Councillor Jonathan Wallace

I was first elected to Gateshead Council for Whickham South in 1987 at the age of 23.  I have been re-elected seven times since then.  In 2004 the Ward boundaries were changed and Sunniside was added to the name.

I went to Whickham Comprehensive and then Newcastle University where I graduated in 1988 with a first class homours degree in History (1988) and then with a Doctorate in History (1995).

For many years I have edited and produced the Liberal Democrats Focus community newsletter in the Whickham area. In 2003 I launched an email newsletter for constituents called eFocus which is now read by over 2000 people.  The newsletter contains mainly local news but also links to community organisations.

I am a presenter of a TV programme on Sky called 'Amateur Gardening' in which I present the cookery and wild foods section.

I currently run my own business specialising in small scale communications such as desktop publishing, photography and video production for individuals and organisations. I also produce a variety of material for video "webcasting".

I am aiming to become self-sufficient in food and have taken over a large, derelict allotment which I am restoring with my partner. We also gather wild foods.

Outside work and politics, I enjoy rather varied interests including reading history, international travel, photography, investment fund management, cookery and jam making.