NAME... Oberon Houston
LOCATION... Marylebone, London
SELF-DESCRIPTION... Aged 36 and raised on a small upland
farm in the North of Scotland. I went to the local state school where
I did moderately well academically, but only excelled at middle-distance
running. I initially worked on a local construction yard that made large
oil rigs for the North Sea. After a few years there, I went to university
to study Civil Engineering. After graduating I returned to the company
that owned the construction yard in Scotland, but now worked as a Structural
Engineer designing North Sea oil platforms in Wimbledon.
In 1999 I obtained a Masters Degree
in “Petroleum Engineering” from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh,
and after working for a number of years for BP, I moved to London to
work for an American Oil Company called ‘Amerada Hess’ where I work
as a Senior Reservoir Engineer. I am married with one son who is 16.
POLITICAL BELIEFS... Most easily described at a traditional
“Centrist Tory”. I have a distain for political ideology and a strong
‘what works’ ethos. Although not adverse to change, I am instinctively
skeptical of radicalism, from either end of the political spectrum.
I believe that people are happiest when they have freedom to live their
lives responsibly as they wish, feel part of a strong family, strong
local community and country. I believe this is prevalent in a society
that is inclusive, one that has a celebrated past and shared values
and a society that promotes individual achievement. I believe in a Conservatism
that promotes these ideals, and adapts to support their long term existence.
POLITICAL HERO... Robert Walpole. For a leadership that allowed Britons to become world-class achievers and his distain for the war-mongering.
FAVOURITE BLOGS... ConservativeHome.com
FAVOURITE CH CONTRIBUTOR... James Hellyer because we argue so much!
In my search for a conservative culture description I came accross your profile and since we have already met I hope you could appreciate my comments. As an Italian abroad I really believe in a more meritocratic culture and I am skeptical of radicalism as well. But it is easier in the UK to promote a common culture of individual achievement because you have a common glorious past and a strong sense of community/state belonging. The main strength of Britain is the fact that independently from your political vision all the citizens possede this sense of belonging to the State and a strong sense of respect towards it.
Posted by: Francesco Verre | June 25, 2006 at 10:13 AM