Dear Resident Can I first pay tribute to Ian Grundy, who represented you on Chelmsford City Council for over 20 years.

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Sadly, Ian passed away in November after a long fight against cancer, but he was active until very recently and always looked so young. I knew Ian from being a Member of South Hanningfield Parish Council and he attended our meetings as well as in both Stock & Margaretting and he will be much missed. I am honoured to be asked to stand for the Ward and know that I will have a lot to live up to, but I know the villages well and how important it is to keep them safe from over-development and protect the Green Belt.

I have strong connections with both Stock & Ramsden Heath, the two largest villages in the Ward and if elected would be honoured to represent you as one of your two Chelmsford City Councillors. I know Councillor Roy Whitehead very well, having served with him as a Parish Councillor for many years.

My Grandparents came to Common Farm in Broomwood Lane in the late 1940’s and my parents set up a new farm in Dowsett Lane in 1970, the year I was born. They ran Longcroft Farm and I helped there and made deliveries of poultry to many houses locally so got to know many residents.

As a farmer, my father worked with Marriages to create a food without additives and colourings, and together they launch a new poultry food and ‘The Home of Farmer Bonnett’s Eggs.’ I went to Primary School in Stock and attended services in All Saints Church and used the library and the local shop. I was a bellringer at St. Margaret's Church and a member of the church choir.

I went to college in Chelmsford and worked part-time in Stock Fish & Chip Shop, so got to know many residents. I helped David Atkins with food at Flower Festivals in Downham and took over the running of the village Brownie Pack which was threatened with closure. In 1994 I married in St Margaret’s Church, and it was packed with Brownies who wanted to see Brown Owl getting married!

We purchased a house in Ramsden Heath and my daughter Emma was born in 2005. She later attended Stock Primary School and joined the Scouts, so my connections with Stock remained strong.

In 2002 I joined South Hanningfield Parish Council and was a councillor until 2023 and I am still involved with the Parish Allotments as a member of their Working Party. The Parish Council has always been non-political, but it gave me an insight into the workings of local government, dealing with planning applications and many local issues. Some of these involved meetings at the City Council and County Council, so I understand problems such as fly-tipping, rubbish collection and will use this knowledge for the benefit of the residents of South Hanningfield, Stock & Margaretting if you elect me on December 12th.

Yours sincerely Gillian Bonnett