Councillor JOHN NICHOLSON

Posted by Admin on 26 July 2011, 2:04 pm

Sunnyside, Pallance Lane, Northwood, PO31 8LT

Tel: 0791 8757843

Email: cllr.john.nicholson@btconnect.com

Is the Parish Council’s representative on the Northwood Community Partnership

Is the Parish Council’s representative on the Cowes, Northwood and Gurnard Community Transport Forum

Is a member of the Planning Committee

Is on the Parish Plan Update Working Party

Is on the Precept Working Party

I was born and grew up in Gurnard, educated at Holy Cross, East Cowes, then St John’s College, Southsea, spending my weekends at Gurnard Sailing Club. It was whilst living in Gurnard that I ventured into starting my own construction company, after some years of working for Island Builders and on their DOE gang, doing restoration work. For a number of years, I lived in Moorgreen Road, with my first partner, and expert cook, Dawn McIntyre, and where I further developed my business; then, when I moved to Northwood, some 25 years ago, my business went to the small industrial estate at Three Gates Road, then after a fire that destroyed everything, I moved it to my home in Pallance Road, before finding a suitable premises at Forest Road, where it is based today, and I now live in Pallance Lane (2 degrees colder and a lot quieter!) with my beautiful Cuban born wife, Oleima, and family.

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Those who know me will also know that I am an avid Real Ale fan, having been Chairman for the local CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) branch for nearly 20 years. CAMRA is, probably, the world’s most successful consumer campaign, and has resulted in the wonderful and diverse range of purely British Real Ales that we enjoy today. Under my Chairmanship, the IW branch have been innovators on a national scale, including being the first branch to form a liaison with the local Police Licensing Office, a relationship which the police have grown to find most useful and productive.
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Apart from family life, I also hold an interest in yoga, psychology and eastern mysticism (something that is being recognised as having great significance as our western scientific progress increasingly confirms ancient knowledge and wisdom), and many people will also know me as a frequent exerciser at Gurnard Pines.
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It was at the invitation and instigation of my friend Roger Mazillius that I decided to take on the role of Councillor, having had no political experience before. As owner of my own Company, I am used to dealing with people and solving “seemingly unresolvable” problems. During the election campaign, I have really enjoyed meeting and talking to people during canvassing, at the houses that I managed to get round – apologies to those who I did not manage to reach.
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For me, now, it is about finding a balance between my new duties as Councillor, responsibilities at work and maintaining a life at home with the ones I love. My daughter, Yaismara, now lives in Newport with her fiancé and is a very settled and talented young woman. My son, Yunior, has just turned 16 and is at that stage where he has to start making serious life choices. He is an excellent sportsman and a popular young man and we are torn between school and college as the best way forward for him in these critical years.
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As I understand it, Roger Mazillius did not hold surgery sessions, as he felt he was always out and meeting people anyway. I will have surgeries, once I find my feet; and the I.W. Community Club, Travellers Joy and Horseshoe might seem suitable venues, with easy access. I am not sure about times and dates yet, but will post these, as I say, once I have found my feet.