My name is Mary McLaren and I am the prospective Conservative Candidate for the Peninsula Division in the Suffolk County Council Elections in May and I wish to introduce myself.

I came to Suffolk in 1981 and have lived in both sides of the County. My long career in Health and Social Care has taken me overseas and across the UK. As an ex senior manager in the NHS, I understand the pressure for more staff and services, balanced against limited resources.

As a regulator of Health & Social Care organisations there were situations when I publicly had to defend national standards (on occasions supported by MPs) whilst representing those who had no voice and were powerless.

I created and developed a nationwide business which achieved recognition as one of the Inner City 100 in 2002. The hard work and perseverance that is needed when you see no result from your efforts and there is no money coming in, is something I remember as if it was yesterday.

I am an ex Royal Navy wife and remember the separations and the loneliness whilst trying to repair the vacuum cleaner or get the car sorted. The reality of a husband serving in Northern Ireland was a sobering experience.

I am the Babergh District Councillor for Stour Ward (Harkstead, Holbrook and Stutton) and through restricted times have tried to keep in contact to listen, encourage and enable those in need and those responding to need.

Outside of lockdown I attend Holbrook Methodist Chapel and work as a Town Pastor in Ipswich on Saturday Nights supporting those whose night out celebrations result in difficulties and vulnerable situations. We also include rough sleepers in our night watch.

"HOPE IS THE ONLY FOUR-LETTER WORD FOR 2021"

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