Background
Cllr John Aldridge was born on 15 January 1945 and educated at Wimbledon College 1956/59 and King Edward VIth Grammar School Chelmsford 1959/64. He has lived in Essex since 1959 and has had a home in Writtle (Essex) since 1971. He is married to Christine and has one son.
Career
He worked for the Bank of England for 35 years in the areas of Exchange Control and Debt Management. He was the Manager of the Gold Bullion Office 1987/95 and latterly the Manager of the Bank Note Issue Office 1995/2001.
Public Service
John serves on two charitable trusts. He is an Associate Governor of two local primary schools, a Governor of New Hall Independent School and Vice-Chairman of the King Edward VIth Grammar School Foundation Governors. He is Chairman of the Writtle News Policy Board. He previously served on Writtle Parish Council for 20 years.
John was appointed Vice Chairman of Essex County Council in May 2014 and was elected Chairman of the County Council in May 2016, a position he held until 2018. He has represented the Broomfield & Writtle Division since 2005. Since his election to the Council in 2005 Cllr Aldridge has served as Chairman of the Children & Young People's Scrutiny Committee and the Economic Development Scrutiny Committee 2009-2012. He was Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care 2010-2012 and its Cabinet Member 2012-2014. He has also served on a number of County Council Committees including the Essex Health & Wellbeing Board 2013-2014 and the Essex Pension Fund. He was a member of the Essex Police Authority 2009-2012 and has also served on a number of outside bodies including the County Councils Network, the Anglian Eastern Regional Flood & Coastal Committee and as Chairman of the Epping Forest Locality Panel 2012-2014. Currently he is a Member of the Chelmsford Locality Panel, the Chelmsford Highways Panel and is a Trustee of the Chairman's Millennium Fund and the Essex Heritage Trust.