Paul Matthews is the chief executive of Monmouthshire County Council but has always lived in Cwmbran. His local government career has taken him from being a teenager delivering mail around the offices at County Hall in Cwmbran to the top officer job at Torfaen’s next-door neighbours.
He told Cwmbran Life: “I was born in my parents’ house in Cresswell Walk in St Dials, not too far from the police training college.”
Paul attended all three Fairwater schools, the infants, juniors and comprehensive. After his GCSEs and A-levels he decided to leave school and start work.
“I started work straight from school with Gwent County Council where my job was pretty much on the mail trolley taking letters around the offices. I couldn’t face the thought of more education and wanted to earn some cash. So yes, I started on the very bottom rung if you like.”
Perseverance and taking opportunities to learn-on-the-job led to new career opportunities in the education department.
“I can remember my interview back in 1995 for the job of Principal Education Officer. I came back from honeymoon in Bali and found this letter on the mat inviting me for interview the next day. I was so chilled you couldn’t believe it. I must have done OK because they offered me the job and I stayed put (at Torfaen Council ) for 13 years before crossing the border to Monmouthshire in 2009.”
Paul remembers growing up in a new town that was being built quickly.
“Cwmbran was a really good place to grow up. There was lots of investment in what was a rapidly growing town. Most of Greenmeadow was being built so there were lots of trenches to play in. Cwmbran Stadium was a top facility and there was always loads going on there. I remember having a paper round to earn some cash and plenty of friends around.
“I feel very old when I say that we were literally outside all of the time and nobody thought anything of it. We enjoyed regular jaunts up the mountain to camp in the summer with matches, a can of soup and a spud. Henllys was only a tiny village.”
Away from the day job he runs a football team in the town.
“I coach Llanyrafon AFC under 14s team. I’ve been doing it for some ten years now. As with most teams there are good seasons and tough seasons but I’ve got 15 lads who enjoy it so as long as that stays the same I’ll keep it going.”
Follow @PaulMatthews67 on Twitter.