A Brief Biography
I was born in Bolton, Lancashire in 1946, then moved to St Annes-on-Sea in 1953 where I received most of my schooling, in 1964 I went on to the University of Newcastle where I gained a BSc and a PhD and met Lillian who became my wife; then in 1972 I moved to the University of Nottingham where I worked until I retired in 2011. On retiring I was made an Emeritus Professor of the University of Nottingham.
I served as an elected member of Broxtowe Borough Council from 1991, retiring in 2015; in my final year I was Mayor of the Borough of Broxtowe. I also served as an elected member of Nottinghamshire County Council from 1997, retiring in 2017.
In 1997 I received an MBE from the Queen for "services to Bramcote in the County of Nottinghamshire".
In 2018 I was made an Alderman of the Borough of Broxtowe.
For many years I was the chair of the Bramcote and Stapleford Golden Jubilee Group which organises the annual Hemlock Happening held in Bramcote Hills Park. In recent years I have had responsibility for the Spring Gardens Stage as part of the Buxton Spring Fayre on May Day.
Since April 2018 I have been a churchwarden at St Michael's Church, Bramcote, where I am also the lay vice-chair of the Parochial Church Council. I also sing in the church choir. In Buxton I am very happy to attend St John's Church as an ordinary member of the congregation.
I chair the Executive Committee of South West Notts Scouts.
I have lived in Bramcote since 1975 and also in Buxton since 2017. The Reverend Canon Lillian Heptinstall, my wife, is an ordained priest in the Church of England.
Lillian and I have four (adult) children (Victoria, Robert, Amanda and James) and ten grandchildren (Emily, Sam, Thomas, Rachel, Catherine, Jonah, Elise, Amos, Ezra and Jena).
I served as an elected member of Broxtowe Borough Council from 1991, retiring in 2015; in my final year I was Mayor of the Borough of Broxtowe. I also served as an elected member of Nottinghamshire County Council from 1997, retiring in 2017.
In 1997 I received an MBE from the Queen for "services to Bramcote in the County of Nottinghamshire".
In 2018 I was made an Alderman of the Borough of Broxtowe.
For many years I was the chair of the Bramcote and Stapleford Golden Jubilee Group which organises the annual Hemlock Happening held in Bramcote Hills Park. In recent years I have had responsibility for the Spring Gardens Stage as part of the Buxton Spring Fayre on May Day.
Since April 2018 I have been a churchwarden at St Michael's Church, Bramcote, where I am also the lay vice-chair of the Parochial Church Council. I also sing in the church choir. In Buxton I am very happy to attend St John's Church as an ordinary member of the congregation.
I chair the Executive Committee of South West Notts Scouts.
I have lived in Bramcote since 1975 and also in Buxton since 2017. The Reverend Canon Lillian Heptinstall, my wife, is an ordained priest in the Church of England.
Lillian and I have four (adult) children (Victoria, Robert, Amanda and James) and ten grandchildren (Emily, Sam, Thomas, Rachel, Catherine, Jonah, Elise, Amos, Ezra and Jena).