From a Stroud primary school to Stroud Town Council new clerk is appointed
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22 Oct 2010
It will be a welcome return to working in Stroud for the person selected as the new clerk for Stroud Town Council.
After a long career with the Open University, Sue Capener (pictured right) has just started her new role. Following a handover period, she will take over from Sue Creswick (left) who retires in December after a decade in the post.
Initially attracted by Stroud’s unique heritage, Sue Capener moved to Uplands from Bristol in 1981. She has lived in and around Stroud ever since.After gaining a philosophy degree at Bristol University, Sue became a primary school teacher. She fondly remembers her final teaching practice at Parliament School (then Parliament Street School) in Stroud.
While teaching in Kempsford, near Fairford, and Kingscourt, near Stroud, she completed work on her thesis. In 1986 she gained both a PhD in philosophy and a baby son. Two more children followed and a change of career to teaching arts and humanities with the Open University.
Having gained experience as an advisor and project manager at the Open University’s Bristol office, Sue moved to their regional centre in Oxford and has been Senior Arts Faculty Manager there since 2006.
Sue said she was ‘delighted’ to have landed a job in Stroud. She will help and advise the 18 volunteer town councillors who are responsible for a £550,000 annual budget and 24 open spaces in the town.
“I will be a regular cycle commuter on the canal tow-path and I look forward to making the most of this new opportunity to participate in the daily life of our dynamic and lovely town,” commented Sue.
“I am particularly enthusiastic about the Town Council’s emphasis on sustainability, town centre regeneration and strengthening Stroud’s position as a centre for the arts.”
Article added online: 22nd October
Photos by Andy Read and Steve Hurrell