Stephen is a well- respected, level headed, clear thinking Justice of the Peace.

He started his life as a JP in 1996 being nominated by Ruth Dyson via Anna Creighton. He rose through the ranks of the Canterbury Justice of the Peace Association becoming President in 2011/2013.

His working career involved local Government which encompassed Waimairi District Council and the Christchurch City Council. Whilst with the CCC he was Manager of Community Relations. He moved from Local Government to become Manager of the Youth Health Centre in Christchurch set up by Dr Sue Bagshaw. The next step in his career was to become Chief Executive of Age Concern Canterbury. He held this position for five years. Today he serves on the Board of Age Concern Canterbury and on the Board of Age Concern New Zealand.

Stephen set up and co-ordinated our first Service desk in the Shirley library . The need for this desk came about through our Canterbury earthquakes and Justices relocating from the area making it hard for local residents to locate a Justice. The desk was very successful paving the way for the next fifteen desks we currently operate. In March 2016 Stephen stepped aside from being the overall co-ordinator of our service desks’ but continued to still personally co-ordinate and work on the Christchurch South desk . In April this year Stephen steps aside from co-ordinating our Christchurch South desk passing this role onto John Pauwels.

Side note here…..Stephen rang me in March 2016 asking if I would like to take on the co-ordinators role. He used words like “nothing much to it…..just a brief report every month to the Canterbury JP Council”!!

He is a friendly, likeable, competent Justice with a huge data base of knowledge and contacts. Personally he enjoys gardening, travel and reading and has a four legged moggy called Spook.

I asked him to tell me something no one knows about him. He said not many would know that he was involved in breeding miniature horses for a few years.

As we move in Canterbury to introducing a “buddy system” for all our new Justices, I can say that I know something about Stephen that he doesn’t know. I adopted him as my “buddy” and since taking over the co-ordinator role from him I have rung him many times when needing some clarity or wisdom relating to JP matters. He has always taken the time to listen to my questions, given me good advice and things to think about and always has humour in his voice. He really is a “good sort” and we are all very fortunate to have him in our Canterbury Justice of the Peace Association. Thank you Stephen, for all your work on our Service desks .