Claiming to be “Half a Doctor”, David left medicine behind after completing his studies and turned to accountancy, working in senior management at PwC, Manchester. Then he co-founded Virtalis, growing it to become Europe’s biggest Virtual Reality company, before selling in 2017. Now, David’s portfolio career encompasses alpaca farming, caring for a flock of pampered hens and acting as an FD/Non-Exec to tech and consultancy businesses in addition to his council roles. Wherever he goes on his smallholding, he is followed devotedly by his Maine Coon cat, Rupert.
David volunteers on Colne Town Council, where he is deputy chairman of the Finance, Employment and Services Committee, as well as being a prime mover in the development of the Colne Neighbourhood Plan. On Pendle Council, David holds a wide range of roles, not all of them numbers-based - Chairman of Accounts and Audit Committee, Chairman of Colne and District Area Committee and is part of the Council’s Leadership Group.
Calm and unflappable, David takes an analytical approach to council business and relishes the challenges faced by a Council that is transforming via embracing technology and new ways of working to become a more efficient and financially sustainable 21st century operator. Doing more for less is the aim.
David is chairman of trustees of East Lancashire’s largest community charity, Lidgett and Beyond, and is spearheading the battle to save the Upper Rough. He also acts as Treasurer and a Trustee of the Colne Youth Action Group and is exceptionally busy, not only overseeing frenetic bench ball at Trawden Youth Club, but also the complete transformation of the Group’s HQ on Byron Road. He applied for, and is managing, the recent successful application to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which netted the charity £212,000.
Married to fellow councillor, Sarah, for over three decades, they are parents to Edward, who lives in London.