In 2011 Hilda Brazil had become the first Gypsy to be a parish councillor in Surrey. But Hilda, herself a Romani (or Roma) Gypsy, has been a GRT (Gypsy/ Roma/ Traveller) liaison officer within Surrey County Council’s (SCC) Family Support Service for 17 years. Her role there is to reduce re-offending by young Gypsies and Travellers which requires working closely with the Probation Service.
Before those roles, Hilda had taken an active role in the Surrey Gypsy Traveller Forum of which she is a current co-chairman.
Read more about an Effingham resident here