How I became a Conservative Councillor 

For nearly two years most of my leisure time was taken up with organising a 3-week Conference on Christian Stewardship, which took place in November 1972.

 ELECTION CANDIDATE 

It was the Stewardship Conference that was responsible for my becoming actively involved in politics.  The sudden cessation of the Conference activities left me with much leisure time on my hands while at the same time I was steeped in the principles of Christian Stewardship.  I felt duty-bound to consider what I should do with my time, talents and money in the service of God, my fellow-humans and myself.  This was my frame of mind when on 12th January 1973 I went to see Derek Samson, Assistant Director of Hatfield Polytechnic, about obtaining support for research into Privacy.

In the course of our conversation Derek Samson surprised me by asking if I had ever thought of becoming an M.P.  I responded that I did not see how I could become one, given that many odd things had happened in my life which I couldn't explain if I was asked about them.  Derek Samson, who lived in Harpenden and was active in Conservative circles then asked if I would consider becoming a Conservative candidate for election to the new Council to be formed for St. Albans District.  The suggestion seemed particularly apposite to my situation and I replied that I was willing to explore the possibility.  Three weeks later, having been at pains to reveal to John Sellers, the Party Agent, as much as I myself could understand of my recent past, I agreed to let my name go forward.  I explained to the selection committee that being a consistently marginal Conservative did not mean I was sitting on the fence but was definitely on one side of it though standing near to the dividing line and seeing merit in some ideas from the other side.  I was adopted as a Candidate.

Election Day, Thursday 7th June 1973, was gloriously sunny.  The blossom was out on the may trees at the entrance to the polling station at Manland (now Sir John Lawes) School.  Early in the day I received a telegram of good wishes from the M.P., who at this time was Victor Goodhew.  I was elected along with the two other Conservative candidates as a District Councillor for East Ward, Harpenden.  Incidentally, it was fascinating to see the Committee Room in action, in our dining room, which knowledge I later put to good use.  I was also intrigued by the thought that as the Polytechnic was under the aegis of Hertfordshire County Council, I was in effect employed by one Local Government and an elected ‘director’ of another.  When it came to putting forward my choices of committees I balanced those which greatly interested me with those where my prime motivation was to be of service to others.