NEW Barnsley Council leader WIlliam Brown served in the Iraq War and he believes his military background will stand him in good stead to lead the town over the next four years.
The newly-elected North East ward councillor was born in Glasgow in 1976 but spent part of his childhood in Germany and North Yorkshire because his dad was in the military.
He followed in his footsteps by joining the Parachute Regiment after school.
He told the Chronicle: “I went for the selection at Lichfield, passed that and ended up going to Catterick to do my training.
“I passed the training, did the first set of jumps and ended up at a base in Aldershot for quite a few years.
“Then we moved over to Dover and then to a training regiment in Bassingbourne where I trained recruits.
“That’s when the Iraq War started so i went out to Iraq.
“When I came back I left the military.”
During his time in the Parachute Regiment, Coun Brown came across Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis - and there’s plans for them to meet up in the near future.
“We were in the first battalion together,” he added.
“I don’t know him that well - Dan was an officer.
“But I’ve had a good chat with him after the first council.
“We’ve had a chat and now he’s obviously the Defence Secretary so he’s going to pop over for a brew and I’m sure we’ll catch up.”
Having spent large parts of his life in North and West Yorkshire, he moved to Barnsley about four years ago to buy a house with his wife who’s from Barnsley.
He said the love and pride he feels for his country - which only grew during his time in the military - is the reason he got into politics.
He added: “For me it was just thinking about the community in which I lived and it just seemed like we were getting a bad deal from the government.
“I thought: ‘surely something has to happen here otherwise we’ll lose the country’.
“I genuinely thought at the time that the country was going downhill fast and we needed people that had actually lived, worked, maybe experienced a lot in life rather than just what you see as politicians down in London.
“My idea was then to use my life experience and to come into local politics and try and make a difference.”
William was elected to lead Reform following their groundbreaking victory in May and while he admits he may have been slightly ‘naive’ of the bigger picture, his aims have not altered.
“I ran to become a councillor to really focus on my ward and help the community.
“So I was slightly naive of the bigger picture (that was to come when he was elected as leader).
“The bills are going up, the rent’s going up, the mortgage is going up, the tax is going up, the energy prices are going up.
“It just seemed like it’s spiking so there has to be a change in government in my eyes.
“And that starts with local government and councils so that’s why I stood as a councillor.
“For me, I wasn’t putting myself forward as leader.
“I had a full-time job paying reasonably well, a lot more than what I get paid here - and I was approached by various councillors and other members of my group, and I was asked if I would stand.
“On reflection I thought I could give a lot to Barnsley and its residents so that’s why I stood.”
He admits the role is demanding but has a clear vision of the town he and his party want to create.
“It’s demanding - there’s lots of meetings and lots to take in,” he said.
“I’ve got an excellent team.
“I think it’s strange because I don’t have a contract.
“I don’t have set timings, but I seem to be working more than any other contract I’ve had when I’ve had another job.
“I’m enjoying the challenge and I’m looking forward to showing change.
“It doesn’t come within three, four, five weeks of being elected and getting in and building a new cabinet.
“But the big difference will be seen one year, two years, four years down the line when massive changes have been implemented that benefit residents and the villages and the area, not just the town.”
