About Chris

Chris Coleman was born and brought up in Gloucestershire and lived in Cheltenham until 1997. He was educated at local schools there before going to University. He spent three years studying at University College Northampton and graduated with a 2:1 degree in Law in 2000.

He then moved to Stoke on Trent to study for a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Staffordshire University. He graduated with a Commendation in 2001.

Following this, Chris returned to Gloucestershire in order to commence work as a Lawyer, continue his work as a youth leader and resume his work for the Liberal Democrats in the County.

Lawyer

Chris works as a solicitor with a firm of solicitors in Gloucestershire having qualified with a firm in Worcestershire. He specialises in Criminal Litigation and Prison Law. He spends his time meeting and advising clients and representing them in Courts locally and prisons across the Country.

Local Councillor

In the local elections in May 2002, Chris won election as Borough Councillor for St Pauls Ward in Cheltenham with a majority of 337. He was re-elected in June 2004, increasing his majority by over 100 and his share of the vote to 64%.

As a Borough Councillor, Chris served on all of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees. Most recently, he was a member of the Economy and Business Improvement Committee, the Planning Committee and the Central Area Committee.

Having served as a local Councillor for 6 years, Chris stood down at the 2008 Borough Council elections. The Liberal Democrats held St Pauls and Chris was part of the Lib Dem campaign team that helped the party re-gain control of the local Council from the Conservatives.

Youth Leader

He has over ten years of experience as a youth leader in the Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade, a national youth organisation for 5 to 21 year olds. He worked with the St Paul's Company in Cheltenham, as well as on national Brigade activity holidays. He served on the National Brigade Council, responsible for running the organisation, as well as on working groups set up to rewrite their programmes for children and young people.

Chris was also a leader in St Paul's Church Breakfast Club for children and young people in the area. He served as secretary of St Paul's Centre Management Committee where the Brigade and Breakfast Club both met.

Campaigner

Chris is a member of many voluntary and campaigning organisations including Amnesty International, the Prison Reform Trust, and Liberty.

At the 2001 General Election, Chris was selected to stand as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate in Stoke-on-Trent South where he was living at the time. He increased our vote share and fought off a challenge from the BNP and a local Independent candidate.

At the 2005 General Election, he was our candidate in the Forest of Dean. He ran a well organised and professional campaign in an area that was said to be a Labour-Tory marginal. Both of them threw money at their campaigns and tried to squeeze us out. However, we increased our share of the vote significantly and are now well placed to make further progress at the next elections.

Other interests

Chris is a member of the Leckhampton Players who are a local and well-known amateur dramatics society. The society, which has been running for over 60 years, performs three regular productions each year, a Pantomime, a Musical Show and a Play.

Chris is a member of the Avon Fire and Rescue Service Corps of Drums and is also a keen fundraiser. In the summer of 2008, he took part in the Cheltenham Circular Challenge - a 26 mile walk around Cheltenham - and raised in the region of £1000 for Gloucestershire based charity Winston's Wish.

Chris is a keen supporter of local sports. As a season ticket holder, he follows Cheltenham Town both at home and away. If the Robins are not playing, he will probably be at Bramall Lane cheering on Sheffield United. It's a long story - probably best not to ask!