My parents, Barbara, and Stan Field, moved to Crawley from Wandsworth with so many other families for their new life in Pound Hill at Christmas 1956. I was 18 Months old. My father had a job in Crawley and travelled each day from London until the commission for the New Towns house was completed.

I was educated at the Pound Hill schools then onto Hazelwick. Crawley, then as it does now, offering many opportunities for young people and I joined the Nautical Training Corps 75 Courageous which met every week at the Old Mill, Ifield.

The marching band was my passion and I rose through the ranks to become a drum major and then the Band mistress.

1970 band competition Hazelwick School

1970 band competition at Hazelwick School.

I fully intended to join the Navy and train as a Queen Alexander’s nurse, but I met my husband Colin Moffatt at school, and I did not want to leave him! We have been married for over 35 years and have lived all our lives in Crawley.

After two years at the then Crawley College of Technology completing a pre-nursing course between 1970-1972, I started nurse training at the Redhill Group of Hospitals much of this at Crawley Hospital.

Only on completion of my training would my mum allow Colin and I to marry when he had completed an apprenticeship in 1975 as an aircraft engineer with BUA.

We waited just 18 months for a lovely new council house in Broadfield and it remained in our family home for 28 years. We raised three sons and are very grateful for this wonderful opportunity that is out of reach for so many young people today.

I became a School Governor at Broadfield East First and Middle school and chaired the board of governors for some of those 15 years.

I was elected to Crawley Borough Council to represent Broadfield in 1984 having become involved in community campaigns for schools, better footpaths, and children’s activities.

My mentor Alf Pegler and I greeting an overseas visitor to Crawley.

 

Wellie Throwing in Bewbush. One of the fun things you get to do as Chair of the Environmental Services Committee 1986.

I continued to work as a registered nurse until election to the House of Commons in 1997.

This was not the first time I was the candidate in the general election for the Labour Party as I was against Nicholas Soames in 1992 …… and lost.

For more than 13 years it was my honour to represent Crawley in Parliament until my retirement in May 2010.

Involvement in Crawley charitable organisations has always been very important part of my life.

I have been an active member of the Crawley Lions for over 20 years.

I am the president of The Crawley Hospitals League of Friends which I am so proud to say now helps Langley Green hospital.

I am a founder member of Crawley Furni-Aid helping people on low incomes to have good quality furniture.

The Town of Crawley has given me and my family a wonderful life. We have all had a great education, sporting opportunities (my three sons play Rugby for Crawley) lovely open spaces to walk, good housing and a multicultural community that has enriched our lives.

Laura and her family before the 1997 general election.

CRAWLEY IS A GREAT PLACE

Laura Moffatt