Constituency : Torbay 1997-2015
Adrian took the long time target seat of Torbay by just 12 votes, unseating Tory writer Rupert Allason at the second attempt.
Adrian was born in Paignton. His father was an insurance official. He was educated at Torquay Boys' Grammar School. He started work in a timber yard then followed his father into the insurance business. He was first elected a councillor in Torquay in 1984 but resigned his seat in 1986 when he moved to Hebden Bridge to work for the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors. He returned to Paignton in 1990. After coming second at Torbay in 1992, he worked in Paddy Ashdown's office for a year before moving on to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. He stood for Devon and East Plymouth in 1994 losing out by just 700 votes while Richard Huggett ( whose father was a Liberal Democrat councillor ) standing as a Literal Democrat polled over 10.000 votes.
The Tories confidently predicted they would win the seat back in 2001 but instead Adrian increased his majority to nearly 7,000. He became the Liberal Democrats' tourism spokesman and Deputy Chief Whip. In 2008, he was involved in a physical altercation with a party staffer Mark Littlewood for publicly suggesting his seat was at risk.
Adrian is a diabetic and has campaigned on related issues. He also supports the League Against Cruel Sports. In 2011 he was the only Liberal Democrat to support a referendum on continued membership of the E.E.C.
Adrian was defeated in 2015 , despite the support of Queen guitarist Brian May, but was re-elected to the local council later that year. He also became Chairman of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers. He declined to stand in 2017.
He is now 60.
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