My wife, Jane, and I have lived in the centre of Melbourn for nearly 25 years, enjoying its attractive environment, size and facilities, and its easy access to London and elsewhere.

We have two daughters, Helen and Rosalind, who mainly grew up in the village.  Helen is an HR manager for an international drug-testing  company based in Abington, and Ros is a chartered accountant and tax adviser at Ernst &Young in London.  We also now have a grandson.

Until my retirement at the end of August 2009, I practised as a solicitor for 37 years, mostly as a partner in a large regional firm with offices in Cambridge, Northampton and Milton Keynes.  I was Managing Partner for ten years, followed by a term as Senior Partner.  I have LLM degrees from Cambridge and Birmingham Universities, and an MBA degree obtained by part-time study in 1998.  In the 1970s, I taught law at two colleges of Cambridge University.

I recently joined the Parish Council, and currently serve on the Planning and Conservation Committees.  Jane edits the Melde magazine, and we are both members of the River Mel Restoration Group and the local U3A.

I think the Village Plan will create an important strategic focus for the future of Melbourn, and the process of producing it should provide an exciting opportunity for everyone in the village to have a say in its future.