There are exciting developments around Beaminster at the moment. Businesses are getting ready to re-open, some never closed. While others wait for the go-ahead before they, too, can join the ranks and welcome visitors and clients and customers back through their doors. And while all this is happening, the Town Council, too, has some exciting new developments to share, of their own.
For the past few months, as part of the Beaminster Community Resilience Plan, the Town Council has coordinated a gallant effort to ensure that nobody in Beaminster is forgotten about, that all businesses have the support they need, that people are fed and cared for, while still doing their day jobs. A big part of this initiative was to deliver shopping to people who were self-isolating, liaising with local businesses who needed help, putting together fruit and vegetable parcels for those who needed them, and more.
And as part of that team was Town Councillor, Craig Monks.
The news comes in today that this week, Craig Monks was elected to the Chairman position of the Beaminster Town Council, taking over the reins from Cllr Chris Turner.
We took the opportunity to find out more about Craig and what he loves most about life in Beaminster.
Life before Beaminster
Craig originally hails from North Devon. Before settling back in the South West, Craig joined the Metropolitan Police when he was 18 years old which saw him move to the capital. Having worked in a number of roles during his 16 years of service in The Met, Craig was involved in a number of High Profile events, working with a wide range of important individuals in Government. Meeting his wife through work, they decided, after the birth of their 2 children, that it was time to change careers and find a new quality of life where they could grow as a family and enjoy time together.
Arriving in Beaminster
Craig and Amy knew they wanted to settle back in the South West, and they’d always planned to ‘come home’ eventually, but quite where ‘home’ was was uncertain at the time. They knew, when the time came to leave the Police, that the time was right to explore their dreams of escaping to the country. Amy had friends and family in West Dorset and, through regular visits to the area, had grown to know the area well, and had loved Beaminster from the moment they first visited.
Getting settled in
Until recently, Craig enjoyed playing and coaching rugby, but his fondness lies heavily in our local countryside and beaches; in fact any of the local surroundings that would afford them an opportunity to spend time together as a family. They are passionate about making the most of what their home has to offer, which includes building and growing a life with their family and friends. When they’re not tending to their allotment, Craig is involved in a number of business and community initiatives. We ask Craig what he has loved most about Beaminster. “People make a Town. I love the people. Being part of such a warm and friendly community who look out for, and support, each other makes Beaminster a very special place to call home,” he says.
Joining the Beaminster Town Council
“I really believe in contributing to your community and being a part of it in any way you can”, says Craig. To him, being able to change things for the better and benefit everyone is so important to being involved in local initiatives. As a Councillor in his former Parish, Craig brought a wealth of new experience to the team and has already demonstrated himself as someone who is not averse to hard work, not shy to roll up his sleeves (even if that means driving the Beaminster bus to deliver shopping orders) with an infectious enthusiasm that you can’t help but enjoy.
Election as Chairman
As elected Chairman of the Beaminster Town Council, we ask Craig what he has in store for the Town Council and for the Town itself.
“Beaminster has had a tough time in recent years. My main drive is to be as proactive as possible in my support for local business and residents to kickstart the Town and get us back on the map for all the right reasons,” he tells us.
Craig is passionate about building on all the good that’s come from the amazing work of the community and its volunteers in its response to Covid-19. “There is so much good in our residents and business owners, and I really want to keep building on that,” he says.
Craig is also very keen to promote the Town Council and the work that it does for us all. He hopes to encourage more engagement from everyone who has a stake in our town; be it residents, businesses, schools, charities, visitors etc, and to try and change the stereotype that people usually associate with Town Councils. “We’re not all stuffy old folk who are stuck in our ways!” he laughs. He hopes that people look at him, and that their views change. Craig firmly believes that the more inclusive we are, the better we’ll serve Beaminster.
Final thoughts?
“Cllr Turner has set the standards incredibly high. The work he’s done as Chairman of the Beaminster Town Council over the years has truly been extraordinary. I’m really looking forward to carrying on that work to the best of my ability with a fresh approach with our ‘kick-start’ campaign”.
We wish you all the very best Craig! Thanks for heeding the call.
To get in touch with Craig, feel free to contact him on at the Town Council on 01308 863634, or you can email him directly on [email protected]
