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Profile: Catherine Bearder - passionate campaigner
April 2, 2009 9:30 AM
Catherine Bearder is the second placed candidate on the Liberal Democrat South East list for the June 2009 elections for the European Parliament and is expected to take over from Baroness Emma Nicholson MEP who is standing down at this election. Catherine is well-known to Liberal Democrats all over the South East region as a passionate campaigner and hard-working activist. After a career in the voluntary sector, raising three sons and promoting the party throughout the region, she has the perfect experience to make Europe greener, more liberal and more democratic as an MEP.
A former Lib Dem councilor, twice European candidate and twice parliamentary candidate, she has fought for the Liberal Democrats at every level. Catherine is also vice-chair of the Lib Dem European Group.
Simon, her husband, is a professor at Oxford Brookes University specialising in primate conservation. After they married, Catherine worked as a field assistant in zoological fieldwork on South African game reserves. Having travelled the world studying conservation issues, it is no surprise that Catherine puts prime emphasis on tackling climate change.
She is vice-president of the Green Liberal Democrats and looks forward to championing the environment in the European Parliament.
Catherine is a staunch supporter of the European ideal, but unafraid to challenge the realities of the EU when they don't meet that ideal.
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Some unusual facts about Catherine
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Catherine was Women's Institute Women Car driver of the year (western region) in 1995, and is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
Catherine was Miss Hertfordshire in 1968 and Dairy Maid of Royston 1967 and Dairy Maid of Hertford in 1969.
Catherine married her husband 7 days after first meeting and spent 4 years in the African bushveld helping him study spotted hyenas and bushbabies. They have just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.
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