Welcome to my blog.

I try to write about things I like.  But, more often, it’s to draw attention to practices that are unjust, outmoded or dishonest.  I don’t expect the world to change because of the blog.  Rather, it’s one among many contributions that aim over time to change the way we view things to the point where action is taken.  Drip drip rather than bang bang.

Current interests.  I help run the Railway & Canal Historical Society (and try to find time to write some history), a semi-active member of Exeter Green Party, and a campaigner for openness in public life (most recently I’ve targeted Devon County Council – see webcast extract).

Formerly:

• Chairman,  Plunkett Foundation
• contributing editor and subsequently transport correspondent at Exeter Observer
• board member, Community Council of Devon (now Devon Communities Together)
• board member, ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England);
• Deputy Director at Defra, MAFF, Department of Social Security (and other types of civil servant)
• a volunteer watchkeeper at the National Coastwatch Institution’s Exmouth station,
• a member of Exeter University’s social sciences and international studies research ethics committee.
• freelance policy, management and governance consultant
• Vice-Chairman, CPRE Devon (Campaign to Protect Rural England)
• member, CPRE national Policy Committee
• Standards Committee member at Thames Valley Police Authority
• secretary of a village community association when we lived in Bucks.

I also blog about Exeter at The Exe Files.