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Published on: 8/26/2009
Last Visited: 8/26/2009
Rachel Jackson.
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Rachel Jackson.
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Rachel Jackson has won the title of top parish clerk in the Pride in Norfolk Community Awards, which are run by Norfolk county council and our sister paper the Eastern Daily Press.
Now, at 59 and a mother and grandmother, she knows she is coming towards the end of her career as a parish clerk, but it is one that she has found endlessly fulfilling.
Originally working in the Department of Employment, she had given up work when she started her family.
But as her children grew older she decided to take part-time work and got the job of parish clerk to Old Catton back in 1984.
Four years later she took the full-time post at Costessey and has been there ever since.
"Our main role is to serve the council and the community," explained Rachel, who lives in Lambert Road, Sprowston.
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But that's not just about taking minutes at meetings - every day is different and holds a new challenge for Rachel.
"The position of parish and town clerks has changed beyond recognition over the years from being almost something that people did as a hobby to becoming recognised as a profession," she said.
Working in the parish rooms at Old Costessey, she is on the frontline when people want to ask for advice, make their thoughts known about community topics or simply have a moan.
Issues facing the council range from the everyday matters of a community to involvement with plans for major housing developments.
Costessey also has the only residential Travellers' site in south Norfolk.
"It has now become a national example of how such sites should be run," said Mrs Jackson.