Full News Report

27th July 2023

Introducing our new chairman

MORVAL Parish Council’s new chairman, Andy Jackson, says he is pleased to have been given the opportunity of representing the parish. 

Born and raised in rural Oxfordshire, where his mother and father were landlords of The Swan Inn (Ascott under Wychwood), Andy always wanted to join the Army so it came as no shock when, on May 3, 1983, he reported to Woolwich Barracks to start 16 weeks of basic training, followed by six weeks of trade training. 

‘That was where my life changed for ever,’ he says. 

‘After training I was sent to Germany but a year later I decided that life in Germany wasn’t for me, so I volunteered to attempt the all arms commando course, under the ever watching eyes of the Royal Marines training wing – and I can assure you they don’t miss much!’

On passing the course Andy was awarded his green beret and reported to 29 Commando based at the Royal Citadel Plymouth, where he spent the next 16 years, being sent to many places including Norway for Arctic winter training for three to four months.  

In 1991 he was deployed to Northern Iraq and Kurdistan and his travels also took him to Bosnia in 1995. 

‘I can only describe my time there as very frustrating for many different reasons,’ he said.

‘I’ve also served in many other countries including the Far East.’

Cllr Jackson left the Army after nearly 17 years of service, and went into the tree-cutting business, until an opportunity arose in the close protection industry, working in London and predominantly in the Middle East. 

But after nine years of employment abroad he decided to come home to a more gentler way of life, and started sub-contracting to Network Rail, cutting trees and clearing vegetation.

‘Six years later we decided to move back to the South West and renovated an old farmhouse in Cornwall,’ he said. 

‘I thoroughly enjoyed that adventure… but would never do it again!’

As many parishioners will already know, Andy will be the sort of chairman who rolls his sleeves up and, gets things done. 

‘My interests are reading; trying to keep as fit as possible and, of course helping Morval Parish, as much as I can,’ he said.