Councillor Lorna Grey Oakham Town Council

I was very surprised to receive this email from Councillor Lorna Grey of Oakham Town Council.

Councillor Lorna Grey is so kind and selfless, she could dance on the Mayors head and I would not blog it. (well that might be worth a blog if she did) I question why she has written it now, has the mob been having a go at her I hope not! Her request shows honesty and integrity, something lacking in so many Oakham Town Councillors.
> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 22:22:29 +0000
> Subject: Misunderstanding?
> From: lornagreyse@virginmedia.com
> To: martinjbrookes@hotmail.com
>
> Dear Mr Brookes,
>
> I hope you don't mind but I would like to make clear a little
> misunderstanding regarding something you have published on your blog.
> It appears that you thought that it was Councillor Sharon Spencer that
> laughed over a planning application a few months ago when it was in
> fact me. Unfortunately I do have a sense of humour and on that
> occasion when an application to remove a tree from someone's garden
> because it attracted birds, my humour let me down. I do realise that
> it was not appropriate to laugh but as I am sure you are aware we all
> do things we might regret on occasions.
>
> I have tried to do my very best as a councillor as I think we all do,
> it can be challenging but I did hope that it would provide some
> enjoyment too.
>
> I would be very grateful if you could correct your blog accordingly.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Lorna Grey



Dear Cllr Grey,

Thank you for your e-mail, I would have seen Cllr Spencer laughing. I would not have seen you laugh as you would have had you back to me. If I had heard you laugh I would have not considered it malicious. The item brought a smile to my face we are all human.

I compared Cllr Spencer's laughter, with the time she laughed at resident who had wrote a written complaint about anti social behaviour from Royce Recreation Ground, She stated the resident should not have bought a home near the park and laughed, even though I was a councillor at the time, no one would give me the name of this lady in my ward, I made enquires locally and I met that lady before she moved with her young family to rented accommodation in Langham. She was not surprised by the Councils reaction, because she had already met Councillor Joyce Lucas.

If I am mad for feeling sorry for that family who had to move and sell up due the anti social behaviour and to be laughed at by Cllr Sharon Spnecer when she read the letter out at  a public meeting, then its a good thing I am thought of as mad.

I was surprised to receive your email as the blog entry you refer to was so long ago I doubt if I could find it now as you requested it to be ammended I will post this and your e-mail, then the public can see how honest you are unlike, Cllr Spencer, Dewis, Lucas, Haworth or Dodds. The Town Council need more members like you.

I would like to say when I talk to people, you are one of the most respected Oakham Town Councillors, totally selfless and if you are being got at like I was, I know you would have more support from the public than I ever did. Remember the comment from one of your former students.

Nothing you have done at Oakham Town Council has been wrong, it's good to have a touch of human kindness around the table.

Best wishes and kind regards from

Martin Brookes



> Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 22:22:29 +0000
> Subject: Misunderstanding?
> From: lornagreyse@virginmedia.com
> To: martinjbrookes@hotmail.com
>
> Dear Mr Brookes,
>
> I hope you don't mind but I would like to make clear a little
> misunderstanding regarding something you have published on your blog.
> It appears that you thought that it was Councillor Sharon Spencer that
> laughed over a planning application a few months ago when it was in
> fact me. Unfortunately I do have a sense of humour and on that
> occasion when an application to remove a tree from someone's garden
> because it attracted birds, my humour let me down. I do realise that
> it was not appropriate to laugh but as I am sure you are aware we all
> do things we might regret on occasions.
>
> I have tried to do my very best as a councillor as I think we all do,
> it can be challenging but I did hope that it would provide some
> enjoyment too.
>
> I would be very grateful if you could correct your blog accordingly.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Lorna Grey

Cllr Mrs Lorna Grey
18 Glebe Way
Oakham
Rutland
LE15 6LX
01572 755863
South East Ward

Lorna was co-opted to represent Oakham South East Ward in June 2010.

