Could you please tell us about your journey to become mayor?
You must become a councillor first, and I was only elected last year. I’m not a member of a political party. The leader approached me and said he would nominate me for deputy mayor. That evening, I thought, “well, Paul, give it a go.” So, I ended up being deputy mayor last year.
Each political party nominates somebody. But this year I was unopposed. So, I thought, well, I must have done something right last year. Nobody else put anybody up against me, and then it was a vote.
I’m quite new to being a borough councillor, but I’ve been thrust in really at the deep end, which I’m in a way, revelling in it. But it is a very busy role.
What do you enjoy most about the role?
Probably meeting people – meeting people who are doing fantastic work in the community. It’s been a wonderful journey. I think I think we’ll probably hit 300 engagements by the end of my term.
After I’d been mayor for three days, I got invited to go right out in the sticks. A club called the Monday Club is for senior people who’ve lost partners and don’t see anybody. On a Monday morning for about three hours, they get a cup of coffee and a huge piece of cake. And they just talk.
We had a wonderful D-Day celebration. Because RAF Marham was there, we had all the air cadets, sea cadets and army cadets. To light the beacon, we had a tank to fire a shell. It was a wonderful occasion, well supported by the people of the town as well.
I relinquish my role in May, but just before then that’ll be 80 years of victory in Europe, which they’re now planning. It will be a lovely occasion because there’ll be thousands of people there.
It’s been a wonderful journey. I think I think we’ll probably hit 300 engagements by the end of my term.
What do you find most challenging about the role?
The toughest assignment, because you chair the full council, is when you get 55 opinionated people you have to control. That can be tricky at times because you have to be impartial. You mustn’t give preference to your group.
The big challenging one is in February next year when you set the budget.
You are giving back to your community in this role, which is a bit similar to your previous role as magistrate. Do you see any parallels?
Yes, there is a parallel, but I’m not judging people now. That’s a slight difference.
I’m a busy man. I’m a school governor at three schools. I’m a trustee of an academy trust which is 11 schools. And I chair the audit committee for them. I’m president of the Sea Cadets. I’m also a director of Festival Too. It’s probably now the largest free music festival in Europe.
Could you please tell us about your previous role as a magistrate?
I served as a magistrate for 32 years until I had to retire at 70.
I was working as an engineer at Eastern Electricity, the regional electricity company, and the foreman for the meter readers said he was a magistrate and he would like to put my name forward. I hadn’t got a clue what that meant at that time. I then got called for a sort of more of an armchair chat with the clerk of the justices. I heard nothing for a year and then I got brought before an interviewing panel and now that was getting serious. Then I got a letter saying the Lord Chancellor has appointed you. And then, of course, the training started.
It was an opportunity. I’m glad I’ve had it and would recommend it to anybody interested in doing it, because the lifelong friends I’ve made through the camaraderie of magistrates are wonderful. And it’s not just magistrates, senior crown court judges etc. We speak every week.
What did you enjoy most about being a magistrate?
I chaired Norfolk’s youth panel. Because of my connection with schools and all that, I enjoyed the youth work. Particularly when they encourage the chair to engage with the youngster and talk about football, fishing, whatever – just to get their confidence to talk to you.
What do you enjoy most about being an MA member?
When I was chair of the West Norfolk Bench, we set up a thing called KICK – Kids in Court Kick Crime. We’ve done that because at one of the schools I was at, a teacher asked if the youngsters could come to court one day and I arranged that. He came to me afterwards and asked if we could make more of this. So, we sat down and thought about how to do this and then we launched it. It was so successful locally and nationally through the MA. We got the attention of the Ministry of Justice and they asked us to speak at a national conference at the NEC about what we were doing. We got a standing ovation and there were senior crown court judges there.
This week I entertained some guides at the town hall who wanted to look around the town hall and asked me questions, and one of their leaders asked if I was the person who’s done KICK. He said, “Well, as a result of that, two of those young ladies you spoke to are now solicitors”. So, I felt quite rewarded; they took up a career within the judiciary, which was wonderful.
I’m a governor at Springwood High School (part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust). They came second nationally in a mock trial competition. Then they won the barrister’s competition, and went to New York, represented the country and came third in the world. So, there are big links that I’ve had an influence and it’s been a wonderful journey really.
What would you say to other soon-to-retire members who are considering letting their membership lapse?
I’m a life member. I would encourage anybody to stay after retirement. I still get and read the magazine and it’s nice to just read articles and what’s going on.
Photo credit: © West Norfolk Council
