First and foremost, I see myself as a champion of the communities I represent – I make no apologies for saying political allegiances come second at a local level. My wife and I have lived in this area we love for over 30 years and our sons grew up here.

Lorraine was an advertising copywriter until deciding upon a second career. She gained a BA Hons at Reading University and a Professional Diploma at Oxford University in archaeology. Until December 2008 she worked at Oxford Archaeology as their Corporate Communications Officer.

I live with my wife in the picturesque village of Great Milton, and we have two grown up children – our daughter, Alexandra, lives in Cambridge, while our son, Christopher, is a physiotherapist based in Durban, South Africa.