💗 They say find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life - and for the last 8 years, I’ve had the best job in the world.
No honour is greater than being entrusted to lead the place you love, and I feel immensely privileged to have been able to play just a small part in shaping our brilliant city. From bringing the Weeping Window poppies to Middleport and pitching to be City of Culture, to getting cranes on the skyline at the Goods Yard and leading the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, whilst creating the country’s first Fostering Friendly City alongside creating a new era of housing that reflects the needs of all, I have woken up every morning keen to do all I can to improve Stoke-on-Trent, and I hope in a small way I have.
Potteries folk are the salt of the earth, and I’ve been welcomed into community groups, businesses, faith organisations and more with open arms to receive honest views. In turn, I’ve done my best to take the hopes and aspirations alongside the challenges and opportunities of our city onto regional, national and sometimes international stages. Nothing has made me prouder than to tell people about our small but mighty city, and whilst I will no longer be charged with doing that from the front, I will always be Team Stoke-on-Trent.
I’ve received tremendous support from so many people over the last 8 years, often from unexpected quarters, and many have become great friends. The officers I’ve worked with, past and present, at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been some of the hardest working and most inspiring, always open to my ideas and suggestions. Local government really is amazing, and I’ll continue to champion it and all it does in our city and beyond through my roles with the Local Government Association. And of course, I remain the local councillor for the beautiful ward of Meir Park, Catchems Corner and Foxfields Crescent.
For now though, it’s time for a bit of a rest. My children have known no different than mum being in ‘boring meetings’ since they were small, so I’m looking forward to being a bit more present in our homelife (just when they reach an age that they’d rather I wasn’t!). You’ll also catch me running very slowly along canals and greenways, and investigating the best places to eat out in the city.
As one door closes, others open and the next adventure for me is just around the corner.
Vis Unita Fortior.
