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 Geoff Quince, Chairman of Crowland's Parish Council, admits he has a strange need to volunteer for things. And judging by his career to date you can well believe what he says.
He reflects on the many occasions he offered his time to help out. Seeing a problem and seemingly being able to find a solution has become second nature; first in his early years as a retained fireman, eventually rising to his new position as Station Manager (previously called a Station Commander) and as a parent-governor at his eldest daughter's school. But it wasn't until he responded to an advertisement in the Crowland Town Magazine three years ago asking for volunteers to join the Parish Council did he feel he could use his past experience to benefit Crowland and the community.
Geoff was born in March, the second of three children. Like many people in our region he points to a long family line earning their living in agriculture. And like others, has also seen his primary and secondary schools demolished to make way for office blocks and housing estates. Although never a great enthusiast of sport in his teen years, he did manage to make his way over to Peterborough with friends to watch the Posh, and to visit the newly built Queensgate Centre, describing the adventure as a cheap day out at that time.
While still at secondary school he was fully prepared to get stuck in and to work, taking on a Saturday job sweeping the floor and doing odd jobs in a Jeweller's shop in March. Later, other work at a chicken and egg farm collecting eggs and removing the body of the occasional dead chicken - a grim job on the best of days he recalls, but compared to doing a paper-round the pay was much better. The late 70s and early 80s were not easy times for school leavers - like to today, jobs were often hard to come by.
"I hadn't the right qualifications to do anything interesting," he says. "I applied for a job in the ambulance service, but didn't get in. But I knew I had to get myself sorted out with a career of some sorts - something better than what I was doing."
It was at this time he applied to be a retained fireman - a paid volunteer based in March.
Geoff has worked his way up the ladder in more ways than one. At each promotion opportunity he was successful in his written examinations, even though he admits to not having the patience or the commitment to study. But he's thankful he did the work even though promotions in the Fire Service now are not solely dependent on passing exams - he feels rather sad about this, having been bitten by the study bug. Very true; he now has a Diploma in Management Studies and is working towards other professional qualifications.
Geoff and his wife Tracey and their two daughters - the youngest 8 years old and the eldest almost 17 years old - have lived in Crowland for 10 years. For what might appear to be a limited amount of spare time, he lists his interests as DIY and woodcarving, an activity he pursues in what he tells me is his workshop (it's not a shed). He also describes glowingly the family holidays in France, where he enjoys the local red wines.
"There isn't any one individual that has inspired me," says Geoff, in response to my question about ambition, life and everything. "Rather, I have worked with a lot of good people throughout my life," he adds. This is evident in his character, as he appears to have a kindly interest in other people - a positive leadership quality.
What about his work with the Parish Council, in particular his term as chairman? He definitely wants to see more volunteers to the council, he says. But is there anything he would like to change?
"I would like us [the council] to have a bit more focus and vision. What I'd like to see before my tenure is up is a direction… that we have an agreed goal."
He goes on to say that the public often has the view that parish councils are dated - what he calls the Vicar of Dibley impression. He'd like to change that viewpoint and is enthusiastic to see positive things happen:
"It's not that anything is broken, it's just that we might need to polish it up a little… It's easy deciding not to do anything… to keep things as they are. Sometimes certain things are not going to work, but at least we have to make the effort… let's progress and get something positive going."
If you want to know more about volunteering to be a Crowland Parish Councillor (and have been a resident in Crowland for more than 12 months) then call the Clerk to the Parish Council (Brenda Stanojevic) on 01733 210653 for more information.
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