"I left college with a Business Studies qualification and secretarial diploma and started working as a secretary. I’ve worked in various industries, Construction, Real Estate, Engineering and Retail. I took a short work break after having my son and after trying to lose baby weight, joined a fitness class. I loved it and trained as a fitness instructor and ran my own business for several years whilst the children were young. It led me to leisure management in two of the leading providers of leisure in the region.
After many changes, I took a temporary secretarial job for a leading law firm – two weeks work turned into 13 years and a management role which sadly ended when I was made redundant in 2015. I was quickly offered a management role in the care sector for Autism Care but sadly redundant again after 4 years service right at the start of the pandemic. I worked at the 111 service during the pandemic.
My boys are grown up, one is an Officer in the Merchant Navy sailing the world on cruise ships and the other a Police Officer here in the Northumbria force. I have a beautiful 7 year old granddaughter."