Local Face: Tom Walsh Tom was born in Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire in 1955. His father was serving in the RAF at nearby Wharton. This was the start of a peripatetic lifestyle with the family moving to Rufforth, Liverpool, Bridgenorth, Swinderby, Hemswell, Tobruk, El Adem and Blackpool. While the moving disrupted friendships and education, Tom’s mum could make a home pop up just about anywhere. Tom with other local representatives on a visit to
for a number of memorable sailing adventures. In 2010 Tom was, together with a friend, Robert Duggan, co-opted onto the Wendover Parish Council. Tom often says that he didn’t know that the Parish Councils existed and then he joined one.
At the time, HS2 was just being proposed. It seemed to be a threat to Wendover and Self reliance, a love of books and of the the Parish Council seemed to be a body great outdoors was instilled in Tom from Wendover exerted a strong hold on Tom. that could give the community a voice to his earliest years, by parents who greatly Friends and career were a powerful draw, stand up for itself. so he found lodgings in South St and then valued these things. later in Perry St. The Clocktower was a bit wonky and the Tom arrived in Wendover when his dad was Manor Waste needed a bit of a refit and posted from RAF El Adem to RAF Halton And then there was Ann. Ann, who Tom these and other smaller engineering jobs in 1969. The move from the Sahara to the had first met at John Colet School and who suited Tom’s skill set. Chilterns was a bit of a culture shock, but was/is, quite simply, the love of his life. proved a welcome one. So, in 1975 Tom and Ann married in the Tom is now the chairman of Wendover Parish church of St Michael and All Angels, Halton. Tom’s schooldays ended at the age of 15. His Married life started out in Aylesbury, though Council, and is a passionate advocate for education started then. Jobs in bookbinding, Wendover remained home and moving Parish Councils. He is convinced that anyone who wants to make a better community welding, a spell as a coal man and van driver back there was a prime objective. should join or at least engage with a Parish and as a road maintenance operative. Council. They offer communities direct Bucks CC Highways Department provided In 1980 Tom and Ann started Plantscapes access to expertise, funding and other like a generous training scheme that allowed Local. The company supplies and maintains minded groups. Tom to progress from labouring, through plant displays for business and offers advice City and Guilds, to highway management, on staff wellbeing. Tom is now preparing to stand for the engineering and project management. New Buckinghamshire Council, as an In the 60s and 70s entertainment revolved In 1985, once again Wendover became Independent candidate, in the May 7th around music. Tom was a very early member home to Ann, Tom and Siobhan, their then elections. He sees this new unified Council of Friars music club in Aylesbury. Friars two year old daughter and, two days after model, with its emphasis on local decision making, as a great opportunity for both catered for the rather hairy aficionados of they moved in, Verity was born. Wendover and for Buckinghamshire, if it’s prog rock with a bit of folk and blues music The following years were happy, busy managed correctly. He also foresees that, thrown in. Tom was a hairy aficionado. and rewarding. The business prospered, without independent voices in the mix, the Tom’s parents left home when he was 17. the kids progressed through Wendover’s New Buckinghamshire Council will be as The RAF posted them to Chivenor in North schools. Tom’s interest in offshore sailing, poor as the old authorities that it replaces Devon and then to Brawdy in South Wales. photography and writing were the catalyst at understanding local needs. Number 10 about HS2.
• • • • • • • •
From..
Building works Carpentry Plastering Painting & Decorating Plumbing Electrical works CCTV & Alarm services Handyman services
Design your composite front door on your Computer
Supply only or we can fit!
01494 702099 hello@conciergepropertymaintenance.co.uk www.conciergepropertymaintenance.co.uk www.wendovernews.co.uk
01296 624270
log onto www.idoor.co.uk or call us on 01296 630650
editor@wendovernews.co.uk
Wendover News March 2020
29
