From leaving school I worked as a Senior Clerical Assistant for a company called Delgado Ltd., which was part of the Studio Cards complex, which was based on London Road. I worked there for seven years, until the firm decided it was moving to Manchester, I could not drive then, so the option was to take redundancy. I thought that I would have a change of career and started to work for Sainsbury’s which was then based where Tradex is now. Within a short time, I was made Price Controller / Supervisor.

Shane and I were married in 1984 at Woodplumpton Methodist Chapel by Rev George Graham. Shane already had a bungalow in Houghton and this is where we started our married life. When I found out I was expecting Ian, we moved to Fulwood, which meant that we were close to Woodplumpton Church and nearer to both sets of parents. Unfortunately when Ian was one, my Father died at the age of fifty-seven. We continued to worship at Woodplumpton, but there were no children of Ian’s age. This is when we made the decision to transfer to Fulwood as Shane had worshipped at both churches during his youth.

I found Fulwood all those years ago a very welcoming church and soon became settled. Ian also enjoyed Sunday school. When I had Ian I gave up work, so I could spend lots of time with him but, when he was three, I got a job at our local video shop, three evenings a week. When he started school I did a BTEC Nursery Nurse Course while keeping up the evenings at the video shop. When I qualified I was very fortunate to get a position at Broughton Primary School, where Ian attended. I started as a Teaching Assistant, and was then asked if I would like to support a young boy who was due to start school, who had cerebral palsy, and of course I said yes. I supported him in the morning and another Support Assistant in the in the afternoon. It was a very rewarding job, he could make me laugh one minute and cry the next, even though at times it was very tiring, I supported him until he reached year 2 and unfortunately due to an operation, I could not continue to support him, as there was a lot of lifting involved, but I was very lucky again, to be kept on as a Support Assistant. It was only in the summer last year that I decided I needed a complete change after 11 years.

When I heard that Morag was applying a full time job and the Circuit Administrator’s job was becoming available, I decided this was the opportunity to put my name forward, applied and was thrilled when I heard that 1 had got an interview, and more to my surprise when I heard I had got the position of Circuit Administrator. I have undertaken many roles in Fulwood Church, such as helping in Sunday school, being a Door Steward, Communion Steward, Pastoral Visitor and more recently, a Church Steward. I felt that it was time to move on away from children, especially now Ian is grown up. Taking on the role of Circuit Administrator would be a new challenge and would give me the opportunity of meeting new people.

I am meeting a lot of lovely people from around the circuit and I hope there are many more of you to meet. I would like to thank Morag and Margaret who have put up with me asking so many questions. Everybody has made me feel very welcome and I feel very privileged in assisting with the Circuit administrative tasks.