Ex-Barry boy still an MP (From Barry And District News)

Ex-Barry boy still an MP

A FORMER Barry schoolboy has retained his seat as an MP in England.

Damian Green went to St Helen"s Primary School and lived in Colcot Road until the mid-1960s.

The 49-year-old father-of-two was voted back in to his constituency in Ashford in Kent as the Conservative MP. He was first elected in 1997.

His father Howard Green was a reporter on the Barry and District News in the 1940s. He was born in Everard Street and lived in Barry with his family until he left to join the Reading Evening Post in the 1960s.

Damian was educated at Balliol College, Oxford and gained a first at the university. He went on to present a business programme on the BBC after joining their management scheme. He also had a short spell on The Times.

His sister Helen is 54 and was helping Damien to campaign on the streets of Ashford before the election. She too went to St Helen"s Primary School.

At this election he almost doubled his majority from 7,359 to 13, 298.

His nearest challenger, Labour"s Valerie Whitaker gained 13,353 compared with Damian"s 26,651.

His father Howard said: "He was always interested in politics and was a member of John Major"s think-tank before he gained his parliamentary seat in 1997."