I got 580 votes in the 2019 general election. Not bad for an independent with no funding who was only invited to two of the hustings. Since, then, unlike the winner, I haven’t spent much time being photographed opening fetes and cutting ribbons etc. I got on with life in the World’s best pub in Yarde Down.
I survived Covid and the lockdowns living on my own without a car up on Exmoor two miles away from my nearest neighbour and five miles from the nearest shop. We have a great community up here and my customers really looked after me. After Covid I had lots of help repairing, painting and fixing up the pub and we haven’t looked back since we opened again. It is always busy.
Then, because there is a field next to my pub, a local farmer who was going into a home gave me his two horses that he couldn’t keep, so – at the age of 60 – I learnt to ride but that wasn’t all. Even though I am only partially sighted I had dressage lessons and applied to ride for the UK Paralympic team. When that fell through someone suggested I try polo. I borrowed a horse at Taunton Polo Club and loved it. Now we have a pub polo team. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do anything. I also took up flying (as a passenger) with my sadly departed great friend Dave Karniewicz in the field next to the pub and then skydiving (though that was with someone else).
I regularly put in appearances on YouTube channels and on radio shows and my pub has been written about in the national press the New Stateman, the Spectator and the Oldie.
Customers from my pub thought up, funded and organised a plane building project at Petroc college. Every Wednesday they reported on progress. I was proud of the role I played in the project when students took their first flight ever in a plane they built themselves. Other than the Wright brothers who else can say that?
I enjoy a great time at our quiz nights, art lectures, car rallies, music nights, pizza nights, set menu nights (there is only one item) and the other stuff that goes on in Yarde Down. And, I meet a never ending stream of people – some are rich and famous – but none are more interesting than my regulars.
So, I have done lots of things since the last election but my ultimate ambition is stil to be your MP, representing the people I grew up with and live with in North Devon, which is – despite what politicians of all parties keep doing to it – still the best place to live in the World.