John Beaman
Encyclopedia
John Richard Beaman is one of the ten current States of Alderney Member
s and became the Chairman of the influential Policy and Finance Committee in January 2011. Prior to this, he was the Island’s Representative for Tourism. As well as his chairmanship of Policy and Finance, he is also a member of the committees on Employment Legislation, and General Services, and he is also the representative for Agriculture
, Open areas, Environment
, Wildlife
, and the island of Burhou
.
, Beaman was educated at The King's School, Pontefract
. He attended the University of Bradford
, before moving to Madeley
in Staffordshire
to train as a maths teacher. From 1976 until 1985 he worked as a teacher, first in schools and later with children in care. From 1985 until 2005 he worked for Staffordshire
and then for Stoke-on-Trent
in the Looked-after-children (LAC) department.
in December 2008 after a controversial election
in which he gained the same number of votes (294) as Don Oakden, who was not elected. This was the first tie in the island’s electoral history, and was resolved by the returning officer picking Beaman’s name from a ballot box, which led to his selection as the fifth Member. Beaman was announced as States Representative for Tourism on 18 February 2009. In his acceptance interview he declared an awareness of the island’s shortcomings as a tourist destination and pledged to work with local groups to improve the island’s standing. He also drew attention for his refusal to vote for an increase in pay for States Members and for being the only States Member to vote against the setting-up of a housing association.
On January 12 2011, Beaman was elected as the chairman of the island's Policy and Finance (P&F) committee, the States' main decision-making body. He polled five votes, narrowly beating fellow states member Ian Tugby. In his post-election speech, Beaman said that he intended to involve all states members in the island's decision making process, announcing "Each member has got something to offer and I want to include everybody".
as tour guides. He is a keen fan of rugby league
supporting Castleford Tigers
, and was head coach of Derby City RLFC
from 2000 until 2001. He has also written a guide book, Eight Walks on Alderney, which has been translated into French
.
States of Alderney Member
The ten States of Alderney Members make up the legislature of the island of Alderney. Half of the ten States Members are elected every two years for a four year mandate...
s and became the Chairman of the influential Policy and Finance Committee in January 2011. Prior to this, he was the Island’s Representative for Tourism. As well as his chairmanship of Policy and Finance, he is also a member of the committees on Employment Legislation, and General Services, and he is also the representative for Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, Open areas, Environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
, Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
, and the island of Burhou
Burhou
Burhou is a small island approximately 1.4 miles northwest of Alderney that is part of the Channel Islands. It has no permanent residents, and is a bird sanctuary, so landing there is banned from March 15 to July 27...
.
Early life
Born in CastlefordCastleford
Castleford is the largest of the "five towns" district in the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England. It is near Pontefract, and has a population of 37,525 according to the 2001 Census, but has seen a rise in recent years and is now around 45-50,000. To the north...
, Beaman was educated at The King's School, Pontefract
The King's School, Pontefract
The King's School Specialising in Mathematics and Computing in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England is one of the four oldest schools in Yorkshire. It dates from 1139 and was refounded by King Edward VI in 1548.-History:...
. He attended the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
, before moving to Madeley
Madeley, Staffordshire
Madeley is a village and ward in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Staffordshire, England. It is split into three parts: Madeley, Middle Madeley, and Little Madeley. Madeley Heath is also considered by many to be part of Madeley...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
to train as a maths teacher. From 1976 until 1985 he worked as a teacher, first in schools and later with children in care. From 1985 until 2005 he worked for Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and then for Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
in the Looked-after-children (LAC) department.
Political career
Beaman was elected as a Member of the States of AlderneyStates of Alderney
The States of Alderney is the parliament/council and the legislature of Alderney, part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The origin of the States is unknown, but has operated from the mediaeval period...
in December 2008 after a controversial election
Alderney election, 2008
General elections to the States of Alderney were held in Alderney on 6 December 2008. All 5 elected members were independents. The results were complicated by the first ever tie in Alderney's electoral history, between John Beaman and Don Oakden, both with 294 votes...
in which he gained the same number of votes (294) as Don Oakden, who was not elected. This was the first tie in the island’s electoral history, and was resolved by the returning officer picking Beaman’s name from a ballot box, which led to his selection as the fifth Member. Beaman was announced as States Representative for Tourism on 18 February 2009. In his acceptance interview he declared an awareness of the island’s shortcomings as a tourist destination and pledged to work with local groups to improve the island’s standing. He also drew attention for his refusal to vote for an increase in pay for States Members and for being the only States Member to vote against the setting-up of a housing association.
On January 12 2011, Beaman was elected as the chairman of the island's Policy and Finance (P&F) committee, the States' main decision-making body. He polled five votes, narrowly beating fellow states member Ian Tugby. In his post-election speech, Beaman said that he intended to involve all states members in the island's decision making process, announcing "Each member has got something to offer and I want to include everybody".
Personal life
In 1976 John married Anne, a schoolteacher, and they have a son named Robert. They both work in their spare time at the Alderney LighthouseAlderney Lighthouse
The Alderney Lighthouse is a stone lighthouse built on the North-East coast of the island of Alderney. It was constructed in 1912 to protect shipping from the dangerous waters of the Alderney Race and the numerous rocks surrounding Alderney.-History:The Alderney Lighthouse was constructed from...
as tour guides. He is a keen fan of rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
supporting Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
, and was head coach of Derby City RLFC
Derby City RLFC
Derby City RLFC are an amateur rugby league club based in Derby, England. They were founded in 1990 and currently compete in the Midlands Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference. They have been ground sharing with Derby RFC at Haslams Lane since 2008....
from 2000 until 2001. He has also written a guide book, Eight Walks on Alderney, which has been translated into French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.