She said:

I hope that the role will be as rewarding to myself as it is to the people in the ward that I will represent. 

I have lived in Oakham for the past 31 years with my husband Allan and have 2 daughters, a granddaughter and my Mum who all live in our town, 4 generations in fact, another reason to keep Oakham a place to be proud of.

My occupation was that of a teacher and I have taught as a supply and Special Needs teacher whilst my own children were growing up. 

I currently work as a volunteer for Age UK on Oakham High Street and for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity that provides wishes for children suffering life threatening diseases. My husband and I are directors of a small photography business.

My hope is that Oakham will retain its charm for all of us that are privileged enough to live here and that we will keep our sense of community and appreciation of what we have.

Lorna is now the Council's representative to the Memorial Institute.

Happy 21st Birthday Cllr Lorna Grey

Happy Birthday Councillor Lorna Grey

Today Councillor Grey celebrated her 21st Birthday today!

After tonights council meeting, she kindly invited me to share
some of her delicious chocolate birthday cake.

Thank you

Cllr Lorna Grey & Cllr Tor Clark co-opted Oakham Town Council

After such a long period of having no councillors serving South East we now have two new councillors, despite one of them applying for the North East Ward where there was no vacancy. I did not point this out at the time of interview because members tend to ignore my observations.


I am still trying to work out the odds of any organisation holding an election and giving each member two votes to chose to candidates and all the member vote the same. Well it happened at Oakham Town Council, it has been described as a miracle!

Our first new councillor, ladies first is:

Councillor Lorna Grey
Glebe Way
Oakham

lornajgrey@virgin.net

Councillor Grey has lived in Oakham for 31 years and very much loves our town and county.

Back in 1979 Councillor Grey and her husband raised a huge sum of money £10,000 to purchase a foetal heart monitor for The Rutland Memorial Hospital.

Councillor Grey has given time to various committee and organisations over the years.

Councillor Grey taught at the Vale of Catmose College as a supply and special needs teacher.

Councillor Grey has also worked as a volunteer for Help the aged and Make-A-Wish.

Councillor Grey says she has a lot to offer the council and the people, mainly a lot of enthusiasm, she would also like to see more facilities for younger people.

Councillor Grey says “I would like to be able to push the idea to EVERYONE that we should take a pride in our environment and keep our street clear of litter”

Strangely when I bring up that subject I am told by members, Rutland County Council do a wonderful job cleaning up. I think some need to get out of their cars and look at the litter everywhere you walk.

Councillor Grey has a slogan for the town. “Wear that frown upside down as people react to a smile far more than a grumpy face!”

I now have visions of a town full of grumpy people, well we have a few like most towns.



The second new councillor is:

Councillor Tor Clark
Hambleton Close
Oakham

On paper this man look interesting, I am not sure what he will make of Oakham Town Council and its current dysfunctional condition.

Councillor Tor Clark is a political journalist and university lecturer. He is Principal Lecturer in journalism at De-Montfort University in Leicester.

He also acts as an academic advisor to other UK universities, as political journalist for national magazines.

At the recent general elections he was a analyst for BBC Leicester.

Councillor Clark has held editorial posts for the following news publication.

Rutland & Stamford Mercury

Harborough & Lutterworth Mail

Kettering & Corby editions of the

Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph

Councillor Clark say he spent a lot of his 16 year working in journalism covering an awful lot of council meetings, a task journalist no longer perform in our area.
,
Councillor Clark is an elected parent governor at Oakham C of E school, he has been very busy as chair of the governing bodies strategic vision committee. He is over seeing plans to rebuild the school this summer.

Councillor Clerk sits on Rutland County Councils Little Build Project board, which is overseeing the rebuild, he also represents the school on Rutlans Governors’ forum. He represents all Rutland’s Primary school parent governors on Rutland County Councils Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Panel.

Councillor Clark says “I have thought long and hard about getting more involved in local affairs through elected office and have come to the conclusion that I should at least try to contribute as the opportunity to serve my area is open”