Councillor Alan Metcalf is the Councillor for Woodlands Ward at Gravesham Borough Council.
Alan was born in London and moved to Gravesend when he was 15. He
spent the early days of his career working on the river with his dad, who ran a
river cruise business. Alan’s family has always had an association with the
river.
Alan then had a career change and spent 20 years working for British Gas,
where Alan was trained as a Non Destructive Testing Engineer and Industrial
Radiographer. Alan was asked to work with the military on pipeline projects
and spent 17 years travelling to the Middle East to support these initiatives.
Alan raised his family in Gravesend and after his time working away, started
his own building company.
When Alan retired, he went back to his first love, the river and joined the
Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) which is a uniformed naval charity. He has
been Head of Unit for the Gravesend and Medway branches since 2013. Alan
has had extensive maritime training and is a qualified Day Skipper. The MVS
works within the local community and has supported Gravesham Borough
Council, Gravesham Sailing Club and Gravesend Rowing club with
community events. Alan also belongs to the Merchant Navy Association.
Alan is passionate about supporting the local community and protecting
Gravesham’s riverside heritage and outdoor spaces. His work with the MVS
has involved leading maritime training projects supporting young people and
those with disabilities to learn essential seamanship skills. If Alan is elected
as councillor, he wants to play a very active role within the local community.