This is a candidate statement for the position of UNA-UK Trustee. Please note that this profile has not been edited for factual accuracy or language, and that UNA-UK does not accept responsibility for any mis-statements of fact.
I have been a member of UNA-UK since 1964, having joined the Council for Education in World Citizenship while at school. I became the Vice-Chairman of UNA Croydon in 1969, shortly after leaving university, where I studied history and education. I became Chairman in 1971 and remained in that post for 11 years. I am currently the Vice Chairman of UNA Sutton & Croydon.
In 2007, having read a paper I submitted to a previous General Council meeting of the Association about seeking charitable status for UNA-UK, Sam Daws, then Executive Director, asked me to serve on the Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GPC). Upon the retirement of the then F&GPC Chairman, I succeeded to that post, which also carries the position of Honourable Treasurer of the Association and Vice-Chairman of the Board. I served in that capacity for six years until 2015. During that time, charitable status for UNA-UK was gained. I also played a key role in the negotiations that led to the present financially favourable arrangement of a joint freehold for 3 Whitehall Court. Earlier this year, I was the recipient of the UNA-UK Distinguished Service Award, following nomination by the Board.
My professional career encompassed many years as a senior administrator at King’s College London, where I am an Associate by examination and a Fellow by election. Subsequently, I was Chief Executive of the All Saints Educational Trust. Upon retirement from that post, I was awarded the St Mellitus Medal by the Bishop of London in recognition of my contribution to the work of the Trust over eight years.
As a schoolboy, I was keen to understand what was required of an aspiring ‘citizen of the world’. I am still keen to understand what this aspiration means and what responsibilities the work carries. As a Trustee of UNA-UK, with something of a roving brief, I expect to learn from our members more about the challenges and opportunities that they envisage for the Association in the next phase of our development.