Page 36 - Phonebox Magazine June 2006

Olney Town Council
Introducing Olney Town Council’s new Mayor
Mayor’s Profile Paul Watson
On Monday 8 May I had the honour and pleasure of being elected Mayor of Olney. As a relative ‘new boy’ to Olney, many of you may be saying, “I don’t know who you are.” So I would like to fill in some of my background.
I was born in 1942 in Mill Hill, London. Music played a big part in my early years and at the age of around ten I won a scholarship to the Trinity College of Music in London for the piano. I left school at 18 and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1964. By 1968 I had met and married Dorothy and in 1973 we moved, because of my work, to Belgium, where we lived an expatriate life for four years. By this time we had two daughters, Louise and Julie.
Shortly after our return to England I became finance director of a division of Babcock International (probably better known by the name of Babcock and Wilcox). Like many people, I hoped to run my own company one day, and after 18 years in industry I took the plunge and set up my own accountancy practice in Maidstone. Fifteen years later in 1997 I received an offer to buy the practice from a national firm of chartered accountants, which I decided to accept.
Julie had married Kevin and moved to Olney in 1994, so we became acquainted with Olney at about that time. Two grandsons arrived, Benjamin and James and so there was no question, we wanted to retire somewhere close to Olney. The attractions of Olney itself were overwhelming, so following a two year work hand over and house hunting we moved here in May 2000.
Cricket and rugby have been my main sporting interests in the past. I did manage a couple of years with the Olney Cricket Club playing in their Sunday casuals team but knee problems brought that era to a close and I now enjoy summer days and evenings on the Bowls Club rinks. I suppose I should include running as another interest and 20 or so years ago managed three marathons. Dorothy, who has also run one marathon, and I manage to jog (at least that’s what we call it) around Emberton Park several times a week in an attempt to stay fit.
Paul Watson
I was co-opted on to Olney Town Council in January 2002 and was elected to be chair of the Finance Sub-Committee. I am still the chair of finance and was elected Deputy Mayor in May 2004. I am also treasurer of St Peter & St Paul’s Church and a volunteer at the police station where together with other volunteers we try to keep the office open for two hours each morning, Monday to Saturday plus Friday evening from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.
It is my hope, along with that of the other 14 Councillors of Olney Town Council that we will work in the best interests of you, the residents and of the town. We trust you will find us approachable and should you have matters you wish to raise before the full Council there is the opportunity during the first 15 minutes of the monthly meeting.
I hope to become acquainted with many more of you in the coming year.
My best regards
Paul Watson, Olney Town Mayor
Deputy Mayor’s Profile John Smail
Iwas born in 1935 at Kelso in the Scottish Borders. I left school at 15 and served my apprenticeship in the building trade. I was called for national service in 1955 where I served in Malaya. On
completion of my national service I returned to the Borders where I met Peggy and we were married in l959. In 1961 we decided to move to England. I joined the Buckinghamshire Constabulary (now Thames Valley Police) and was stationed at Bletchley for three years. In 1964 I moved to Olney and was the local policeman for nine years until 1973. For those that remember, the police houses and office were the last two houses in Weston Road. I then moved to the forensic department in Milton Keynes. I retired from the police force in 2001 having served 30 years. I then took up employment as a bailiff at Milton Keynes Council Court until I retired at 65.
I have always been interested in sport having played rugby for Bletchley and Olney. I have played golf since my school days and did get down to a low handicap. At present I am the president and secretary of Olney Bowling Club. A vice president of the Rugby Club and a life member of Olney Town Football Club.
My two sons and three grandchildren live in Olney. Peggy and I still live in Weston Road having lived there for 42 years. (But you will never be a local.)
I have been a member of the Town Council for ten years serving on various committees. I will, together with my fellow Councillors, assist the Mayor in every possible way and continue to work in the best interest of the town which we have always done.
John Smail, Olney Town Deputy Mayor
John Smail
36 Phonebox Magazine