“Leave it better than you found it”: Cllr Neil Poole on public life, optimism and community – talks to the News Direct Podcast
Comments Off on “Leave it better than you found it”: Cllr Neil Poole on public life, optimism and community – talks to the News Direct PodcastCouncillor Neil Poole is the latest guest on News Direct, the podcast, sharing a deeply personal story rooted in North Lincolnshire and shaped by community, service and optimism.
Born at home on Moor Road in Yaddlethorpe, raised around Bottesford and Messingham, Neil reflects on a childhood defined by independence, hard work and strong local ties.
From walking to school at five to serving an agricultural apprenticeship that took him from the workshop floor to export sales across Europe, Neil’s early working life laid the foundations for a career built on graft and people skills.
Pod host Cllr Rob Watham, said: “Neil’s story is a reminder that the best public servants are the ones who never lose touch with where they come from. His optimism, rootedness and genuine care for people comes through in everything he does – and that’s exactly why this conversation matters.”
News Direct, the podcast features conversations with people who live, work and lead in North Lincolnshire, sharing real stories about their lives, experiences and the communities. The series explores personal journeys, local history and the motivations behind public and civic life, offering listeners an insight into the people shaping the area beyond job titles and headlines.
The conversation traces Neil’s move into public life – joining Messingham Parish Council in 1999, becoming chair within three years, and being elected to North Lincolnshire Council in 2007.
Now one of the council’s longest-serving figures, Neil speaks candidly about what keeps him motivated: helping people navigate challenges, keeping the “human touch” in local government, and leaving places better than he found them.
Neil also reflects on optimism in the face of serious illness, the importance of community spaces and sports clubs, and why North Lincolnshire’s mix of industry and countryside remains something to be proud of.
The podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify.
The post “Leave it better than you found it”: Cllr Neil Poole on public life, optimism and community – talks to the News Direct Podcast appeared first on North Lincolnshire Council.