This is the little bit about me, in contrast to the main bit about Yorkshire, which I’m sure is far more interesting! But I always like to put a face to a name, so I’ll introduce myself before we get on to the good stuff!
I LOVE Yorkshire, my home county and that of almost all my ancestors within the last 4 generations and probably beyond. (I have to admit that my great grandad came from Wales to be a ship’s riveter on the Tees, and, presumably on his trips down the coast, met a Kentish barmaid in Gravesend and brought her back with him. However I can forgive them as they did settle here, and their son was my Mum’s dad!)
Born in the mill town of Dewsbury (where Patrick Brontë, one of my heroes and the namesake of our younger son, was curate from 1809-1811), famous for cloth manufacture, I came to the Ilkley area with my family at the age of 7 and grew up within sight of the world-famous Ilkley Moor. My sister, friends and I were so lucky to have a playground like that! The Yorkshire Dales and Haworth, being on our doorstep, were popular destinations for day trips, and Whitby and the Yorkshire coast for longer breaks.
After training as a teacher at college in Lancaster, and a year teaching for my probationary year in the London Borough of Ealing, I returned thankfully to Yorkshire and have never left! My teaching career has taken various twists and turns, from Key Stage 2 to Early Years to my current day job as a holistic therapy tutor with adult students; my 30 year marriage to the lovely John has produced two wonderful sons with Yorkshire in their blood, and now it’s time to indulge my passion for sharing Yorkshire and set up my website and blog to share with you.