Pauline Winchester

I have been a councillor for Midlothian West since 2017. I was raised in a forces family and grew up all over the world. My father spent over 40 years in the British Army and then 10 years working for them until retirement. I trained as a Paediatric Intensive Care nurse, and worked at a desk job in my final years with Lothian NHS. I retired from the NHS in September 2026. Since 2022 I have been the Armed Forces & Veterans Champion for Midlothian Council. This is a post I was delighted to volunteer for and have thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of my job. Midlothian now has a Forces Children's flag (designed by a child from Mauricewood PS) that is flown from Penicuik Town Hall, and Mauricewood PS (and will be flown from every High School in 2027) during the Month of the Military Child during each April. I continue to represent Midlothian West residents as well as Midlothian as a whole to the best of my ability and try to keep to my Conservative values.