I was born in Stretford which at that time was in the great County of Lancashire and grew up in the Cheshire area, living at Bramhall and Sale . My father had always been interested in politics and living in the Manchester area I was made very aware of the political history of that area such as the Peterloo Massacre and the Suffregette Movement.
I attended Bramhall Council School and Sale Grammar for Girls and on a recent return visit to Sale Grammar School was reminded by one of my ex teachers that at school I was known as a Socialist and even stood in the mock general election voicing my views in support of the Labour Party. She was assured both by my friend and I that I still held those same views.
I met my husband Michael when we moved to Accrington where he worked as a miner in East Lancashire, firstly at the Scaitcliffe pit and and then at the Thorneybank pit. He was later employed at Shopfitters when the mines closed down.
We have 5 children (3 daughters and 2 sons) who all grew up in the Accrington area with some now living a distance away, which means we always have somewhere different to visit. We also have 2 grandaughters and a grandson.
I have always been interested in politics and as a family we have had some vigourous and open political discussions - the result being that my eldest son stood unsuccesfully as a Conservative candidate in Kent.
Having worked in the local bank previous to marriage I was employed for 14 years at Clayton Laundry where I worked in Accounts before becoming a legal cashier in later years.
After tramping the streets for many years in support of the Labour Party I was persuaded to stand for the County Council in 1993 and was amazed to win the seat!. I have been proud to represent Accrington South ever since
At the recent LCC AGM I was delighted to be elected as Vice Chair of Lancashire County Council with the possibility of being elected Chairman in 2007. It is a great honour and I am looking forward to finding out about all the various organisations which we have in Lancashire and meeting a wide range of people and telling people from outside Lancashire what a wonderful county Lancashire is with its historic towns open countryside and rolling hills.
We are not just here for the BIG things but the small things as well - in fact anything which could improve the lives of Lancashire residents.
