A former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Abbot’s resident of 60 years has become vice chair of the community centre.
Eryl McNally says that after many years living and working in France, she is now keen to throw herself back into British life and the Abbots community. While giving free French classes in the community centre, Eryl noticed that the centre was in need of more help.
She said: “The centre is a great resource and it’s really important that it is fully used and appreciated by the community.”
Eryl, who was born and brought up in Wales, moved to the area after her husband was offered a job at Watford college. Eryl taught languages for 20 years at Kings Langley Secondary and Francis Combe School – now Future Academies Watford – and was head of languages at Saint Michael’s Catholic High School.
After teaching, Eryl went into the advisory service in Buckinghamshire before a ‘short and dissatisfying’ spell as an Ofsted inspector. When Eryl’s two children were small, she worked on the Abbots Langley Parish Council and then went on to serve on Three Rivers District Council before eventually becoming a Hertfordshire County Councillor. From the County Council, Eryl beat politician Edwina Currie to represent Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes in the European Parliament, something which she says won her ‘15 minutes of fame.’ During her time as an MEP, Eryl lived in the Herault department, inland from Montepellier.
She describes being an MEP as ‘the best job I’ve ever had.’
She said: “It was so interesting to compare how countries operate and see how other countries are run. I have always been convinced that we must work on an international basis.”
Despite being Welsh, Eryl has lived in Abbots Langley for triple the time she spent in Wales, so what keeps her in the area? She said:
“Abbots has managed to retain its individual character away from Watford and Hemel.
“The centre is so well run with a great variety of activities and with the potential for even more.”
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