Although my first name is John I have always been addressed as Barry, my second name. I live in Elford and I am married to Virginia - a local JP.
Tamworth has been the centre of my life since my birth here in 1953. Raised in Amington, educated in local schools and colleges, and taken to degree level by that amazing institution the Open University. I currently serve as a Parish Councillor, am a governor at a local school. I have DJ'd in the town for around 50 years (Barry John) and can truly say Tamworth is in my blood.
I am a really local person who remembers the 'Hilly Fields', the rubber dump, Gibbs & Cannings, Diamond Row, Sheepcote Lane when it was a lane and Bolehall and Amington Moors before they were destroyed. Both of my grandads worked down Alvecote (Aucut) and Amington Pits. My dad followed them down Amington, Kingsbury and Daw Mill pits too. My great uncle Lawrence built that amazing timber cottage near to my old school at Amington back in 1927 - still standing proud today.
In my youth I used to play on the Amington/Glascote Wesley Way estate when it was just fields. I was a regular at Amington and Glascote youth clubs. I was a local 'rocker/biker'. I spent 3 years DJing in nightclubs before leaving to get a 'proper' job (as my dad would have said). I've been a fireman, HGV driver, and coach driver. I worked my way up from the shop floor into computer programming and taken roles as shop steward and works convenor along the way. So my experience stands me in good stead for understanding the many different problems people face. I'm just as much at home talking to company bosses as employees and constituents.
I am currently contracted as Transport Manage at Lessers Removals in Tamworth. I still DJ part-time, supply PAT services and webmastering.
This campaign is totally self-funded and managed by myself and my wife Virginia.