Growing up in conservative Tetbury, my left-wing leanings were sharpened considerably when the head mistress of my girls’ school accidentally employed a history teacher who was a fervent Communist Party member. I have never looked back.

I have supported many protests over the years; my enduring memory is surrounding the base with 3,000 women at Greenham Common with my three-month-old son – the only male to witness the event. I left Labour after the Iraq War and re-joined to vote for Jeremy Corbyn as leader – in my view the best Prime Minister we never had. I found a warm welcome at the local party and I stood as candidate in the last borough elections. I now do what I enjoy the most – meeting members.

Elizabeth Ashley