Councillor John Smith

What motivated you to become a councillor?

The wish to help other residents and also to oppose the Walsall Road development.

Background outside the council

I was born in Lincolnshire and went to King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth. After school I became a site surveyor in civil engineering. Projects I was involved with local to Lichfield were Minworth Sewage works, the A38 from Weeford island to Canwell, and part of Coventry ring road. After 10 years on site I changed direction and became an estimator for a company based in Aldridge. I spent 12 years working in the company's office in Billingham before returning back to live in Lichfield in 1987. I have served as a churchwarden at St Chad's Lichfield and the Parish Church in Stockton on Tees. I have previously been a governor at St Chad's school and also at the Willows.

Hobbies or interests

Gardening, reading (usually crime fiction) and bellringing.