Richard Hallett has lived in Crowborough for over 40 years and has been actively involved in the community. His children went to Beacon, and his daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons live in St John’s Ward.
As Richard explains: "My work background is the manufacturing industry, mostly in the food sector, and I am a keen supporter of small, local food producers. For three years I was the Food & Drink Specialist for the national Manufacturing Advisory Service and developed new programmes of support for ‘local food’, especially important for a rural economy such as Wealden. I am still actively involved with a local farm shop here in Crowborough, giving ‘back room’ business advice and support.
"I have actively supported our local hospital (as a Friends’ charity trustee) for over 20 years. The redeveloped hospital (to which the Friends contributed £1.5 million) is a wonderful and valued community resource, which provides important local health services including treatment of minor injuries, x-rays, births, step-down care from the large acute hospitals, and a variety of specialist out-patients clinics."