The vibrancy of our village is extremely important to Alison. She'd been a city girl before moving to Whitley in 2008 to be close to family in Corsham, but has discovered a passion for the surrounding open spaces and for being part of a tight-knit and supportive community.

Alison works from home as a freelance book editor and writer, so spends more or less all of her time in the village – with the occasional giddy trip to Corsham! – or walking the family spaniel around it. She lives here with her three teenaged boys and husband, John.

She was Chair of the Shaw Primary School PTA for three years, does her utmost to support local businesses (particularly the Pear Tree!) and she feels passionately that a good village shop is an essential part of the tapestry of rural life.