I was born & bred in Cornwall...

Born in Truro, in November 1976, I spent my first 18 years living in St Austell and Lostwithiel.

My Mother grew up in the clay-country in Nanpean, while her family were from Padstow - her grandfather was a fisherman. My Father moved to Cornwall from Hertfordshire and my Brother, and best friend, David, joined the family in 1979.

..went to school in Fowey and St Austell..

I attended Carclaze Infants School in St Austell and St Winnow (C of E) Primary School in Lostwithiel, before moving on to Fowey Community School. It's fair to say I was better at English than Maths! I left in 1995 and received the Headmaster's Award and the Award for Excellence in History.

From Fowey, I went to St Austell College and took A-levels in History, English and Politics. I left Cornwall in 1995, heading to Aberystwyth to study International Politics.

..then Aberystwyth for university..

From 1995 to 1998 I lived in Aberystwyth, or "Aber". It's the oldest school for International Politics in the world. I think I had a very typical student experience and, aside from being Chair of the University Debating Society, didn't get involved in student politics at all.

While studying I had some great jobs - working in various places to help pay the bills: a restaurant in Fowey, a holiday park near St Austell, the china clay labs, and I even spent a summer "crimping" pasties!

From January to June 1998 I worked in the Westminster office of Montgomeryshire MP, Lembit Opik.

I left Aberystwyth with a degree in International Politics and Strategic Studies.

..before moving back to Cornwall..

By the summer of 1998 I was back in Cornwall and working for the local MEP - Robin Teverson. It was an exciting time as we were pushing for Cornwall to get Objective One funding from Europe - and we succeeded.

It was in 1998 that I was first elected to Council, representing St Blazey on Restormel Borough Council.

BUT

Boundary changes at the 1999 elections to the European Parliament meant that Robin lost his seat - and I lost my job.

..then to London..

At the end of 1999 - with no job in sight in Cornwall - I went off to London and back to University to do a Master's Degree at the London School of Economics.

London became my home for the next five or so years.

The LSE was an inspiring place to study. I left with an Masters' Degree in International Politics and settled into building a career in the city.

For five years I gave political advice to London's fund management industry (savings, pensions and investments) - ending up as UK Public Affairs Manager for Fidelity Investments, the world's largest fund management company.

In 2002, I was elected to the London Borough of Haringey - and spent most (if not all!) of my spare time being a Councillor for the second time.

.. and then back to Cornwall - again!

At the end of 2005, with my Father very ill with cancer, I decided to move back to Cornwall. This has not only allowed me to be closer to my Dad, but has given me the opportunity to help build a team that will win the new Parliamentary seat of St Austell & Newquay.