Welcome to my blog. I am a former local journalist who now works in PR and a Conservative and community activist in Woking and Horsell. This blog will keep updated on local issues as well as my interests and quirky news stories.
I received a letter when I got back from work this evening with some very exciting news – Jack Straw has confirmed my appointment to the Commission of the Peace for England and Wales and – subject to some induction and training days – I will begin sitting as a magistrate in Woking from this summer.
It’s obviously a great honour to come through a pretty rigorous application process that’s taken nearly two years successfully. I’ve great support from my employer Mouchel, which has been brilliant in giving me assurances and the time off needed to sit on the bench without which I wouldn’t have stood a chance.
But even though it’s an honour for me, more importantly it’s a duty for the rest of Woking. I’m due to start my training next month and be sworn in at Guildford on May 10.
I used to spend quite a bit of time in court as a reporter and was always interested in the role that magistrates played. It crossed my mind back then that it was something I wanted to do and I’m just really pleased that now I’ve got that chance.
Just going out to a Horsell Village Hall trustee meeting and then hope to write another update later.
