Yesterday the nominations for various councils were announced. There are seven candidates for the seven places on Swallow Parish Council so I am once again elected without an election and am now the second longest serving member, although - worryingly - still either the youngest or second youngest (I'm not certain whether I am younger than James or vice versa, but it won't be by much either way). This was all right when I was first co-opted when I was in my early thirties, but twenty years later it does make me wonder why there are no younger people in the village who are interested.

Heaven knows I am not exactly a political person myself and have no allegiance to any political party - a 'conservatively liberal pacifist Christian socialist with greenish aspirations' would probably best describe my political views - but parish council is not about political parties, but about doing the best you can for the community in which you live. I honestly do not know which parties my fellow parish councillors support although I suspect that all but the chairman are broadly to my right. It doesn't matter - what we represent are the people of Swallow and Cuxwold villages.

People complain enough about the way we are governed, but too few vote and fewer still are willing to give their time even to this - the lowest rung of local government. In the late sixties/early seventies everyone joined various socio-political campaigns long before they were old enough to vote. What became of this eagerness to be a part of the movement to change things for the better? How was it swamped in the deadly mire of Thatcher's and Blair's Britain?

I'm not asking for revolution in the village - just for one or two younger people to express an interest.