Former NHS worker Rob Kendrick, who’s now a Lincolnshire County Councillor, says he’s driven by his passion for art and his community in and around Metheringham.
Writing on the County Council’s web site at lincolnshire.gov.uk he said: “After growing up in Bedford with a passion for art, you might think I would follow a career in something really creative.
“That was certainly the plan when I attended Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design to study interior design. However, when I completed the course, the country was in the middle of an oil crisis and interior design was not high on the list of priorities for most businesses. I did a number of jobs, including a period of time in a department store and I later worked for a short time as an architect’s assistant.
“It was around this time I joined the Young Conservatives, which turned out to be a wise move because it was how I met Jane, who was later to become my wife. I had my first experience of public service when I was elected to North Bedford Borough Council in the early 1980’s.
“After Jane was offered a job in Horncastle, we decided to have a look at Lincolnshire during a weekend in Lincoln. We loved the area, so Jane accepted the job and we moved to Branston. Soon afterwards, I took a job within the NHS, which saw me managing volunteer services, a role I found very rewarding.
|”It was a change of direction for me, but I feel I achieved a lot, including bringing some innovations to Lincolnshire mental health volunteer services. Mental health and wellbeing continues to be a priority of mine and I am now a County Council Representative Governor on the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
“I was elected to North Kesteven District Council, and served as a district councillor for eight years, before standing for the county council elections in 2017. I was elected as a county councillor for the Metheringham Rural Division, which is where I now live.
“Being a councillor is all about local issues, facilities and communities. Recognising this, I recently helped arrange for the Highways contractors, under their community volunteer scheme, to do work at Timberland Village Hall and on the playing field. I was immensely proud to be invited back to carry out the official opening of the refurbished building.
“The big issues that residents are talking to me about at the moment are separate planning proposals for a biomass anaerobic digestion facility and a solar farm near Metheringham. I feel it is my job to listen to the views of local people and make sure they’re represented.”
• Cllr Kendrick is the councillor for Metheringham Rural and lives in Metheringham with his wife Jane. They have one daughter and two grandchildren. Heis chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and also sits on the Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and a number of other health associated committees.
