Councillor Gail Gregory

I have lived in Gnosall for almost 33 years, so am still a newcomer! Born in Cannock, the daughter of a local girl and a Hungarian cabinet-maker who came to Britain as a Bevin boy, I had an upbringing in a solidly working-class, urban area. My professional life has been in education, first in Norton Canes, then Newcastle-under-Lyme and lastly in Bloxwich and my first love was always teaching English, though I was fortunate to become Headteacher before my retirement. My husband and I moved to Gnosall as it was halfway between our respective jobs and it was my first experience of living in a rural community – what a wonderful lifestyle change that has been.

Retirement made a huge difference to our lives because, for the first time, we actually had time to be members of a community, instead of leaving early and returning late, shopping on the way home. As a couple without children or a dog and not church-goers, it can be hard to integrate. I had become Secretary of GRID a short while before retirement and this helped me to become acquainted with a great many people in a very short space of time. Although the group has now disbanded, those relationships persist and help enormously in my work as a parish councillor. I was originally co-opted in 2014 and have since been elected several times.

Gnosall has a strong sense of community and that is evident in many ways. The simple fact that so many people will wish you good day as you walk about the village is one example; the hard work of the BKV and Towpath groups is another. It is good to live in a community which works together to preserve what is good about the village and seeks further improvements.

There are times when being a parish councillor seems like a full-time job – it can certainly be a challenge – but it is also a privilege and hugely rewarding.  I hope to continue to serve this community which has become our home.