Andy Cook: Husband, Father, runner, business owner, local resident, Box Moor Trust supporter…..
Having lived, worked and raised my family in Hemel Hempstead during the past 28 years, I am a passionate supporter of the wonderful wild life and green spaces we have here in the Borough of Dacorum.
In 2014, I was approached by a local friend who has a long relationship with The Box Moor Trust asking if I could help with some commercial support at the Trust and earlier this year I was co-opted on the Trust’s Finance Committee. During the past year, through the various meetings, I’ve developed a keen interest in the workings of the Trust and now fully recognise the challenges being faced. With this in mind I took the big decision to stand as a candidate in the Trustee elections in October 2015.
I am married to a very supportive wife and we have two wonderful daughters who were both born and educated in Hemel Hempstead. We live in Boxmoor with our energetic golden retriever dog.
I am a keen half and full marathon runner and a member of the local club Gade Valley Harriers running club in Boxmoor where we regularly enjoy running routes via Box Moor Trust land. The Harriers are one of the friendliest bunch of people I know most of whom are local residents. I ran the London Marathon in April to raise money for a local charity DENS – you can read about my experiences at www.andyrunslondon.com. I regularly join the Gadebridge Park runs on a Saturday morning with the hope of achieving new personal best running times (becoming much harder since turning 50 year old). Well managed green spaces owned by The Box Moor Trust are crucial to the many clubs and recreational activities that I and others enjoy locally and I’d like to keep it that way.
I am an electronics engineer by training, but after completing an MBA in 1997 at Ashridge Management College, moved into senior management, working for a local company, Crosfield Electronics, based on Maylands. Since then I have run my own company for a while before becoming Managing Director of FUJIFILM Electronic Imaging in 2000. In 2006 I led a management buyout from FUJIFILM to create FFEI Limited (www.ffei.co.uk) which today I am the majority shareholder and Managing Director of. We design and manufacture digital imaging products for the Printing industry and Life Science markets employing around 90 staff all based in Hemel Hempstead. Attracting talented staff can always be a challenge, but having high quality well managed green spaces can be a major attraction in the process.
I am currently chairing The Maylands Partnership where businesses and Dacorum Borough Council work together for the economic prosperity of the area [find out more here]. Also, I am a Director of PICON (www.picon.com), the Printing Industry Confederation which represents the interests of equipment suppliers to the UK print industry.
I’d be privileged to provide support to The Box Moor Trust with their business and financial challenges ahead. I have a deep desire to see them continue their investment in the woodland, wildlife and green spaces we enjoy today and ensure they continue for many years to come.
Supporting Box Moor Trust 
As a former resident of the Dacorum area and frequent visitor I recognize the importance of maintaining the beautiful countryside around Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding towns and villages. Although I am not eligible to vote, I cannot think of a more dedicated and capable person than Andy. If you are serious about keeping the local countryside as a natural treasure be sure to vote for Andy Cook.
Norman Reedman,
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Dear Norman,
Thanks for your very kind words of support! I hope you and the family are well and look forward to seeing you next time you’re over.
Best wishes
Andy
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Hi Andy. I am a private hire driver who gets to see most of the beautiful area we live in in the course of my driving. I am forever extolling the virtues of our town to the business people I ferry around, occasionally even giving them free country lane tours.
Apart from protecting, developing and maintaining Box Moor Trust’s estates, I would really like to see someone pushing for the reintroduction of the annual Music On The Moor concert / festival.
Our young people rarely get to see live music due to the licensing restrictions of the pubs which offer local bands places to play. Most of our schools offer music as a subject which is incredible. I believe the annual festival needs to not only be reinstated, but extended into a wider opportunity for young keen musicians to explore their talents and play to live audiences.
As the objections (as far as I know) by those in the trust were of a financial nature, I believe you are probably the best person on the whole list to make this happen. Commercial sponsorship and a small gate fee would be the way to go to get the thing into profit. So you get my vote!
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Dear Graeme, Thanks for your message and support. I agree, the music on the moor was a terrific event which my daugher played at several times and helped build her confidence. Over the past few weeks I’ve had numerous people mention how much it’s missed and if elected I will certainly try to understand how we can find a way to bring this type of event back.
Best wishes
Andy
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Hi Andy! Just wanted to congratulate you on being elected!! Great stuff!! I did tell all my friends to vote for you!!
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Hi Graeme, Thanks for your message and all the support. I was humbled and touched by the number of votes I received.
Last week I got to meet the other newly elected Trustees and I have to say they were all good, well rounded people who I’m sure are going to work well together. I’m looking forward to working with them all with moving the Trust forward. You never know we might even find a way to bring ‘Music on The moor’ back.
Again, thanks for your support.
Best wishes
Andy
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