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  Oborski, Frances
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationLiberal  
 
Name Frances Oborski
Address6 Osborne Close Kidderminster
Worcestershire, DY10 3YY, United Kingdom
Emailfranoborski@btinternet.com
Website [Link]
Born Unknown
ContributorUser 215
Last ModifedRBH
Apr 29, 2017 08:38pm
Tags
InfoWorcestershire City Meet Fran Oborski...

WORKING FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN

A Graduate of both Birmingham University and the Open University Fran is an Adviser for Birmingham City Council’s Learning and Culture Division (for whom she has published Research Papers) and is in the process of qualifying as an Ofsted Inspector. An experienced teacher she now advises Education and Social Care colleagues on the educational needs of children in care.

UNION ACTIVIST

A career long Trade Unionist Fran is President of the Birmingham Branch of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers. With 4,500 members the biggest Teachers' Union Branch in the UK!

THIRTYEIGHT YEARS IN POLITICS

Fran joined Liberal Party, via the Union of Liberal Students at Worcester College of Education, in 1966 and by 1972 she was Liberal Candidate for St. George’s Ward in the last ever Kidderminster Borough Council Election.

COUNCILLOR FOR THIRTYONE YEARS

A year later in 1973 Fran was elected as Liberal Councillor for St. George’s Ward on Wyre Forest District Council and has served continuously ever since as “St Georges” turned into “Offmore” and now “Offmore and Comberton”.

PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE

In 1976 Fran was Liberal Candidate in the Walsall North Parliamentary By-Election.

EXPERIENCED COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

In the same year she became Chairman of WFDC Finance Sub Committee. For most of time from then to the present day — except during a Tory Administration in the early 1980’s and Labour Administration in late 1990’s — Fran has served as a Chairman of major Council Committees:-

ACTION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

As Chairman of Environmental Health Committee in the period immediately after the Liberal administration was formed in 1979 Fran introduced the wheelie bin refuse collection scheme and the first bottle, can and paper banks.

TOWN CENTRE PEDESTRIANISATION

As Chairman of the Planning and Highways Committee Fran was responsible for several major policy innovations including: Introduction of Kidderminster Town Centre Pedestrianisation; Preparation of the first Wyre Forest District Local Plan and its subsequent revisions; first Council Committee Chairman to introduce public speaking at a Council Committee at the meetings of the Environment and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

GIVING TENANTS A SAY

As Chairman of the Housing Committee Fran introduced the scheme of Tenant Representatives from each Area Tenants Committee serving on the Housing Committee.

ON THE NATIONAL SCENE

During the period from 1974 until the formation of the Liberal Democrats she served continuously as a member of the West Midlands Liberal Party Regional Executive holding at various times the offices of Regional Chairman and President. Fran also served continuously during that period as a member of Liberal Party Council and for much of the period as a member of the National Executive of the Party.

MAYORAL FAMINE APPEAL

In 1984-85 Fran was Mayor of Kidderminster. During this year, as well as her own nominated Charities she also responded to an appeal from HRH Princess Anne and launched “The Mayor’s African Famine Appeal”. With the support of His Grace The Bishop of Worcester, who kindly agreed to be a Patron of the appeal, we raised over £11,500 within the local area. In just a few months.

FIGHTING COMMUNISM

During the 1980’s Fran was an active member of the Wyre Forest Polish Solidarity Campaign. In 1989 she was one of two UK representatives invited by Solidarnosc to attend the “Barbourka” - the Polish Miners’ Patronal Festival in Silesia -which was being held for the first time since being repressed by the Communists in 1947. Whilst at the festival, where she appeared on national Polish television speaking alongside Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, she was informed that she had been awarded the Gold Cross of the Polish Order of Merit for services to Solidarity and Polish Independence.

MUSEUM SERVICE

For most of the period from 1974 to 2003 Fran served on the executive of the Midlands (later reorganised as the West Midlands) Regional Museum Service and was Chairman for three years.

EVEN MORE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

In the 1987 General Election she was the Candidate for South Staffordshire and successfully held on to second place. She was also Candidate for the Black Country area in the European Parliamentary Election in 1989.

