I was born in Gedling (Burton Joyce, to be specific). I went to Burton Joyce Primary School during the Mrs Proudfoot years, and on to Southwell Minster School. I studied Law at Nottingham Trent University (living in Gill Street Halls of Residence, the Park, and then Alfreton Road), where I spent two years volunteering at Emmanuel House in Hockley, as well as for a miscarriage of justice charity. I worked in Arnold as well as Nottingham City Centre. So for the first 22 years or so of my life, I had only ever lived on the 100 bus route. I know the area. I know the problems we share. I know the opportunities we have.
By the time I was a Labour Party member – over 9 years ago – my parents had moved to Southwell so I never got to meet many of you out on the doorstep. However, Gedling will always be my hometown. My family have lived in Gedling for over 150 years, and still live there now. There is nowhere in this world that I feel more at home than on my family’s farm in Burton Joyce. I cannot wait to move back.