Jacky Smith is in her first term as a district councillor, representing St Wulfram’s ward as a Conservative.
A the age of seven she was taken to a political meeting by her mother, who was a family friend of the eminent Conservative minister RA Butler.
Jacky, who is 70, was born in Farnborough and moved to Grantham in 1946.
Her successful career as an engineering consultant in oil and gas exploration involved working all over the world, especially in the former USSR and other countries behind the Iron Curtain.
She is a trustee of St Barnabas Hospice, a governor of the King’s School, and is also involved with Manthorpe church, Royal Air Force Association, Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, WI and Grantham Flower Arrangement Club.
Jacky’s husband Ian died in October last year after a lifetime working in the water industry.
She says: “I have been fortunate in life and always wanted to try to put something back. I think you get back out of life what you put in.”
Cartoon by Terry Shelbourne.