Meet the new Chairman of Norfolk County Council

For Immediate Release

19 June 2009

More than a decade ago Shelagh Gurney successfully campaigned to install crossing islands on the Reepham Road at Hellesdon, together with a group of fellow mothers, in a bid to make the road safer to cross.

It was to be the start of a new career of campaigning to improve life for communities across Norfolk.

Years of public service later and the mother-of-two is the new Chairman of Norfolk County Council in her third term of office as a County Councillor.

She said: “I never, ever dreamt that this would happen to me so it's a great honour and a privilege to be the new Chairman of the County Council.

“I'm looking forward to spending the next 12 months as the Chairman, and it's very exciting to be in a civic role in which I can meet many people from across Norfolk and help to promote our wonderful county.”

Shelagh is Norfolk born and bred.

Her parents were brought up in Stiffkey and Wells-next-the-Sea, moved to Norwich in 1954 and Shelagh was born in 1958.

A former pupil of St Williams Way Primary School and Notre Dame High School in Norwich, she met her husband, Trevor, the clerk of Wymondham Town Council, during an inter-sixth form debating session while she was studying at Notre Dame High School and he was a student at City of Norwich School, Norwich.

They have been married for 24 years and have two sons, Nick, 17, and 13-year-old James.

After qualifying as a diagnostic radiographer at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, she worked as an orthopaedic nurse at the hospital and at a city-based day care centre for older people with mental health problems.

In 1997 and as a working mother with two small children in tow, Shelagh was elected to Broadland District Council to represent the former Hellesdon West division.

In 2001 she became a County Councillor for the Hellesdon division and has served on the Adult Social Services committee, both as a member and chairman.

Until recently she was the deputy Cabinet member for Adult Social Services, and has also served on the County Council's Fire and Community Protection Panel.

One of her ambitions for the year ahead includes supporting the work of the county's young carers, and meeting as many residents of Norfolk as possible.

“I would like to do something for our many young carers in Norfolk who work so hard looking after their loved ones, take them out of their caring situation for a short while, give them a treat and spoil them,” she said.

During her year in office, Shelagh will be juggling her civic commitments with a busy family life and, away from the chains of offices and role serving the residents of Hellesdon, is a keen caravaner, musician and loves watercolour painting.

She also plays percussion with the Hellesdon and Sprowston Brass Band and is a keen player of the piano accordion. She also supports the Hellesdon High School wind band.

She said: “As every mother will know, it's a busy full time job and I'll be juggling many commitments but I'm delighted to be a Norfolk mother representing the county and all its residents.”

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