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About me

I've lived in Chepstow, on the border between Wales and England, for the last 17 years. But I was born not far from the opposite end of Offa's Dyke, in the Wirral, in 1952. Being mad on maps, I studied geography at Nottingham University, somehow contriving to make an appearance on "University Challenge" (we lost in the semi-final). After moving to London, I soon abandoned any lingering hopes of an academic career after deciding that running a bar and going to gigs was more fun. Foolish managers with Devon County Council then gave me an unlikely chance to train and work as a professional town planner.I've had strong political and ethical views since I can remember, and in Exeter that (combined with a boring job) led me to become active in my trade union, both locally and at regional and national levels. But by the late 1980s I was ready for new professional challenges as a planner. With my then partner I moved to Bristol to continue and develop my interests and skills in strategic planning at the regional and sub-regional levels, finally moving house to the Welsh side of the Severn bridge in 1993. Ten years later, I was lucky enough to have a year as the South West England branch chair of the professional town planning institute, the RTPI. But in 2006 the local authorities' joint strategic arrangements for planning across the greater Bristol area finally collapsed, and with them went my job. So, I now share my time between my varied and interesting work commitments, my children, my involvement with the Chepstow Society and in trying to write a book on the history of the area, contributing to Planning Aid Wales, Wikipedia, and the rest of my life.

My life so far....

Guy Hamilton