3 minute read
Local elections special
The delayed local elections from last year have now been confirmed for 6 May, 2021. Here in Bristol we have four elections taking place on the same day!
• Bristol City Council • Mayor of Bristol • Regional Mayor (WECA) • Police and Crime Commissioner
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Special measures will be put in place to ensure everyone’s safety at the polling station, but you may wish to consider getting a postal vote. More details here:
https://www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/ postal-voting We hope you will consider voting for Jos Clark and Andrew Varney to represent you in Brislington West. Over the last five years, they have both been working very hard on behalf of local residents and have a strong record of success. This week, we’d like to give you some background information on Cllr. Jos Clark. Jos was born and grew up in Keynsham, attending the local primary school, which she really enjoyed, and the local secondary school, which was less enjoyable! However, it is nice that she is still friends with some of her class mates. Jos continued her studies at Bath Technical College and studied catering because she had a job in a restaurant. Jos said, ‘I didn’t enjoy the catering industry very much so I only remained working in it for a few years’.
Jos has always loved the great outdoors and has enjoyed participating in many sporting pursuits. As a young girl Jos got her first horse, which took up a lot of her time but gave her so much freedom as they used to go out for the whole day riding for miles. Later on, she started getting into climbing and caving, spending most of her free time either climbing in Avon Gorge or caving in the Mendips. After leaving the catering industry, Jos began working with a management training company, who did a lot of team building work. Jos said, ‘My friend was just starting the business and he asked me to join him. We literally built the business by converting a derelict farm into a training centre. It was an amazing time’. Jos became the centre’s caving, climbing and hiking leader but was unfortunately made redundant when recession hit in the late eighties.
Social Services suggested she apply for a post in a children’s residential home as she had done a lot of work for them leading the boys on outdoor pursuits. She worked in the children’s home for a number of years and loved it because there was always so much going on with the farm and sports facilities they had on site.
At this point Jos decided to continue with her education, first completing ‘A’ levels and then going to Bath Spa University and Bristol University to study for a Masters in Social Work. It was also at this time that Jos became interested in local politics. She decided to stand as a local councillor, and was first elected in 2003. Jos said, ‘I enjoyed my time in the council immensely and felt I learnt so much, particularly when I was executive member for children’s services’. Jos lost her seat in 2011 but was re-elected in 2016 and became Lord Mayor in 2019.
We believe in keeping residents up to date on local issues and publish a quarterly newsletter, Focus on Brislington West. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to deliver a printed version due to new government guidelines during the pandemic. However, we have a online version of our newsletter and if you would like to receive it, please register using this link: http://www.bristollibdems.org/efocus.
