The Team

Brian McDonnell
Director – Great Yarmouth Local Strategic Partnership Nominee

Brian was born in Great Yarmouth and spent his early years in Liverpool before moving back to the town where he attended Great Yarmouth Grammar School.

On leaving school he joined the Police Service, starting as a Police Cadet in 1963 in the then Great Yarmouth Borough Police, which eventually became part of Norfolk Constabulary and enjoyed a 33 year career,  rising through the ranks to become a Superintendent and Divisional Commander for Great Yarmouth and then Divisional Commander for Norwich until his retirement in 1996.

On retiring from the Police, Brian established a training company specialising in investigation techniques, with major clients in the U.K., U.S.A. and Malawi.
In 2003 Brian retired from the company and took on several senior roles in the Voluntary Sector, including Chair of Victim Support in Great Yarmouth, a Director of Victim Support Norfolk and has been Chair of Age Concern in Great Yarmouth for the last five years and steps down in June 2009.

Brian is the voluntary sector representative on the Great Yarmouth Local Strategic Partnership and is also a trustee/director of Great Yarmouth Community Trust.

Brian holds a BA in Politics from the Open University and his main interests include golf, reading and boating and he is also a keen gardener.

Personal Statement
I was born in Great Yarmouth and have lived in the Borough for the majority of my life. After the boom years of tourism and the offshore industry it was sad to see the town decline in some areas. However, with the outer harbour nearing completion and major investment planned, the shoots of recovery are apparent. I am confident that 1st East will make a big contribution to that recovery.