Devoted Davies: Loyal, long-serving and popular Vicky returns
Cllr Vicky Davies was returned to her Pilgrims Hatch seat last week with a staggering 72% of the vote but that's no surprise to anyone who knows her. Everyone in the chamber has time and respect for the former council leader and Mayor who was first elected in 1991 in the ward of Brizes & Doddinghurst - the year of Lib Dem landslide victory when the party took control of the council.
Vicky says:
"I was one of 27 members having to quickly learn the ropes of being a councillor. I became vice chair of halls sub committee , no longer in existence, in 1993 followed quickly by a year as vice chair of housing. subsequently, I was chair of Housing for four years. During this time, I was also Deputy Leader to David Gottesmann and then, from 2004-2006 I was Leader of Brentwood Council."
"The workload was weighty and I resigned from my day job as a theatre sister and anaesthetic nurse practitioner to concentrate on increasing council duties."
"After a devastating loss in 2006, I took a four year sabbatical during which time I studied for a certificate of Education ( Cert Ed) at Havering College to allow me to teach adults first aid."
The Liberal Democrat councillor couldn't keep away from politics for ever and in 2010 was elected to represent Pilgrims Hatch in a by-election, subsequently holding that seat in 2011, 2015 and this year.
It was a delight to see Vicky serve a year as Mayor of Brentwood from 2014 - 2015 whilst we ran the council as a rainbow coalition with Labour and the independent councillor Roger Keeble, who served as her Deputy Mayor.
As well as being an active councillor helping the residents of Pilgrims Hatch, she also teaches part-time providing health care training for St Francis Hospice and local businesses, is an active member of the Visually Impaired Club (after being its chair for 17 years) and helps to run the Colour In Cafe - a drop in cafe in Warley that's under the umbrella of Brentwood Community Print and aimed at reducing social isolation and supporting folk recovering from mental ill health.
Vicky is a rare jewel in politics - an elected representative that often unites across all parties and is popular throughout Brentwood.
We are delighted she continues to be such a key part of our community.