As firefighter, funeral director and councillor, community-minded Nigel Pepper has been helping residents for almost half a century
I always had aspirations to help people as much as I could and becoming a councillor has allowed me to do that.
Having lived or worked in Crowland all my life, it was always my wish to represent the people who live here and assist in matters that are important to the community.
As a funeral director I have been able to help people through some of the most difficult times in their life and as a firefighter I was on call for the community for almost 40 years, dealing with emergencies.
But, it is my work as a county councillor which has really opened up opportunities to achieve things that will leave a lasting legacy in this area for years to come.
As a retained firefighter, and later a watch manager, I was heavily involved in encouraging the service to attend emergency medical call-outs, with Crowland and Woodhall Spa crews being the two trial stations.
Co-responding is now something that is common practice within the fire service, and I am very proud to have been instrumental in making that happen.
My work as a councillor has opened my eyes as to what goes on in our area. I was initially elected in 2013 and, just as the council works to help those most in need, so do I, not only in Crowland but the many rural villages in the Crowland division.
I have helped out at a night shelter for the homeless, which brought me a tremendous sense of purpose, and I also take a lot of satisfaction from handing over charity money to local pensioners at Christmas time.
Building and carpentry has always been an interest. I am an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Building and a Fellow of the Institute of Carpenters.
But to relax, I really enjoy getting out in my 1930 Austin 7, which has been a big hobby of mine. It doesn’t come out very often, just on summer days, but it’s something I really cherish.
Looking ahead, I will continue to work hard for people in the communities I represent.
Councillor Nigel Pepper is the conservative councillor for the Crowland division. He lives with his wife Brenda and, between them, they have four grown-up children and eight grand-children. Cllr Pepper is chairman of the Public Protection and Communities Scrutiny Committee and also sits on the Planning and Regulation Committee. cllrn.pepper@lincolnshire.gov.uk