Andy Pearce

I was born in Southampton, but my family moved to Lowestoft (my Dad’s home town) in 1976 and has lived here ever since. I lived and worked in Sheffield for 20 years, but returned to Lowestoft in 2011 to look after my Mum.

Lowestoft has had a kicking over the past 30 years or more, but contrary to what we may read on some social media pages this town is neither rubbish nor dead. I don’t pretend to have all the answers to the challenges that Lowestoft is facing. But I am dedicated and committed, and I believe our town and its future are things that are worth fighting for. Lowestoft Town Council is still a young Council but it is working hard for the people of Lowestoft, and I was very proud when I was elected in May 2019 and given the opportunity to be part of the work that it is doing.

I have worked in the pensions and finance industry for 33 years, and I try to draw on this professional experience in helping the Town Council to work for Lowestoft. I am a member of most of the Town Council’s Committees, Sub-Committees, and working groups, and am currently Chair of its Finance & Governance Committee.

I volunteered for many years: for the Relative Relief Service as a young man in Lowestoft, and later as an Appropriate Adult in Sheffield, representing youngsters and vulnerable adults in police custody. I also have personal experience of mental health issues. So I understand the need for compassion and understanding, and the importance of listening and not judging. It is particularly important to me that the Town Council works for everyone in our community, and that the most vulnerable do not fall through the gap. I also support local residents and groups and represent the Town Council on several external bodies.

Outside of the Town Council, I am active in the community: I chair the Roman Hill Primary School Committee, I'm the School Committee member for Safeguarding and PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education), and I recently started volunteering with reading support at the School. I also chair the Committee of Gunton Residents' Association and am a member of the Gainsborough Drive residents pond group.

I'm an active participant in the local heritage scene: I am a member of the Jack Rose Old Lowestoft Society, have been a member of the Save Our Record Office (SORO) community campaign group from the outset, and have participated in Heritage Open Days and supported local heritage projects. I have recently been researching the story of the Kindertransport children who came to Lowestoft in December 1938, including the events leading up to their escape and what became of them afterwards.

I believe that everyone should have freedom of thought, speech, and action. But rights come with responsibility, and I do NOT believe in bigotry, intolerance, or extremism of any kind. We should be able to respect each other’s beliefs and views, and be able to disagree without resorting to hatred and abuse. I am “live and let live” in my own outlook on life, and I am willing to work with everyone no matter what their party or background for the good of Lowestoft.