Councillor Chris Haycock

My wife Lucy and I arrived in Gnosall a decade ago, armed with excitable twin girls barely out of nappies.  We feel fortunate to have chosen such a delightful village to settle. In a journey that resembles the story of Dick Whittington, my life has been a relentless pursuit of triumph over adversity.

As a Gulf War veteran, I became disillusioned after a 5-year stint in the Royal Navy, so I left with the goal of seeking my fortune. I was unprepared for civvy life, and I became homeless on the streets of London. With my very last £1 coin I decided to fight for survival and get back into society by selling cheap toys out of a tatty bag, door-to-door.  I eventually ended up in catering, working my way up to Hotel & Restaurant Manager in Torquay.

It was at that point I discovered digital marketing, and my life took on a brand new chapter. I then spent 10 years at numerous start-ups, blue chip companies and law firms helping them succeed.

Today, I am the MD of successful digital publishing company CliqTo Media and an avid pilot with my own aircraft. But what gives me the greatest pleasure in life is knowing that I can make a difference to other people’s lives. That’s why in 2017 I set up homeless charity KipBag, and together we have distributed more than 3,000 sleeping bags to rough sleepers across the country.

I intend to use my life experiences, problem-solving skills, and devotion to spreading kindness to help the GREAT people of Gnosall, and to advocate for our community’s needs effectively.