Council Chairman 2011/12
Cllr Mike Garnett
Curriculum Vitae
Mike was born in Croydon (South London) on 1
October 1943 and has been married to his wife Brigitte for 25
years. He has two girls (now living in New Zealand) by his first
marriage and 5 grandchildren (3 boys and two girls).
He had two brothers (Colin and Peter) and a
sister (Cecilia), but sadly Peter died about four years ago. He
lived with his mum and dad in a small flat in South Norwood and
then a Council house in Thornton Heath and was educated at Cyprus
Primary School, Upper Norwood and Ingram Road School, Thornton
Heath.
His first job was with Hall & Co. based in
Croydon where he progressed to become an estimator in the roofing
and ceiling department (1961) and his second job was as a junior
Barristers’ clerk to a number of DPP Counsel, Queens Counsel and
Judges (1965-1968).
Following that he became a senior Barristers’
Clerk in a smaller set of chambers and built it into a large set of
Common Law Chambers where he stayed for 15 years (1968-1983).
He then helped start up a new company called
West Tech Plc, which had a number of smaller companies within
it (1983 – 1988).
His last job was in advertising, running a
trade association that represented TV commercial production
companies. He retired from APA (AFVPA) some 5 years ago.
He was elected as the Ward Councillor for Old
Harlow in 1998 and to Essex County Council in 2009.
His hobbies are sub-aqua diving, tennis and
golf.