Councillor for Llandaff & Danescourt
Sean is 63 years old and lives in Cardiff West with his wife, Deborah. They have been married for 39 years and have two children. Matthew lives and works in London and his daughter, Shaunagh is a nurse at Cardiff University Hospital of Wales.
Sean’s entry into politics has come late in life and is based on the strong belief he has in the importance of family, community and the need to work hard and reward those who work hard.
Sean developed these values through his background and experience. The youngest of seven children, Sean was born and raised in Fairwater. His father, a bricklayer, sadly passed away when Sean was just 12 years old but remains, a figure of influence on Sean, having to work hard to support his family and his country. He served in the Royal Navy as a Gunner, and survived serving the North Atlantic Arctic Convoys during the war.
Due to his father’s death Sean’s childhood was not easy. His mother went out to work and held down three jobs whilst raising her young family on her own. Sean knows, therefore, from personal experience, that life can be and often is a struggle. He watched and learnt from his parents, however, that hard as it might be, you should at least try to carry on.
Sean went to St Marys, Holy Family and Bishop Hannon RC High School. A keen sportsman, he left school aged 16 to become an apprentice plumber but continued with sport. Sean’s father was a founder of Fairwater RFC and Sean both played for and later captained Fairwater Rugby. Sean was a young member of the Central Boys Club gymnastic team, Cardiff Youth Rugby, Pontypridd Rugby, Cardiff & District rugby), Fairwater footballer and Old Illtydian Rugby and baseball. Sean is also a former squash player, a failed fisherman and now enjoys watching all sport.
Alongside the skills and qualities which he developed as a sportsman, Sean has gained a wealth of experience, primarily in sales and marketing, with companies including Xerox and Canon UK. Sean and Deborah decided to become self-employed. Together they successfully opened a number of businesses in Cardiff West including the successful La Nouba Coffee House in Llandaff and Driscolls Greengrocers Fairwater Green.
Sean’s beliefs in rewarding hard work, supporting and encouraging businesses, in the importance of family and community all result from his personal experiences. Having been born in Cardiff, raised in Cardiff, schooled in Cardiff, raised his own family in Cardiff, successfully built and run businesses in Cardiff, Sean has a strong belief and knowledge of our City and the concerns of local people.
