I was born in Doncaster and consider myself to be a true ‘Yorkshire Girl’. My father was the Managing Director of a confectionary company and my mother was a school teacher. I had three wonderful half brothers and consider myself very privileged that the youngest was Anthony Barber who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1970’s under Ted Heath’s government. Sadly my father died when I was 9, but my mother eventually re-married and I became a vicars daughter!

My main education was at boarding school which I hated, and I think this led to my independent and rather rebellious nature which has always been a feature of my life!

After school I went to catering college in Leeds and most of my professional life has been associated with food in one way or another. In the 1970’s I joined the RAF, and after Officer Cadet training at RAF Henlow I was commissioned and eventually became a Flight Lieutenant with a number of postings throughout the UK.

Aviation has always played a part in my life and eventually I ended up working at Manchester Airport for the last thirty years of my working life. I was Head of Commercial Development responsible for letting, managing and developing all the shops and restaurants throughout the airport. With the advent of low cost travel such as Ryanair, non aviation revenue became more and more important to airports and so I’m part of the reason why you now have to traverse through the Tax and Duty Free shops whenever you travel! However, I loved airport life. It is like working in a small city meeting people with very different roles everyday - each one playing their part in making the airport function.
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I love to travel and have undertaken some wonderful adventures. A friend and I drove down Route 66 about 30 years ago. We were determined to stick to the ‘mother road’ all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica Boulevard. We met some amazing characters and stayed in traditional motels, some better than others I admit! I particularly recall The Blue Swallow in Tucumcari complete with flashing blue neon sign and run by the 90 year old Lucille.

A few years later my friend and I went dog sledging in northern Norway. I managed to fall off my sledge and landed in a frozen river, not my finest moment, but the whole experience was amazing.

Latterly I have started to explore India and come to love the country with its wide variety of sites, smells and colours coupled with delicious food and a warm and friendly greeting. I long to go back and hope it will be possible now that the Covid situation is improving. Fingers crossed!

I have always loved France and travelled to various parts throughout my life. After I retired I decided to make a change of lifestyle and was drawn to this area by an obscure advert in the Lady magazine of all things. My friends Anne and Alan Lamont helped me find a suitable plot to build my house. I feel settled here and have made many new friends both English and French. I love cooking and good food so shopping in Ste Foy market each Saturday and buying great fresh seasonal food is a joy. It’s a good life and I count myself very lucky.