Originally from the East Midlands, John Dabell has lived in East Grinstead for 32 years, (longer than he has lived anywhere else!), and he with his family regard East Grinstead simply as ‘Home’.
He became a Town Councillor in 2014 and later a District Councillor, serving on and chairing various committees of both.
He is a committed Christian, with membership of St John’s Church Felbridge, and he loves working with and encouraging young people, having been involved with and led a number of Christian Youth Clubs plus other Christian youth organisations such as the Boys Brigade, over the years.
After service as a Flyer in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, he worked for many years in the Food Business for Rowntrees and then Nestlé, retiring in 2006 as a Nestlé Business Manager.
He then worked for seven years as a Study Supervisor, taking lessons at Imberhorne School and also as their Careers Advisor.
Having lost his own son, who was just 26, to an undiagnosed heart condition in 2004, he, with family and friends, set up an annual, trophied football match between Imberhorne and Sackville Schools, raising voluntary contributions for CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young.
John served as East Grinstead Town Mayor from mid-2020 to mid-2022. His emphasis is always on ‘I Serve’.
