In recent months, team Surrey Life has been busy speaking to our contributors and industry experts from around the county to get a feel for just who makes Surrey tick

David Hodge

As leader of Surrey County Council, Caterham resident David Hodge has overseen the launch of the biggest school building programme in the county’s history and signed a deal that will give nearly everyone in Surrey superfast broadband speeds. Now he aims to ensure that 100 miles of the county’s roads will be completely replaced. He first entered politics in 1992 with Tandridge District Council before becoming a Surrey county councillor in 2005. David has a military background, having spent 22 years in the British Army.

Jeremy Hunt

Born and bred in Surrey, Jeremy Hunt went to Charterhouse school in Godalming, a town where two different generations of his family have lived for nearly 60 years. He was re-elected as Member of Parliament for South West Surrey in May 2010, having been closely involved in the successful fights to prevent the closure of the Royal Surrey and Milford Hospitals. Following the 46-year-old’s role as culture secretary during the Olympics, he was appointed secretary of state for health in the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle in September 2012. These days, he divides his time between Westminster and his family home in Farnham.

Michael Gove

Educated at both state and independent schools, in England and Scotland, Michael Gove was appointed secretary of state for education following the 2010 General Election. The 45-year-old was first elected as MP for Surrey Heath in May 2005. A journalist by profession, often writing for The Times and broadcasting on the BBC, his most recent book, Celsius 7/7, was released in 2006. Michael is married to Sarah Vine, a leader writer at The Times, and they have one daughter, Beatrice, and a son, William, who was born at Frimley Park Hospital in November 2004.

Keep on moving

Of course, any such list is subjective and many more could have featured within these pages. Get in touch with your Movers & Shakers, the people who influence how we all live in Surrey, on facebook.com/SurreyLife and twitter.com/SurreyLife and maybe you’ll see them included next time round!