal Background
Married
Son married living in England.
Daughter married living in Mozambique.
Member of First Bangor Presbyterian Church.

Was…
Captain of 1st Bangor Girls Brigade Company
Sunday School Superintendent and teacher
Youth Club volunteer
Duke of Edinburgh Leader taking girls through Bronze/Silver and Gold Levels
Bangor Business & Professional Women
Soroptimist


Some of my Achievements:
Led the fight to retain and upgrade the Carnegie Library.
As a member of the Omnibus Partnership helped to campaign successfully for the retention of the Easybus service.
Involved in the planning of the Community Hospital and established a Friends of the Bangor Community Hospital. Over the past number of years the group has raised monies to provide for many comforts for the hospital and patients.
Established a Friends of the Earth group in North Down to campaign for better water and sewerage infrastructure and cleaner beaches and seas.
Partnered the way in Council for the campaign against the proposed unequal introduction of a Water Tax.
Single handily brought together the Roads, Service, the EBNI, BT, Lighting Service and other bodies to bring about the redesign with character of Crawfordsburn Main Street.
As Mayor my theme was the ‘Doors of the Town Hall are Open’ during my year I carried out more than 900 engagements and had many hundreds of residents invited into the Town Hall.
Also during that period I visited every religious denomination service in the Borough, my aim was that I would be Mayor to everyone.


Constituency Office:
North Down Borough Council,
Town Hall,
The Castle,
Bangor.
BT20 4BT

Town Hall Phone: (028) 91270371
Phone: (028) 91461739
Mobile: N/A
Fax: +44 (0) 28 9146 1739

Click here to email me
Visit my weblog
Visit my website