Who is Midge Broadley?

Midge is a retired school secretary who came to live in Chingford's Valley Ward from near by Tottenham in early 1971. She has been married to Colin, a retired B.T. Executive for 38 years and they have two children, Simon and Liane who both attended local schools before going on to University. In 2002 their first grandchild was born.

Midge has worked in a variety of clerical/secretarial jobs from a solicitors office, Commercial Television, Benham's the kitchen fitters and the local Health Authority to her last post at Whitefield Special School in Walthamstow.

In 1976 Midge became a parent Governor of Larkswood Junior School in New Road and served for over 7½ years. Around 1995 she was asked to serve on the temporary governing body that was formed to set up the new Ainslie Wood Primary School, now located in Ainslie Wood Road. When a permanent governing body was formed she was elected on to that and still serves on it. Currently she is a Primary School representative on Waltham Forest's Schools Funding Forum.

In 1998 Midge stood as one of the three Labour candidates in Valley Ward. She won, becoming Labour's only Councillor in Chingford for some 31 years. Whilst on the Council she served on Arts and Leisure, Education, Housing and the Police Consultative Committee. Eventually serving as Vice Chair and then Chair of Planning Committee for two years. She also served as a Council representative on London Waste, and the local Waltham Forest Family Service Unit. In 2001 she was elected as Mayor and subsequently served as Mayoress the following year at the request of her successor, the late Councillor Rahman.

Midge and Colin were keen members of the Youth Hostels Association and still enjoy walking in the countryside. Her main hobbies are reading and theatre visits and she is an avid crossword fan.

Both Midge and Colin are members of the National Trust.