About me: Councillor Godfrey Daniel

I was elected as county councillor for Braybrooke and Castle, Hastings, in 1997, having previously worked in local government as an officer for Lambeth Borough Council where I was head of pupil and student services. Before that, I was a teacher.

But how did I get here?

I moved to Hastings in 1984. I have always been interested in local politics so, after I took early retirement from working in local government, I decided to devote my time to improving the area where I live.

The major concerns in my division are crime and the fear of crime, poor housing standards and the high rate of unemployment. The poor standards of education in several of the secondary schools in Hastings has also been of real concern, but hopefully the increased investment into some of these schools will pay dividends.

My community

Hastings is a friendly and interesting town with great green spaces. On the whole, the people are diverse and warm, and I enjoy living close to the seaside.

The best thing about a political career is seeing families' and individuals' lives improve. It's very rewarding achieving things for both individuals and the community in general. I am particularly proud that £3.5 million was invested in improving my local park and of overseeing that project as a borough councillor.

As a councillor, I like seeing the physical things improve like working road signs and lampposts – these things might seem small but they really make a difference to people's lives. It's also rewarding when you achieve something like ensuring a landlord does up his or her property, so it isn't in a state of disrepair for the tenants.

My home life

I'm divorced with two children, both boys, aged 26 and 32. Because I am retired, I have to get by on my allowances as a councillor.

My spare time

Apart from being a County Councillor, I am a member of Hastings Borough Council, a member of the Sussex Police Authority, an Associate Hospital Manager, president of Hastings Welsh Society and I'm a Justice of the Peace. I am presently the Chair of Planning on both East Sussex County Council and Hastings Borough Council.

My other great passion in life is music and I support various musical societies.

That means I have very little free time. I don't have time for a holiday, which is just as well as I don't have the money to pay for one!