CLLR ELEANOR MACY - BUSH FAIR WARD

Contact Cllr Eleanor Macy

Cllr Eleanor Macy 108 Hookfield, Harlow CM18 6QJ tel 01279 324193 email Cllr Eleanor Macy

About Eleanor

"As a youngster there were two things I knew I did not want anything to do with once I grew up. One was to become a teacher (I'd be 4th generation) and the other was to be involved in politics. My father has always been active in politics and I remember 1974 as one long leaflet push. No thank you! But, nature or nurture, it appears I was condemned to follow the family footsteps: not for me life on an oil rig or down a mine as a geologist, instead I became a teacher in 1991 and in 2002 when I was asked to stand in the local elections I said yes. So as I passed my 36th birthday I had achieved both those things I swore in my late teens never ever to do!!

Born in Loughton, Essex, in March 1966, I went to Staples Road Infants and Juniors and on to West Hatch Technical High School. We moved to North Weald so I went to Harlow College to get the necessary A levels for university and I did a BEd (Hons) in Northampton. I taught for a couple of years in Waltham Cross before joining Essex Traveller Education Service. I am now an advisory teacher working in schools across Harlow, Uttlesford, Epping Forest and parts of Chelmsford to improve access, attendance and achievement of Traveller children in schools.

I am a single parent with 2 beautiful children. Katie is 9 and Timothy is 3 - he attended his first full council meeting at 10 days old when every vote was believed to be vital."

Roles and responsibilities

• Chairman, Harlow Council Environment & Community Committee
• Member, Harlow Council Licensing Committee
• Member, Harlow Council Planning Committee
• Member, Harlow Council Appointments Sub Committee
• Member, Harlow Veolia Environmental Board
• Member, Emergency Planning Group
• Representative, Tye Green Community Association
• Representative, Waste Management Advisory Board
• Members' newsletter editor, Harlow Liberal Democrats

Why I became a councillor

"I became a councillor because I thought I ought to put my money where my mouth was. Harlow Council needed changing and improving. Instead of just talking about how things should be done I decided to try and actually be part of the changes.

It has been a real challenge, hard work but I am proud of the changes and improvements that we have made over the past five years and I look forward to continuing to be part of the team which takes Harlow onwards."

Current issues

10 things you didn't know about Eleanor

1. Eleanor played in the 1992 Lacrosse World Cup.

2. Eleanor was a fully qualified cricket umpire.

3. Eleanor's best bowling figures were 5 for 16.

4. Eleanor hurdled with Sally Gunnell.

5. Eleanor's car is on the album cover to Queen's Live Magic.

6. Eleanor wants to learn to scuba dive.

7. Eleanor dug her own pond in her garden when she moved in.

8. Eleanor is a member of RACS (Real Ale Club of Sawbridgeworth).

9. Eleanor pretended to be a boy and joined the Scouts in 1976 (it took them 6 months to twig and kick her out).

10. Clement Freud ate the leg of Eleanor's gingerbread man when he judged a cookery competition when Eleanor was 8.