Adrian Oldman
Adrian grew up in Gloucestershire and has worked or lived in Stroud District for about 30 years, on and off. He says the area is different from anywhere else that he’s lived. “There’s so much (sometimes too much!) to get involved in. I love the community’s ability to come together to create and support new ideas and new initiatives, as well as opposing the negative effects of capitalism and racism. It’s also an incredibly beautiful area and has loads of amazing open space.”
His ambition for Stroud is that it retains its unique character yet remains open and welcoming to newcomers.
His first job was working for Stroud District Council, and he worked in local government for 12 years.
He is currently a councillor on Stroud Town Council and is standing for election to the District Council because of the opportunity to help people and help create better, stronger, vibrant communities as a result. Explaining why he would be a good district councillor for Hardwick, he says: “My experience of local government means I understand the ‘system’, and how to use it to get the best out of it. My voluntary roles have led me to understand people’s real lives and how council (and other) funding and priorities need to be focused much more upon them than under the current broken system. And I have previously stood for election to SDC and have been on the town council for two years.”
He has an HND in public administration, is a Chartered Company Secretary, holds a Diploma in Public Relations and was once a trade union rep (for NALGO).
If elected, Adrian will champion ideas around doughnut economics, and call for a Universal Basic Income trial and a four-day working week. “I’d also like the council to better support community groups and be more open and responsive to local people and communities than it is now.”
Once a Labour supporter, Adrian shifted his allegiances to the Green Party after getting heavily involved in the campaign to save the Stratford Park trees in 1987. “At the end of that, I was convinced that the Green Party was the only answer to tackling the environmental issues that we were then facing,” he says.
His ambition is to see Greens in power at all levels of local government.
Adrian is involved with several local organisations, including the Bike Drop, UBI Lab Stroud, Stroud Community Energy and Pathways to Participation Stroud. He is a volunteer director of Transition Stroud and co-coordinator of Stroud District Green Party.
In his spare time he enjoys watching cricket and walking his dog. He also likes reading and talking about local and national politics.
John Patient
John Patient has lived in Stroud District for 15 years and is running for council because he believes that being a councillor is the best way to be able to help the local community.
John’s day job is as a data modeller for the Pensions Regulator. This role, and his degree in Economics, gives him experience in problem solving, analysing data and communication skills that will be valuable when considering sometimes complex issues in council meetings.
If elected he will support the council in its ongoing aim of building more council houses; John believes that there should be a home for every family that needs one.
John believes that efficient, frequent, affordable public transport is vital to a thriving society and would like to see better integration between bus and train timetables locally.
Once a Labour supporter, John switched to the Greens because they were the only party that had a genuine commitment to addressing the climate change issue.
He organises walks for the Gloucestershire Walking Group and is on the management committee for the community ownership of the Black Horse pub in Cranham. He enjoys watching football and is a West Ham fan.
Hardwicke has 3 seats
Hardwicke has 3 seats, so in addition to Adrian and John, you are also able to vote for to the fantastic John Robinthwaite!