I have lived all my life in the local area, born and bred on the outskirts of Northallerton and going to the local schools. I went on day-release to Agricultural College where I qualified as an agricultural craftsman, from which I achieved a bronze medal for being the top machinery student in the country. My working life has always been in farming, working for my last employer for 37 years before taking early retirement.
I have been married for 43 years in August and have lived in the Parish of Morton-on-Swale for 40 years.
I was co-opted onto the Parish Council in September 2009, becoming Chairman in 2019, and, although there is quite a lot of work involved, I enjoy making the village a better place to live in - although it is impossible in this day and age to get everything done as I would like, due in the main to legislative restrictions, or, as is so often the case, to financial constraints.
Being retired has given me the opportunity to enjoy doing the garden, going out with the caravan and going up to Northumberland to our Park Home.
I have lived in the parish all my life and have been a Member of the Parish Council for 15 years.
I live and work on the family farm with my wife, Lucy, and teenage children, George and Kate, producing bacon and eggs.
I am an enthusiastic rugby fan supporting both Northallerton and the national side.
I have lived in the village for around 8 years and attended schools in Richmond before going to University in Cheltenham.
I live with my husband, two sons (who are at primary school) and our adorable (if a little crazy) Cockapoo.
I have worked in the public sector for all of my working life since leaving university in the field of economic regeneration and growth. I am very lucky to be in a job that I love! One of my favourite projects at the moment is the Stockton & Darlington Railway heritage programme - and anyone who knows me, knows that I love steam trains!
I have held various voluntary roles in the past including as a Samaritan and I am also the Chairperson of a PTA. I was a member of the play park committee and led on securing the funding required to install the new village play park in 2017 on behalf of the Parish Council. I have also helped to organise and run village fun days, including co-ordinating the spraying of 18 bikes and distribution of 3 miles worth of bunting for Tour De Yorkshire 2018 (which was over in a flash, literally!).
I became a Councillor at the Parish Council election in May 2019.
I have lived in the Dales area (Leyburn, Hunton, Exelby & Morton on Swale) for over 20 years with my wife Leanne. I originate from Scotland however due to my father’s employment I have travelled to many parts of the world including 4 years in Australia up to the age of 13. Upon returning to Scotland and being a very keen footballer I was fortunate enough to play at a reasonable level for several years on a part time basis. My next journey in life instigated a complete change, that was to join Glasgow City Police as a Constable a position I held for a number of years after which along with my wife we decided to form our own telecommunications company Northern Telecom Consultants Ltd t/a Nortelco, a company that we still own with its base in Bedale. Whilst living in Exelby I was fortunate enough to become a Councillor with Exelby, Leeming & Londonderry Parish Council a post I held for approximately 3 years, leaving the role when we moved to the Village.
Mr Alex Ross was co-opted to Council in July 2022 to fill the vacancy left after there were insufficient nominations at the recent May elections to fill all five seats.