SSE chief recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Norman Mead, Great Hallingbury Parish Councillor and leading figure in the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign, has been awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List today (11 June) for services to the community in Hertfordshire and Essex.

Norman Mead was one of the first to recognise the dangers which the rapid expansion of Stansted Airport posed to the unique heritage and character of North West Essex and East Hertfordshire and for many years has worked tirelessly to protect the interests of the local community.  He is the former Chairman, and now Deputy Chairman of SSE which under his leadership was the recipient of the Parliamentary Award for Best Community Campaign Award in 2004.

“I am honoured to receive this award but in accepting it do so on behalf of the entire local community; I have merely been the spokesman and figurehead,” said Mr Mead.  He added: “It is something of a surprise to receive this award in the heat of the battle and, despite recent successes, there remains the threat of Stansted becoming another Heathrow.  All it would take is for good men and women to do nothing.”

Describing the motivating force behind his efforts to represent the community in seeking to contain the impacts of the airport, Norman Mead explained:  “In 1977 we moved from Harlow to the relative peace and quiet of the country village of Great Hallingbury.  I was assured from the results of previous inquires that there would be no major expansion at Stansted Airport, only to find within a year that yet another public inquiry was to be held to consider a two runway airport.  I therefore joined SSE’s parent organisation the North West Essex and East Herts Preservation Association (NWEEHPA) with my wife Beryl who provided much support during the Inquiry at Quendon between 1981 and 1983.”

On his retirement in 1986, Norman was asked by the NWEEHPA Executive to become General Secretary, a role which led to his membership of the Stansted Airport Consultative Committee, Noise and Track Keeping working group and the Department for Transport’s Aircraft Noise Monitoring advisory committee (ANMAC).

He has since played a key role in voicing community concerns about proposals for further runways at Stansted.  Between 1991 and 1993 he sat on the Government’s RUCATSE main working group and other committees which were looking at provision for extra runways in the South East.  During 2000 and 2001 he served on the South East Regional Air Studies reference group.

Norman served as Chairman of Great Hallinbury Parish Council between 1987 and 2003.  He is actively involved with The Royal British Legion as Chairman of the Hatfield Heath and District branch.  He is also Churchwarden of St Giles Great Hallingbury.

NOTES:

Norman Mead – Additional Biographical Information
1927 (17 May) born Chalfont St Peter Bucks
1939-1943 St Albans County Grammar (now Verulam) School
1943 Cambridge School Certificate
1943-1945 LMS railway/ Chief Civil Engineers HQ- junior draughtsman-track testing
1945-1948 Royal Engineers
1948- 1951 LMS Railway/Track Maintenance and realignment Lancaster, Blackpool, Liverpool and Derby Districts
1951 married Beryl (Tamblyn); three sons (Jonathan, Christopher and Philip)
1951-1952 British Rail (LMR) work study trainee under consultants (AIC) at Newton Heath works
1953-1956 BR (LMR) work study assistant/ track maintenance and re-organisation of materials depots at Nottingham, Northampton and Fazackerley
1956-1959 BR Southern Region- assistant works manager Redbridge works Southampton – 300 men manufacturing permanent way items
1959-1960 FW Berk and Co Stratford London Work Study Officer/chemical manufacturing operations, works maintenance and administration
1961-1969 Assistant Works Manager of above 500 employees, 18 acres of chemical plant
1969-1970 Works Manager London Colney to shut down chemical works
1970-1972 FW Berk production services Manager- responsible for works engineering, personnel, security and materials handling over works at Stratford, Baynards and Widnes
1972-1980 Steetley Chemicals Ltd Divisional Manager Management Services
1980-1986 RTZ Chemicals Works Manager, Stratford
1986 Early Retirement due to works closure.
1986 to date General Secretary North West Essex and East Herts Preservation Association (NWEEHPA)
2002 to 2004 Chairman Stop Stansted Expansion (working group of NWEEHPA)
June 2004 to date Deputy Chairman Stop Stansted Expansion

Other Appointments Held:
1972-1974 – Chairman Newham Chamber of Commerce
1974 to date – Life Vice President Newham Chamber of Commerce
1976-1977 – Deputy Chairman Harlow Conservative Association
1980-1986 – Member of West Ham Rotary Club
1986 to date – Parish Councillor Great Hallingbury Parish Council (Chairman 1987-2003)
1988 to date – Chairman of Hatfield Heath and District Royal British Legion
1999 to date – Churchwarden, St Giles, Great Hallingbury