The comeback king (From Stroud News and Journal)

The comeback king

WHEN you ask a politician how they feel about the election result after they have just won, the last thing you expect them to say is "very disappointed". But Chas Fellows, the newly re-elected leader of Stroud District Council, was characteristically talking about the bigger picture. His disappointment referred to the general election, in which Conservative candidate Neil Carmichael was narrowly defeated by 350 votes.

"I said all along that I thought it would be close in our favour," he continued after a pause, "but with this margin we will come back. On a personal level, I am very pleased with my result. Having lost a very solid Conservative area in the boundary changes I have still retained my seat."

He should know about comebacks. After losing his job as a manager for Cheltenham Borough Council, he began working as a postman. Within five years, he had gone from delivering newspapers to appearing in them. "I was made redundant during the period where they had a compulsory competitive meeting in the early 90s," he said. "After a short period of unemployment I applied for a job at Cashes Green Hospital.

"I was very grateful to be back in work. I also had a very good friend who was a manager at Royal Mail. I asked how much they paid and I think it was £5 per hour more, so I started to work for Royal Mail.

"The hours are a very early start but a very early finish, which allowed me to pursue my interest in politics. I stood for the 1995 election, but was defeated by a very dear friend of mine, who is sadly dead now. The following year I stood and won by a very small majority.

"I was asked by Cllr John Stephenson Oliver if I would be his deputy. For personal reasons John stood down and I won the contest for the Conservative group, which then became the nomination for leader of the council. Somewhere in between that, I retired from Royal Mail."

Whenever I talk to Chas, I find it difficult to take my eyes off his hair. An almost unfeasible soft baby blond, it contrasts dramatically with his otherwise imposing presence. He has a handshake that could crush rocks and a general demeanour that reminds me of Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men. I am not surprised to learn that he has served in the RAF.

He is originally from Chester-le-Street near Newcastle, though it is difficult to detect a trace of the accent. With a father in the army, he has lived all over the world and was educated in Germany and Hong Kong. Now married with two grown-up daughters and three dogs, he is enjoying life as a minor celebrity.

"It's nice when someone will come up and have a chat," he said. "I sometimes wonder why, to be honest. I am not any different or better than anyone else in this county. I do what I can for the people and I hope I am performing to a standard they approve of."

However, he has taken a few knocks in the process of getting his second wind, as is evident when he describes the disappointment of not winning his first election.

"I was really hyped up and right up to the last minute I thought I was going to win," he said. "But I ran again because I wanted to be involved in the community and make a difference and I had time to give. I find myself bored if I am not doing something."

"I suppose the best thing is being able to make a difference to peoples' lives. It could be either through improving their quality or life or resolving any social issues or improving their income. I think its very nice when you're able to achieve that for people."