Q&A with our new Trustee - Graeme Henry

At our first AGM we welcomed two new Trustee's to the CCLT. In this blog post we introduce Graeme and find out more about his background, motivation for joining and some surprising facts!

Q: What motivated you to become a trustee of the Community Land Trust?

A: Hopefully to make a positive difference to the community and try and bring any knowledge that I have to provide the best outcome for all.

Q: What skills or experience do you hope to bring to the trustee board?

A: My entire working life was spent as a Solution Provider, culminating in with for a Microsoft Business solution. The role would see me working in many different industries with claims that they were all unique, however there was a large amount of commonality across them all. I would like to think that I can use the experiences of listening, arbitration, conflict resolution and diplomacy to work through the many problems that will undoubtedly arise along the journey. I also have an Accountancy, Legal and IT background and a desire to find out problems to questions that I do not know the answer to.

Q: What makes our community special to you?

A: I think that there is close connections with residents (recognising faces on the street and saying hello) and the mutual support that neighbours provide in good and tough times. The local pub and village hall act as central gathering points for various events and I have fond memories of attending the Christingel Service at the Church before we moved to the village and being warmly welcomed by all - and then we moved here :)

Q: What are you most looking forward to as a trustee?

A: There are many but for me it is trying to make a difference and giving people the opportunity to live in what is a fantastic community led village.

Q: What's something people in the village might be surprised to learn about you?

A: I trained as a hot air balloon pilot in my 20s and flew on numerous occasions around Hampshire and adjoining counties in a big yellow balloon!