Robert Arnold's biography

I was brought up in a small village in Northamptonshire, but migrated towards London to read for my first degree, in biology.  After this I qualified as a solicitor and indeed spent many years in legal practice.  However this did not really suit my temperament and as part of a career reassessment, I studied part-time at Birkbeck College to achieve another first degree, this time in psychology.  In my first year of this course, I was made redundant, which enabled me to pay off my mortgage and start work in a mental hospital thus gaining valuable clinical experience.  After 4 years or so working at Fulbourn, during which time I married Sandra, my former next-door neighbour, acquired a couple of step-sons and moved to Quendon, I found my current career niche as a research assistant with Cambridge University.  Since 2001 I have been engaged in the study of Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative brain disorders.
Though we are out of the village during working hours (Sandra  is a Deputy Operations Manager at Addenbrooke's Hospital), my wife and I actively support the life of our communities as far as possible.  I was treasurer for the Parochial Church Council here for several years until I found that my religious philosphy resonated more with that of the Quakers and I became a member of the Society of Friends.  I now serve on the Resources Committee of the Saffron Walden Local Meeting of Friends.  However I have recently resumed some of my Church of England work as book-keeper of the of Quendon & Rickling PCC, with Sandra as Treasurer.  She is also a Governor of Rickling Primary School and a member of the Hatfield Forest Scout Active Support Unit.
I was originally co-opted as a member of Quendon and Rickling Parish Council in 2008 and serve on both its planning and parish plan initiation sub-committees.  Like all our current Council members, following the local elections in 2011 I am a fully-elected member.
I edit the Parish magazine (THE LINK) and created this web-site.
My wife and I enjoy gardening, films, music, good food and interesting wines.