Prospective Conservative candidate for Colchester City Council election
(Mersea and Pyefleet ward - East and West Mersea, Peldon, Abberton, Langenhoe and Fingringhoe)
About Martin
I began my career as a teacher in a challenging school in an Essex seaside town. I have subsequently held senior leadership roles both in the UK and overseas, including being part of the senior leadership team establishing a new sixth form college in an East Anglian port town with underachieving schools which significantly improved A level results, as well as the number of local young people going to leading universities, which was one of my particular responsibilities.
After teaching Geography in two Essex schools I became an overseas aid worker first in Pakistan, then in Afghanistan. I and a Norwegian colleague were the first westerners to visit a remote region 10,000 feet up in the Afghan mountainous, which was then literally just a ‘blank’ on the map. I subsequently spent 10 years working without a formal salary to set up a literacy and community development project there, which included having to negotiate in local language with senior members of the Taliban and other warlords to do so - so I have a bit of experience of dealing with awkward people!
I have also worked in higher education - including setting up a new course in Research Ethics at Anglia Ruskin University, I am a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) and am also the also the author of two books.
I have recently set up a new charity undertaking research on the global persecution of Christians.
After teaching Geography in two Essex schools I became an overseas aid worker first in Pakistan, then in Afghanistan. I and a Norwegian colleague were the first westerners to visit a remote region 10,000 feet up in the Afghan mountainous, which was then literally just a ‘blank’ on the map. I subsequently spent 10 years working without a formal salary to set up a literacy and community development project there, which included having to negotiate in local language with senior members of the Taliban and other warlords to do so - so I have a bit of experience of dealing with awkward people!
I have also worked in higher education - including setting up a new course in Research Ethics at Anglia Ruskin University, I am a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) and am also the also the author of two books.
I have recently set up a new charity undertaking research on the global persecution of Christians.
Mersea
It is a privilege to live on Mersea – one of the best places in the world to live (though we try to keep that just a little bit quiet so it doesn’t get spoilt!). I was born and grew up in East Anglia and came back here after working as an overseas aid worker in Afghanistan. I grew up in an area near the coast and the sea becomes part of you.
I am married to Lesley and we have two boys, two dogs and am very much involved in our local community including being a West Mersea town councillor, volunteering on safety boat for Dabchicks Sailing Club, Mersea Week and Round the Island Race; being part of St Peter and St Paul’s Church including being a member of PCC; and getting involved in Mersea Museum – which has got to be one of the best local museums in the country, not just the quality of displays- but the active involvement and sheer enthusiasm of so many local people in recording and exploring local history.
I also have a passion for history and have written on local history for the Essex Society for Archaeology and History and am currently writing up some research on Mersea in the Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods.
I also have a particular interest in coastal erosion and flooding, with the issues on Mersea and nearby villages being extremely similar to those I dealt with when I was previously a councillor for a rural and coastal area on the Suffolk coast.
It is a privilege to live on Mersea – one of the best places in the world to live (though we try to keep that just a little bit quiet so it doesn’t get spoilt!). I was born and grew up in East Anglia and came back here after working as an overseas aid worker in Afghanistan. I grew up in an area near the coast and the sea becomes part of you.
I am married to Lesley and we have two boys, two dogs and am very much involved in our local community including being a West Mersea town councillor, volunteering on safety boat for Dabchicks Sailing Club, Mersea Week and Round the Island Race; being part of St Peter and St Paul’s Church including being a member of PCC; and getting involved in Mersea Museum – which has got to be one of the best local museums in the country, not just the quality of displays- but the active involvement and sheer enthusiasm of so many local people in recording and exploring local history.
I also have a passion for history and have written on local history for the Essex Society for Archaeology and History and am currently writing up some research on Mersea in the Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods.
I also have a particular interest in coastal erosion and flooding, with the issues on Mersea and nearby villages being extremely similar to those I dealt with when I was previously a councillor for a rural and coastal area on the Suffolk coast.
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