Youth and Experience appointed to the Broads Authority
Two Broads sailors are among three new members who have been appointed to the Broads Authority for four years by Defra.
Alexandra Steven, who lives, works and plays in the Broads, is, at 27, one of the youngest members to have been appointed to the Broads Authority.
Philip Durrant, 41, managing director of Gardline Environmental Ltd, the UK's leading environmental marine survey company at Great Yarmouth, has also been appointed.
Former member Dr Murray Gray, 60, who represented South Norfolk Council on the Authority from 2003 - 2007, has been re-appointed by Defra. He and Alexandra Steven will take up their appointments on 1 June while Philip Durrant serves from 1 April.
Alexandra, a development surveyor with Cator & Co of Salhouse, is Ranworth born and bred.
"As a result, the Broads are an important part of my life," she says. "I have sailed on the rivers since I was a child."
Her knowledge and activities cover a wide cross section of Broads interests, including boating, sustainable development and farming. In the course of her job she works on low energy buildings and affordable housing, especially in rural villages. She is a member of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), and a council member and steward at the Royal Norfolk Show. She also helps at community events organised by the Countryside Ranger for Salhouse Broad.
As part of her job she organises an annual Countryside Schools Day at Salhouse Farms, introducing 140 local primary school children to countryside management and wildlife. She is also a member of the fundraising committee for Nelson's Journey, a charity supporting bereaved children.
"I believe that the balance between conservation and boating interests is the key to understanding the Broads," she says. "Too often they are perceived as conflicting, but to ensure a harmonious future the importance of conservation of our unique fresh water habitats will be essential. This need not be at the expense of tourism or navigation."
Norfolk born geophysicist Philip Durrant, who lives at Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, is a keen angler and sailor, and crews a Wayfarer dinghy at Hickling Broad Sailing Club racing events.
"I have always sailed as a boy, starting in Mirror dinghies with King Edward V11 School at Kings Lynn," he said. "I feel it is an important part of my role as a parent to give my children an understanding of the English countryside and to instil in them a sense of ownership.
"Much of the leisure time I spend with my family is in enjoying the resources we have on our doorstep. We can often be found camping at weekends or out fishing and during the summer months I like to sail up at Hickling Broad. When we have friends to stay we occasionally get a boat out on the Broads."
Philip explained he wanted to be a member of the Broads Authority to "give something back."
"I have lived the vast majority of my life in East Anglia and have a great affinity and pride in the region. I think it is clear that due to issues such as climate change and sea level rise that the Broads and the Broads Authority face more challenges today than perhaps at any time in the past. Seeing this threat to such a beautiful, natural landscape right on my doorstep I wanted to get involved in the hope that the skills and expertise that I have to offer can be of use in the maintenance and sustained development of this beautiful, internationally important landscape."
Murray Gray chaired the Broads Authority's Planning Committee from 2005 - 2007 and was chairman of the Broads Research Advisory Panel from 2004 - 2007. He chaired the Planning Committee of South Norfolk Council from 1995 - 2007.
An academic, he recently retired as Reader in Geography at Queen Mary, University of London and now lectures part time both there and at the University of Minho, Portugal, where he is visiting professor.
He is a geomorphologist and chartered geologist with research interests in geological conservation. He is author of books, articles and reports on geodiversity, a subject on which he is an adviser to Natural England. He has lectured on geodiversity in USA, Canada and several European countries. With an understanding of landscape evolution, natural processes such as coastal erosion and river flooding, and the impacts of climate change he hopes to contribute to discussions on these issues as they affect the Broads.
He lives in the Waveney Valley and his hobbies include, golf, gardening, travel and walking in the Broads.
"I am delighted to be a member of the Broads Authority again because I believe I still have contributions to make to the future complex management issues facing this unique and important part of the country," he said.
02/04/2008
