Campaign Diary: Day 24 - a well-timed walk around Somersham

The final leaflet was ready, and everyone was set to go. My job was to deliver Somersham, and my preparations were thorough. A Suffolk Links service was arranged for me to deliver me to Somersham and collect me afterwards, I had the leaflets, all that was needed was for me to stick to time. Luckily, it was a beautiful day, and I set off in high-spirits, a small rucksack on my back loaded with leaflets, and a plan.

Somersham is not so big that it can't be delivered by one persistent individual, and because of its layout, you can actually deliver it without ever doubling back upon yourself. And so, starting at Springfield Road, which has about 8% of all the doors in the ward, I set off, talking to residents as I passed by. It was all very pleasant, and people were quite happy to talk, even if I couldn't persuade them to vote for me, and a pleasing number of them were willing to offer me their support.

The view from the end of Chapel Lane,
Somersham. This is not urban
campaigning...

Along Brook Way, past Cherry Tree Cottages and Mill Lane, as far as the Duke of Marlborough I went, sticking leaflets through letterboxes, on to the Baptist Church in Chapel Lane, then Watering Close and Hall Lane, turning back towards the centre of the village.

It was getting increasingly warm, and I was beginning to regret not bringing a hat, but I was still surprisingly fresh. Past the Community Shop, into, and out of Prince's Gardens, on towards the garage, before crossing the road, heading up Church Lane to Black Barn Close and the final stretch up Flowton Road to Park Cottages.

Despite frequent stops to chat, I was making excellent time and finally made it back to the Community Shop, leaflets delivered, with about fifteen minutes to spare. My ride was early, and I was on my way, footsore but happy to have gotten the job done...

Campaign Diary: Day 23 - a flurry of activity in preparation for a big weekend

"The leaflet is ready, the leaflet is ready!" And so a process is set underway.

Our leaflet 'warehouser' is Cllr Wendy Marchant. On receipt of the printed leaflets, she divides them up into bundles for our deliverers and then arranges for those bundles to be taken to wherever the deliverers are.

It is a very efficient process - Wendy has been doing this for a long time and has it down to a fine art. She even recruits the deliverers who, out of kindness and a willingness to help, make sure that the leaflets that are so lovingly crafted actually reach potential voters.

It makes my job as candidate that bit easier, as it frees up my time to do the one hundred and one things that are my responsibility.

Meanwhile, the gaps in our delivery network are being filled by more volunteers, all of whom are busy people in their own right, and who know that there may be more to come. And I'll deliver my share as well - it gives me a chance to meet more voters and there will be time to stop and chat...

Campaign Diary: Day 10 - getting that all important first leaflet out

A bunch of nice shiny leaflets had arrived, and whilst there is a network of local deliverers out there who very kindly deliver our leaflets (and yes, they really are delivered by local supporters), there are always likely to be gaps, if only because people are away, or busy, or just can't get them out as quickly as is required during a by-election.

Luckily, as I have set myself the goal was walking 10,000 steps each day (and 12,500 in May), I was only too happy to fill some of the gaps in. I wasn't alone, with some of our key activists pitching in to get the job done.

I actually enjoy delivering leaflets. You can maintain a nice steady pace, listen to a little music as you walk and, helpfully, you're bound to meet people who can be canvassed for their support. In Barking and Somersham, that is made easier by the fact that people are used to Liberal Democrats, and vote for them too, given an opportunity and the right candidate.

As the candidate, I always think that it's important to be fairly self-sufficient and, besides, people aren't used to seeing candidates about the place. I have been told a number of times already that "we don't see very many candidates here", and I tend to the view that, if you can meet people, you should. After all, if you want them to vote for you, you should give them a chance to "look you in the eye", as it were.

And I have the advantage of being pretty amiable - I find people really interesting, so making conversation comes relatively easily, even with people who aren't likely to vote for me. Besides, a District Councillor has to represent all of the people, not just those that vote for them...

I got home to reports that the leaflet was safely going through doors across the ward. The campaign was running as smoothly as I could hope...