YOUNG PEOPLE AND TWINNING

In the early 1990’s, having been a District Council nominee on the Kidderminster and District Youth Trust, Fran was appointed a Personal Trustee. She is also an active member of the Kidderminster-Husum Twinning Association and occasional supporter of Kidderminster Harriers.

SCHOOL GOVERNOR

Fran has served as a Governor of several local schools and currently she is on Stourminster (as Chairman), Offmore First, St. Ambrose RC, Comberton Middle Schools.

COMING HOME

In 1996 Fran rejoined the Liberal Party following the local Liberal Democrats decision to force Cllr Mike Oborski out of their Party and their subsequent attempt to forbid Fran from co-operating with him in the Ward. Subsequently she has served on the Liberal Party National Executive and has just been re-elected for a further term.

STARTING THE HOSPITAL CAMPAIGN

Fran was instrumental in organising the petition which first drew attention to the threat to maternity services at Kidderminster General Hospital and subsequently in the Liberal Party motion to Wyre Forest District Council which first drew public attention to the threat to Kidderminster Hospital and the need to try to save it. As The Guardian acknowledged “it was the Liberal Party, and particularly the Oborski’s who first drew attention to the threat to Kidderminster General Hospital and started the campaign to save it”. Fran was also a member of Kidderminster and District Community Health Council for several years.

WORKING FOR RICHARD TAYLOR

Following Chris Harvey’s 1997 General Election Campaign Fran was selected to fight the 2001 General Election for the Wyre Forest Constituency. In late 2000 – early 2001 it became obvious that the ONLY way to defeat Labour’s David Lock AND get a pro-hospital Candidate elected was to try to get the constituency to rally behind Dr Richard Taylor.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

After consulting colleagues I decide to publicly withdraw my candidacy and to challenge the Lib Dems to join me in working for Dr Taylor instead of fielding their own candidate. It has been admitted by both the Lib Dems and by Dr Taylor that it was her initiative which forced the Lib Dems to support Dr Taylor’s Campaign and was also instrumental in convincing the public that Dr Taylor was indeed a viable candidate who could defeat Lock.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR

The 2001 General Election being held on the same day as the Worcestershire County Council Elections and as a candidate who was endorsed by Dr Taylor Fran successfully stood in the Hurcott Division. At County she has served on the Social Services Scrutiny Committee and currently serve on the Environment and Development and Education Scrutiny Panels.

THE HOUSING COMPANY

Since 2000 Fran has been a Board Member and Chairman of the Housing Committee of Wyre Forest Community Housing.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Since 2001 she have been an active member of the Broadwaters and Horsefair Community Partnership. Fran was a founder member of the “Offmore Comberton Action Group” (OCAG) which has recently achieved the renovation of Borrington Park.

EVEN SKATEBOARDING?!

She is also Chairman of the Wyre Forest Youth Strategy Group and am actively involved in seeking funding for additional Skateboarding Facilities in the District.

ON THE BUSES

A member of the Bus Quality partnership Fran is actively involved in initiatives to improve local public transport.

AN OUTSTANDING RECORD

Fran is now the longest serving member of Wyre Forest Council and has served on all its committees during the last 30 years. As a result she knows the issues that affect all the communities in the district NOT just those in her own ward. She is regularly phoned for advice on housing and planning matters from residents and Parish Councillors from across the district. After 30 years on the Development Control Committee she can find her way to even the remotest parts of the District.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Fran believes that “a Parliamentary Candidate from a minority party, such as ours, MUST be able to demonstrate intimate knowledge of and total commitment to the Constituency. She believe that she can demonstrate that knowledge and commitment.” Councillor


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INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  05/01/2008 Wyre Forest District Council - Offmore & Comberton Won 51.89% (+24.36%)
  05/05/2005 UK Parliament - Wyre Forest Lost 5.67% (-34.21%)
  05/01/1997 UK Parliament - Stoke-on-Trent Central Lost 0.89% (-65.36%)
  06/11/1987 UK Parliament - Staffordshire South Lost 20.08% (-40.79%)
  11/04/1976 UK Parliament - Walsall North - By-election Lost 3.24% (-40.11%)
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