Paul Allen, Dartmouth Town Mayor 2011-13
He was nearly a Monk but now having been elected as Mayor, Paul Allen intends to lead his local council, with the aim to help it become more energetic in responding to the needs of the Community.
Paul allen Mayor
Paul Allen, Dartmouth Town Mayor, sits surrounded by the pictures of his predecessors (in a casual shirt sipping a cup of tea.)
‘It is a real honour,’ he tells me, ‘to see the people wearing the regalia on these walls and think what they achieved. I’m aware of the respect given to the role of Mayor, above and beyond people’s feelings towards the current incumbent. It’s an honour and a responsibility. It makes you realise how influential the role is.’
He isn’t wrong - the position of mayor was created by Edward, the Black Prince, in 1341. In the 670 years since then, the regalia has been worn by some imposing and well respected figures: from the legendary John Hauley, to the first female mayor Dorothy Holwill, or the popular mayor, Irene Scawn.
Paul acknowledges the debt he owes and the responsibility: ‘They look down on me from the walls – it makes you realise how important a role it is.’
Born in Sutton Coldfield in 1947, Paul has had an interesting journey to leading the town council in historic and beautiful Dartmouth. After attending a convent school and then a Monastic abbey for his education, he dallied with the idea of being a monk before deciding the religious life was not for him.
His career followed a path with one common theme – he wanted to help others.
During his varied career he has worked for the Nuffield Foundation, helped to provide transport for the elderly, worked with a charity providing help, support and counselling for those with drug and alcohol problems and was director of a charity providing support to the families of those suffering from leukaemia.
In the last role he was very fortunate to have a leading part, helping many and leading an organisation which was well regarded. He also continued his record of taking on volunteer positions; he was a member of the BBC Advisory panel in the Midlands, Chairman of the Midlands Royal Jubilee and Princes Trust, and taken on as an assessor with Children In Need, The National Lottery, ITV Telethon and other public service roles.
Then he had a shock.
‘I needed a heart bypass and realised I had to have a change of lifestyle. So I moved down to Dartmouth twenty years ago, loving the Town primarily for its natural beauty, tranquillity and quality of life, ’ he said.
Dartmouth is now firmly his home and he has been a town councillor for the past seven years, taking on the role of chairman of committees and generally supporting the Councils work.
Now, he stands at the organisation’s head; he fully recognises the responsibility that that position brings.
‘We have a responsibility to bring people together in Dartmouth and it’s my Mayoral responsibility to always work towards a consensus,’ he said. ‘The town council has to reflect the views of the democratic majority. I’m encouraging all councillors to actively go out into their wards and canvas opinion so that when we have debates we are in a position to speak for those we represent.’
Paul is also determined to use the town council’s position to promote and help organisations around the town.
‘We have a town diary on the council website now which lists every regular meeting for organisations around the town,’ he said.
‘We want everything the council does to help people, encourage people, or simply just be useful in some way!’
We also want to be more appreciative of the correspondence and help we do get: everyone who writes to the council gets a thank you letter, because I want people to realise we welcome their thoughts and opinions.
‘We are looking at ways we can be more open, putting more press releases out, building personal relationships with other councils, organisations and individuals who aren’t necessarily part of any particular group. It’s important people feel we are approachable and will listen to them.’
Trying to leave behind any sense that the council and its members are inaccessible, Paul is inviting anyone with a concern or thought about how to help the town to come and meet him. All people have to do is make an appointment at the council offices and he will meet with them. He has met more than 50 people in this way since he became Mayor in May.
‘I’m a new mayor and I hope this is a new page in the history of the town council,’ he said. ‘I’m someone who welcomes debate and hearing all sides of an argument, so I would welcome people coming to see me, just as I welcome robust debate – but we must always move towards a consensus.
‘We have to help the town to work for everyone who lives and works here. We are a town of hard-working, ordinary people, trying to get on and doing amazing things for the community every day. The town council has to do all it can to help the town to get better and we have to lead from the front – I’m determined to do that.’
First Published August 2011 By The Dart
