Member

Service runs deep in my family. My mum worked for the NHS and the Ministry of Defence. My dad served in the Royal Engineers for 30 years, including in the first Gulf war and in the Balkan conflict. I was born on RAF Wegberg in Germany, and, like many forces children, grew up on military bases all over the place. I learned the true value of service, and acquired a continuing and personal respect for the dedication of our armed forces and a deep patriotism—not for its own sake, but through a commitment to our British values of the rule of law, democracy, tolerance and liberty.