John Tidmarsh was born in the Vale of Evesham in 1925, the age of gentlemen, and during my visit to his home it became clear he retains the charm and dignity of that era.

John was one of seven children. His father was a successful market gardener, like his father before him. The rest of his brothers and sisters followed their father into the family business but on leaving school John became a policeman. One day an inspector asked John to help his daughter with her maths homework and that was how he met Joan, his wife. "And I still failed maths!" adds Joan.

The couple were married at St John's Parish Church in Bromsgrove in 1947.

During the war, John was a navigator in a Lancaster bomber. After VE day, he moved to transport command but he didn't enjoy it and left to go back to the family business.

For a short while John pursued dreams of becoming a solicitor. He studied at law school and did his articles but he still hadn't found his niche. Finally he joined Avery Scales as a salesman and it was 'the best day's work I ever did'.

John took to his new job like a duck to water and was the company's leading salesman for three years. He began training new recruits and moved all over the country, first to Newcastle and then to Manchester, before returning to its Birmingham headquarters and moving back to Bromsgrove.

John finally left Avery's and joined Herbert's, another British scales company. He travelled all over the country but the travelling was too much and he decided to take early retirement. "I slept for about three months," he said.

John's life as a civic leader began when Mike Woolley left his position as district councillor for Stoke Prior.

John decided to run in his place and was elected in 1995 for the Conservatives. As well as being chairman of the Bromsgrove branch of Neighbourhood Watch, he is also chairman of the Worcestershire branch of the aircrew association.

Gardening and watching his six grandchildren grow-up is how he enjoys spending his free time.

John has chosen St John Ambulance and the Princess of Wales Community Hospital League of Friends as his charities for the year.

"My happiest year of being on the council was the last year as vice-chairman to David (Hancox, former chairman of the district council). I hope this year I can pull the party together. I think we should put our problems behind us now."

He added: "I'm very saddened by the news that Bob Lewis (secretary of the district council) is retiring. He's given very valuable service to Bromsgrove and he is a man I respect greatly."

Of the high points of his year as vice-chairman, he says: "I went to a British Legion church service at St John's church and it was lovely to see how many young people were there."

He added: "Bromsgrove is a wonderful town, sometimes we don't value it as much as we ought to. There's low crime, it is easily accessible and there is a good mix of urban and rural landscapes."

In his year as chairman he hopes to try to improve the roads infrastructure in Bromsgrove. He also has some radical ideas concerning waste removal - such as waste being transported by rail.

"I would like to make some dramatic improvements to the town, but it's important to make hay slowly.

"Contented is the word to describe me. I'm very happy with my life, I have a lovely family and I'm fulfilled in my work as a councillor."

After having spent an hour in the company of John Tidmarsh, I feel I am qualified to say he is one of nature's true gentlemen, and if he chairs the council the way he enjoys life, Bromsgrove is in for a good year.