Andy graduated university with a 2:1 Business Studies degree and in 2001 joined Hampshire Constabulary as a Police Officer. After rising to the rank of Detective Sergeant, and having gained a wide range of knowledge and experience in departments such as Intelligence, and Serious and Organised Crime, he left the Police and now runs a small local business making furniture from reclaimed wood. Andy dedicates his spare time within the local community as a volunteer at Somerford Youth and Community Centre and previously as a committee member of Christchurch Citizens’ Association, recently standing down to fight this election on behalf of local residents whilst not compromising the political neutrality of the association.

Elected Chair of Christchurch Labour Party in 2018, Andy began reorganising the movement from the ground up, enthusing the membership and involving the Party more with the local community, notably helping Christchurch Soup Kitchen and the local food bank with collections and donations. Most recently Andy campaigned tirelessly alongside parents against the closure of Goslings Nursery and worked with fellow candidate Claire Wade in pushing the Council to provide a clean drinking water fountain in Christchurch for the public, and especially our homeless community here.

Andy’s drive, passion, and community values give him a strong voice for Christchurch against the Tory majority, and his experience of public service will ensure a level of honesty, integrity and a commitment to transparency that has been lacking from local politics across the area for too long.

Claire is a born and bred local woman, living in the Somerford area for 9 years before moving to Burton in 2001 and she has retained strong links to the Somerford area. She has raised 2 children and her husband runs a small local business. Working in community development she understands many of the needs within a community, how to work to resolve issues and staunchly believes in giving people a voice.

She has a long history of volunteering which started in the early 1990s and is currently a trustee for Christchurch Soup Kitchen, alongside volunteering with Contact the Elderly, supporting the buses for Burton campaign group, and works tirelessly with a small group to try and reopen a youth club in Burton that was shut following council cuts.

Passionate about the community, she volunteers her time as a dementia champion, running dementia friend sessions to enable others to learn more about the multiple types of dementia and how it affects the individual living with it, their friends and family. She feels strongly that Christchurch residents need a fresh strong voice on the new council to stand up to the majority of Conservative voices that dominate the council. She is passionate about her community and resolutely believes that honesty, transparency and integrity are vital for those who are chosen to represent the people of Christchurch.