From the fast-paced streets of Bayswater in the City of Westminster, I moved to the green and pleasant town of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the last stop on the northbound Metropolitan line, just an hour from Baker Street.
Remarkably, within six years, I had the honour of being elected Mayor.
When I first arrived, I was immediately charmed by small-town England. I remember thinking how extraordinary life was, a single hour outside London was.
I grew fond of the cobbled high street, the independent shops, the friendly smiles, and most of all, market days, where I would pick up my weekly fruit and veg for only six bowls a fiver.
It was local commerce at its best. In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith observed how the commerce of English towns contributed to the improvement of the country as a whole.
As Mayor of Chesham, I held no direct influence over the national economy, yet I believe I played a meaningful, if modest, role in strengthening our local one – from launching the Chesham Town App, to championing the town’s first-ever Italian Car Show, bringing forward the policy that enabled the redevelopment of Lowndes Park and supporting it through to fruition, and backing events that helped bring renewed life to the high street.
My election was historic, but it was ultimately a reflection of the inclusive and welcoming spirit of the people of Chesham. For that trust, and for the privilege of serving them, I will always say: thank you.
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