Harold John Prior
South Ward
Originated from North East Essex, my early years coinciding with the Second World War. After primary school my formal education continued at Harwich Grammer followed by 2 years in agriculture and service in the RAF, which included a 21 month spell in the Persian Gulf. On discharge from the RAF I jointed the Prison Service in which I was to spend the next 28 1/2 years. On leaving under a management restructuring scheme in Summer 1998, I later became a lay pastor with the Methodist Church in South Shropshire, before retiring to Sheringham in 1994.
I took a seat on the Town Council in the uncontested election in the following year, becoming Chairman in February 1998, serving in this capacity until May 2001 when the office of Mayor was created to mark the town's centenary year.
I take an active interest in constitutional issues and am concerned about the shift of power from the democratic process, in favour of focus groups and regulators who have no such accountability.