I have lived in the village of Butterwick near Brawby for twelve years. I am married to Helen and have three grown-up children. I recently retired from North Yorkshire County Council where I worked as a manager within children’s services for over 30 years.

I have a great love of family but also of Ryedale, a place I first moved to in 1988. I take pleasure in walking on Ryedale’s hills, fly fishing in its rivers and praying in its churches. It represents everything that signifies home.

But the lack of basic support from District and County Council services for local people means that it’s becoming a hard place for some people to live. No local transport, little if any affordable housing and virtually no social housing. How do people with no car, and not on one of the three bus routes, access jobs, health care, and shopping, let alone have a social life.

I became a trustee of Ryedale Community Transport when I retired and look forward to trying to find answers to some of these challenges.