I am a trailblazer, I always have been even in my childhood in South Wales when two friends and I started a trend in the valleys of dressing in Welsh costume for St David's day. I was born in South Wales at Tredegar, the birthplace of the National Health Service, a hot bed of Socialism and exporter of politicians. It was the home of Aneurin Bevan and Neil Kinnock. My father was a steelworker in Ebbw Vale and my mother was a Baptist Lay Preacher. I was taught to think for myself and to vote for the best person to represent the constituency rather than for the party they represented. I learnt about social justice and basic human equality and to make changes in this world you have to be pro- active.I slipped down the valley to study Art at Cardiff College of Art, then went on to Leicester Polytechnic to gain a BA(hons) in Fashion and Textiles. I was trailblazing again, I was the first one in my family to get a degree and go to University, now all my three children have gone to university. I have had a full working life being a wool shop manager, a teacher and a librarian, and carried on my studies, eventually getting a Doctorate in Information Science in 2012. This was also trailblazing, there is no other Dr Bamkin, not even on my husband's side, but my son-in-law and nephew are following in my footsteps.
So, what has this to do with Politics? It shows that I am not afraid of being the first, of setting a path for other people to follow, of changing the world to give others a better chance. I am the first Green Party candidate for South Derbyshire. There is a "Green surge" and I am blazing a trail in South Derbyshire to allow people to vote Green and to support the only Political party that is prepared to fundamentally change the current system, to give democracy back to the people and is working for the common good. I am blazing the trail for sustainable growth and economic stability. I am blazing a trail for you.
