Paul has lived in Stanley since 1981 and has brought up a family of two children here, one of whom still lives in the village. He had a career as a Drilling Engineer in Africa, Denmark and the North Sea, working on the exploration rigs and production platforms around the UK. In 1994 he changed career, going to work on the newly-privatised Railways where he worked on the design of Control Centres, Signalling and trains for London Underground and several rail franchises.

His main interests are Rugby Union, which he has refereed since 1996, and hiking in the UK and overseas. He recently completed two of the famous "Caminos de Santiago", one in Portugal and the other in Spain. Closer to home he has walked extensively in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Shropshire and Wales, and he is often to be seen on the paths surrounding Stanley and Stanley Common.

Having retired in 2014 he has travelled extensively throughout Europe and Africa, and also the South Atlantic where he has visited St Helena, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica.

He became a Parish Councillor again in February 2022, and is passionate about our two villages and their people: his wife Pat is secretary of the Stanley Village Community Association. As a Councillor, Paul is keen to foster co-operation with other village volunteers and organisations to improve and enrich the lives of local residents. He believes that our villages are special and unique places which we should cherish and preserve.