MAYOR OF POOLE

Graham Mason, who has been a councillor for Broadstone for eleven years, is now the 754th Mayor of Poole.

Graham was born in Birmingham in 1941, his father was at that time in Singapore serving with the new REME, and subsequently becoming a prisoner of the Japanese. Sadly he did not survive the war so Graham was raised by his mother Edith who some of you might remember at the United Reformed Church.

He went to school in Hall Green, Birmingham, until he passed the scholarship that took him to the Technical School at Handsworth in 1954. On leaving school he started work in Hockley as a toolmaker but soon moved up the road to the jewellery quarter where he became a diamond mounter for William Ginder. He worked there until he joined the Royal Marines in 1960.

Graham served for 22 years in the Royal Marines, serving in 42 Commando RM in Singapore and the Far East, then on HMS Ursa in the West Indies and the Caribbean.

The then newly reformed 43 Commando RM and later 41 Commando RM, Malta. It was whilst serving with 41 Commando that the unit was sent to Cyprus in 1974.

Graham retired from the Royal Marines in 1982, having lived in Broadstone for some years with his wife Susan and their family. They have three daughters, two sons and twelve grandchildren. He was first elected to represent Broadstone in 1990 and served for many years as Chairman of Contract Services, Vice-Chairman of Leisure and Amenities, and is now Vice-Chairman of Community Information & Support Services Scrutiny Committee and a member of the Community Information & Support Services Policy Advisory Group.

Graham is always pushing for a better deal for pensioners with improved support from the Government. He wants to improve our transport system with much better bus services, with fares at a price that will encourage people to use them.

He hasn't got a lot of time for hobbies but enjoys the company of his family, especially the grandchildren whenever he gets the chance.

Archive Summer 2002 | next

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