WHAT I’M CALLED: Colin. Growing up there were very few people in leadership called Colin. For that reason alone I was delighted when Colin Powell took office.

 

 

MY AGE IN YEARS: 35.

 

 

 

WHAT I DO: Police Area Commander for West Oxfordshire; dad-of-three; and studying for a masters in criminology at the moment. This leaves very little time for anything else (especially sleep).

 

 

 

 

WHERE I LIVE: A beautiful village not too far from Witney. West Oxfordshire really is the most beautiful place in the country.

 

 

 

WHO I LOVE: Mrs Paine (obviously).

 

 

HAPPIEST YEAR: Too many to choose from. This year is just lovely though.

 

 

DARKEST MOMENT: As detective chief inspector in Oxford during 2009 during an armed robbery crime series. The offences continued day after day over a period of weeks and it was causing real public alarm, as you would expect. Despite our best efforts we weren’t able to catch the offenders quickly and I felt under tremendous personal pressure to bring them to justice. I lost quite some sleep during that time but learnt a lot about resilience. Despite the pressure, the team was fantastic and they caught the offenders in the end.

 

 

 

PROUDEST BOAST: Comprehensive school educated, but will soon have degrees from Oxford and Cambridge (I feel torn when watching the boat race).

 

 

 

WORST WEAKNESS: I have a simply shocking memory. I’ve tried all kinds of memory-enhancing techniques, but now rely on making lists and taking copious notes. Sorry, what was the question again?

 

 

 

LESSONS LEARNED: Attitude is nine tenths of success.

 

 

 

DULLEST JOB: I worked at Woolworths as a teenager. Whilst it wasn’t too thrilling, it taught me the value of money – and not to stand with your hands in your pockets!

 

 

 

GREATEST SHAME: My dancing. Frankly I am a health and safety nightmare on the dance floor (but I won’t give up).

 

 

 

LIFELONG HERO: Anyone who is able to have a good laugh at themselves.

 

 

 

OLDEST FRIEND: As my mother points out, I am very bad at keeping up with friends. Can I take this opportunity to apologise to any old friends I haven’t seen in a while?

 

 

WIDEST SMILE: The inexhaustible fascination my three-year-old daughter has for bugs, worms and snails.

 

 

FAVOURITE DREAM: Making West Oxfordshire the single safest place to live in the country (it’s not far off from that now).

 

 

 

BIGGEST REGRET: Taking myself too seriously too often.