Richard Redcliffe - Mayor of Fylde

I was born in Bridgend Glamorgan in 1951 and in 1954 my family moved to Kingswinford near Stourbridge in the West Midlands where I received my primary and secondary education. I attended West Midlands College of Education for primary teacher training and was awarded a B.Ed. Honours degree in Education and Geography from Birmingham University in 1973.

After teaching in Dudley at two schools, I married Sheila whom I had met at college and moved to the Fylde Coast in 1974. My first teaching post in Lancashire was at Devonshire Road Junior School followed by becoming Deputy Headteacher at Garstang C.E. Primary School in 1979. I then took up my first headship in 1983 at Medlar with Wesham C.E. Primary School. In 1988 I was appointed Headteacher at Ansdell Primary School where I worked with children, staff, parents and the community for 22 years to establish an inclusive, caring and achieving school. Our efforts were recognised by Ofsted when after an inspection, the school was awarded an Outstanding judgement.

Having lived on Marton Moss Blackpool on a market garden property on moving to the Fylde Coast with my wife Sheila we moved to Staining in 1977 and then to St Annes in 1991.

In 51 years on the Fylde Coast, 48 of which have been in the Borough of Fylde, I have always been an active sports enthusiast. This has involved playing for local badminton clubs including Ribby Hall and watching Blackpool FC every season.

My wife and I share a Christian faith and have always been members of Anglican churches having worshipped at St Pauls Church Ansdell and Fairhaven for 35 years. Both Sheila and I have served on the Parochial Church Council, and I am a member of the music group.

In 2011 I became a Fylde councillor representing Ansdell which later became Ansdell and Fairhaven. I then subsequently took up the position of Vice Chair and then Chair of the Planning Committee and Deputy Leader of Fylde Council. I am Honorary Chairman of the Friends of Ansdell Library.

 Sheila and I have many interests including walking, theatre, travelling and visiting National Trust properties. We have two daughters, one, an actor and the other a theatre producer and playwright. They both attended Ansdell Primary School and Lytham St Annes High School.