COUNCILLOR Nigel Pierce is one of two councillors that represent the Buckskin ward on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after being elected to the seat in May.

The 61-year-old beat Conservative councillor Robert Taylor, UKIP candidate and Deeside care home campaigner, Debbie Long and Exmoor Close and Liberal Democrat candidate, Paul Bensilum to win the seat.

Nigel, who is married to wife Julie, has lived in Basingstoke since 1988 and the couple have four children and one grandchild.

The grandfather-of-one was born in West London and went to school in Hammersmith. Whilst at school, Nigel was selected to be one of the boys to take part in the opening ceremony for the 1966 World Cup in England and as part of the ceremony Nigel had to wear a Portugal strip.

Nigel has enjoyed various roles in his working career, including the role of trainee accountant at London Electricity.

However, after developing a passion for the work of trade unions, Nigel went into personnel and was the director of personnel at the Public and Commercial Services Union until his retirement in 2012.

The Buckskin councillor is also the chairman of the Basingstoke Theatre Trust.

1. Who was your childhood hero and why? Tony Benn, because he usually got it right.

2. What is your most precious possession and why is it important to you? My father’s watch and my wedding ring for obvious reasons.

3. What was the first record/ CD you bought? The House of the Rising Sun by Eric Burdon and The Animals in 1964.

4. What is the radio/television show you hate to miss? 24.

5. What is your favourite film? Sunshine on Leith.

6. What is your pet hate? Overpriced and poor food in so-called gastro pubs.

7. What are you reading at the moment? 2121 by Susan Greenfield.

8. If you were choosing a last meal, what would it be? One of my mother’s Cornish pasties.

9. If you could meet anyone from history, who would it be? William Shakespeare. He could tell us so much about life in this country.

10. If you had a time machine where would it take you? 30AD to see Jesus and prove atheists wrong.

11. If you were stranded on a desert island what luxury would you choose to have with you? A satellite phone with a fully charged battery so I can call for help.

12. What sports team do you support? Chelsea.

13. What was your first job? Railwayman.

14. If you could take over someone’s job for the day, whose job would you choose? Graham Norton.

15. What worries you the most? The greed culture and injustice to the vulnerable.

16. What is your proudest moment? Whenever my whole family are together, it is always great fun.

17. What would you like your epitaph to be? Here lies the ashes of Nigel Pierce. To some he was cuddly, some fierce and always ready to have some laughs. He never did anything just by halves, except die.

18. What’s your guilty pleasure? Salted caramel.

19. What one thing could change society for the better? People being unable to lie.

20. What three words best describe you? Larger than life.