Councillor Patricia Stallard last year when she was Chair of Hampshire County Council
Patricia was first elected to Hampshire County Council in 2012 to represent the Winchester southern parishes division as a Conservative councillor and, between May 2023 and May this year, she was chairman of the council.
Patricia joined the Girls’ Life Brigade (GLB) at the age of 7 or 8, which later merged with The Girls’ Brigade Ireland and The Girls’ Guildry to form The Girls’ Brigade, attending the group at what was later Ford Baptist Church in Plymouth.
She says ‘I’d been going to the church regularly when someone asked me if I wanted to join GLB. It changed my life. It taught me so much about life, friendship, teamwork, and the value of being willing to have a go – even if you didn’t get something right the first time you did it. GLB became my life, and I was always encouraged by the leaders there.’
Patricia has happy memories of gaining confidence through GLB camps and taking part in performances – singing and dancing – which led to her joining an operatic society and learning to play the piano later in life.
She says ‘We went to a fishermen’s hostel, where they could get a hot meal and a bed for the night, three to four times a year to sing for them. One of my lasting memories around the age of 12 was singing Bless This House for them and looking down at all these swarthy, rugged, fishermen in their polo-neck sweaters, beards and pompom hats with tears running down their faces. I realised they were away from their families and it started me thinking more about parts of the community that I didn’t normally come into contact with and that’s stuck with me all my adult life.’
Patricia, who attends a church local to her home, was a teacher at secondary, further and higher education levels including at the University of Portsmouth on the teacher training programme. She later became responsible for the programme and a postgraduate masters degree programme. At the same time, Patricia became an external examiner for education at the University of Greenwich before being introduced to politics through friends.
Since being elected as a councillor in 2012, she has held positions on several county council committees, including chair of the health and adult social care select committee. She also held cabinet responsibilities for health and public health, from 2015 to 2019, and children’s services from 2019 to 2021.
Between May 2023 and May this year, she was chairman of the council. In her role as chairman, Patricia was the civic head of the county. She represented the county council on royal visits and ceremonial occasions in Hampshire as well as carrying out other civic activities and duties. She also presided over county council meetings and ensured they were conducted in line with standing orders.
She adds ‘Without joining GLB I wouldn’t have developed in the way that I did, and it gave me confidence in myself. I learnt there is a time to have fun and get up to pranks but there is also a time to be quiet and reflect. Life isn’t all jolly, but GLB taught me to try and see the positive in things.’
Councillor Patricia Stallard with GB’s Deputy CEO Catherine Burt