Over 50 Years in Public Service – Cllr Brian Allinson
February 27th, 2023
This month I was delighted to meet with Cllr Brian Allinson in the lovely surroundings of the Old School Rooms Coffee Shop on the green in Stoke Gifford.
Brian, now 78, has spent over 50 years in public service and feels that the time may have come for him to finally ‘hang up his hat’ at this year’s May elections.
Brian moved to Stoke Gifford from Longwell Green in 1984 and immediately loved the green open spaces and friendly, inclusive community feel. At the time he was a senior police officer where he spent 30 years of his career, eventually retiring as Superintendent in 1998.
With a love of Filton airfield and an early experience of flying, the development of a Police Air Support unit became a passion for Brian, eventually leading to a second career for him as an International Police Air Support advisor resulting in much international travel.
At home in Stoke Gifford Brian says he and his wife Paula have been busy populating the area! With two daughters, Julie and Esme and his son Jeremy, he now has 7 grandchildren, both daughters with 5 of his grandchildren still living locally in the village. Jeremy is in the RAF having carried on his father’s love of helicopters.
In 2001, through the Royal British Legion and encouraged by his friend, the late Brian Hewitt, Brian was elected as a local Councillor, a role he is still active in and has now held for over 20 years – in fact he is the longest serving Parish Councillor. One thing he loves about the local parish council is that it is apolitical with a lovely positive community spirit and focus on getting the jobs done around the area. Brian’s focus has always been on the maintenance of the parks and local roads – keeping the infrastructure going as it should be. His latest quest is the lack of visible white paint on the local road markings.
He also took on the role of South Glos District Councillor in 2003 which saw him participating as a cabinet member for Planning and Transport which regularly took him up to London. “There is rarely a day when I am not doing something on behalf of the Council and community” Brian told me.
At the forthcoming local elections in May he has decided to stand down from his role in the District Council and also in the Parish Council (although there has been some attempt to persuade him to at least stay on in the latter). He does wonder whatever he will do with himself if he gives up both roles! He tells me he has no regrets and has really enjoyed his time to date. He would encourage anybody thinking of standing for the local council to do so – “It is a really interesting role and one that you can feel you are doing something positive for your community. It’s a caretaking role, party politics are irrelevant at this level, it is about the people and the community.”
Brian has so many fascinating tales to tell about his life experiences through the forces and his later travels with the police air support unit. He recently documented them in his book “A Long and Winding Beat” which was initially intended as just a memoir for his family and friends but external demand has initiated a further print run. If interested you can order a copy directly from Brian for £11.99 – [email protected]
Whether Brian decides to stand again at the local May elections or if someone else is encouraged to stand in his shoes, I think we can all be grateful for Brian’s long service to our local community. Thank you for your long and continued service Sir.
Back to news