Neil was born in Liverpool and brought up in North Norfolk. After he left school, he took up an apprenticeship in mechanical and production engineering. However, after being made redundant in the early 1980s, his life took an unexpected turn when a chance visit to the BBC in Norwich led to a move to London to take up a role in scenic construction and design for the BBC. Part of this was daily visits to the production studios and, as a big music fan, getting to work weekly on Top of the Pops was a dream job; watching the likes of David Bowie, Madonna, Elton John, and Wham rehearsing, and being on set during the shows, always made him smile. Another early job was to help develop the set for a brand-new soap opera called Eastenders!
These early years at the BBC fuelled Neil’s love of the TV industry, so when an opportunity came up to move into TV production, he grabbed it. Originally working on live news and current affairs programmes, he finally achieved his goal of working in BBC drama in the early nineties. Over the next fifteen years, and working on many different programmes, he worked his way up from a production runner, through various roles, ending up as a Line Producer where, working closely with Producers and Directors, he would help realise the script's potential whilst staying within the budget as well as having overall responsibility for the cast and crew’s safety. One of the many highlights of his career was spending a year in Newcastle working with Daniel Craig, Chris Ecclestone, Mark Strong and Gina McKee on ‘Our Friends in the North’, a political drama that was set over 31 years. During his time at the BBC, he worked on most of the drama department’s programme output and made various cameo appearances when they needed an extra body.
Whilst working in the TV industry was great fun, it involved very long hours and he had to work wherever in the country (or in the world) the programmes dictated. This wasn’t conducive to family life so when, in 2007, Neil and his wife Veronica had their first daughter, Holly, he gave it up to become a full-time dad. Two years later Izzy was born, and Neil was looking after a baby and a toddler at a time when seeing dads at baby groups or in the school playground was something of a rarity. He describes this as both the most difficult and the most rewarding job he has ever had.
In 2010, Neil was elected as Liberal Democrat Councillor on Kingston Council where he served until 2014. Moving from Surbiton to Long Ditton, he was then elected to Elmbridge Council in 2015 and has had the privilege of representing and helping the residents of Long Ditton ever since. Neil is very honoured to be the Mayor of Elmbridge and, together with his wife Veronica, they are looking forward to representing the borough and meeting many Elmbridge residents, organisations and groups, over the coming year.
Mayor’s charity
The Mayor’s charity this year is Home Start-Elmbridge. They are a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age. They offer practical and emotional support to families who are struggling to cope for a variety of reasons. From illness, poverty and isolation through to domestic violence and poor mental health. Home-Start are there for parents when they need them most because childhood can’t wait.
Neil was very keen to choose a charity that provides support to families with young children, to help them to live happy lives and help them achieve their full potential. Having been a full-time dad to young children, he is particularly pleased that within the charity’s wide range of activities, the needs of dads are also recognised, and specific services are included to help meet their needs.
If you would like further details about the Mayor or his charity please email the Mayor’s secretary: themayor@elmbridge.gov.uk or view:
Further information
For further information about the Mayor, please see Councillor Neil Houston or for information about the Deputy Mayor, please see, Councillor Steve Bax.