My family are from North Wales, where (so far as we can tell) my grand- and great- grandparents worked as blacksmiths, farriers, teachers, and coal merchants. (My husband's South Wales family also fall heavily on the side of teachers and mine workers.) I spent most of my working life in London, editing professional journals for The British Veterinary Association, but left the City to bring up my young family in Wales. For the past 16 years I have lived next door in the Vale of Glamorgan, but was greatly pleased to return to Swansea and Mumbles, where I spent many, extremely happy, years before and after graduating from Swansea University. (Among other things, after graduating I worked for nearly a year on the Abertawe Barrage, and am always amazed at the beautiful marina I helped create.)

The active side of the Gwyr Abertawe Branch grew largely out of the campaign team I put together in last year's General Election, in which I stood as the Parliamentary Candidate for Gower. It was an interesting time, as our team grew from four or five tentative volunteers, to nine, to a dozen, to 20, and by the time we merged with Swansea West, to a good 45 or so.

With the addition of Members from the Swansea West side of our constituency, the Branch grew rapidly until it regularly had roomfuls of volunteers turning up to meetings and campaign events.

I had the privilege of speaking at Reform's first ever Wales Conference, where I shared my journey to Reform UK: having set up the Free Speech Wales association in Cardiff, I found that Reform UK was the only political party that took the concept of free speech seriously. As an ex-journalist (the old-fashioned kind, that believes in impartiality) this spoke volumes to me, and led me to offer my services to the Party. Since then I have worked for Reform as a Branch Chair, DNO (delegated nominating officer), occasional Speaker and I am now in the process of becoming a Prospective Candidate in this year's Senedd Election.

I believe Reform UK is the only party that will truly protect all that is best about Wales: our values, culture, heritage, and our outstanding and varied countryside. Reform is also the only party that, in the last GE, made any real commitment to free speech -- which, in my opinion, underpins democracy and is vital to all we hold dear.

Like many other people, I want a free, happy Wales for my children to grow up in. I want them to experience the freedoms of a high-trust, integrated society; and I want them to be proud of their country, not ashamed or fearful of the future. Reform UK is the only Party that specifically aims for these goals; and I will do everything I can to help ensure we achieve them.