My Fight for Rushmoor
A reflection from 'The Redemption Journey' by William “Bill” Doody
This is the chapter where I explain why I came home, why Rushmoor matters to me,
and why I believe this fight is worth it
Roots and Heart
I chose Farnborough and Aldershot because this is where my roots are. This is where my heart is. And this is where it feels right to give something back.
Growing Up and Going Under
I was born here. I grew up on a council estate in Farnborough. I lived in Aldershot too. I’ve seen both ends of Rushmoor — the hardship and the pride, the struggle and the strength. My life went under here, shaped by poverty and chaos, and years later I managed to rebuild it. Now I’ve come back to share what I’ve learned and to help lift others up.
The Hidden Struggles
Rushmoor isn’t all bad — far from it. There are services, charities, and support here. But too many people don’t know what’s out there. Others don’t think they’re worthy of it. Generations get stuck in inherited poverty and outlooks on life, almost like wearing blinkers. I know it, because I lived it.
Different Lives, Same Place
And yet there are so many different Rushmoors within the same place. There are families at the very bottom, sometimes not enough food on the table, parents and kids weighed down by poverty. There are hardworking people in the same estates who keep their heads above water, never turning to crime, but are unable to get ahead because the cost of living blocks every route forward. Then there are those who use Farnborough as a commuter town — people who may never see the estate life up close, but who still struggle under the pressure of housing costs and stagnant wages.
That’s the full picture. That’s the Rushmoor I know.
A Broken Political Structure
And my honest belief is that the political structure here is broken. It doesn’t speak for the majority. It speaks for tradition, for habit, for the way things have always been done. But it doesn’t listen to the full range of voices — from the families who feel written off, to the workers who can’t move up, to the commuters priced out of housing.
Shut Out of Westminster
Worse still, Rushmoor has no real line of communication into central government. People here don’t know how to navigate the system, and local leaders don’t seem able to make Westminster listen. So the changes we need stall before they ever get started. Policies are made far away, by people who don’t live the lives they’re legislating for. That gap leaves communities like ours stuck — with problems recognised locally, but never fixed nationally.
What I Bring
But I bring something different. I’ve lived the hardest side of this community, and I’ve also had the privilege of a career where I’ve delivered some of the most complex programmes in government and industry. I know what it means to lead, to take responsibility, and to deliver under pressure. I’ve worked with people at every level of society — from boardrooms and ministries to ordinary families fighting for a chance — and I can communicate with them all.
Skills and Perspective
That mix of lived experience and professional skill puts me in a unique position. I can speak honestly for people here because I’ve been where they are. But I can also build policies that are realistic, because I understand how decisions are made and how systems work. I can take Rushmoor’s voice locally and to the national level and make sure policies coming out of Westminster support what we need locally.
Family and Roots
And I’m not standing here alone. My family roots run deep in this place — uncles, aunties, cousins, daughters, grandchildren, and friends who still call it home. And many others laid to rest in Ship Lane Cemetery. My story isn’t separate from this community. It’s bound up with it, past and present.
Not the Usual Candidate
I know what people will say about me. He’s got a past. He’s not the usual type. But that’s exactly why I believe I can represent Rushmoor with honesty and grit. Because I’m not dropping in — I’m home.
A Call to Action
They deserve someone who knows what it feels like.
They deserve someone who won’t flinch when the fight gets tough.
They deserve someone who knows how to navigate the complexities of the boardrooms as well as the backstreets.
So let’s give ourselves a chance to really implement change. We won’t be able to fix everything. But we will be able to fix some things — the things that matter. And if we can make it a little better for the next generation, then the fight will have been worth it. And maybe, just maybe, it will inspire others to follow — to step up, to speak out, and to carry this work forward long after me.
This isn’t just politics to me — it’s personal
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