I don't feel my age

I am in my late fifties, but I don't feel it.

My father was in the Royal Air Force so my early years were spent in Germany with my parents and on our return to England I started my education. From the age of five I went to a convent school in Bromley Kent. At sixteen I took a huge cultural leap by going to Art College to study graphic design for three years.

At nineteen I changed colleges going on to do a three-year diploma in art and design, it was during my final year that I was devastated by the death of my father. I decided to continue my education by taking a one-year postgraduate art-teaching diploma. This involved teaching practice in schools which I thoroughly enjoyed, so on completing my course I took a job in a secondary modern school.

I taught art for a number of years and was a fifth year form teacher and professional tutor with responsibility for student and probationary teachers. To help make ends meet I also taught adult education evening classes. I remember one very snowy evening when no other class turned up but my students did, they were committed enough to brave the weather because they enjoyed their class, which says a lot about how well we all worked together.

I left teaching in the secondary school to teach adult education branching out to teach adults with physical and learning difficulties. I enjoyed all my teaching experiences they learnt and I did too. We had fun.

As well as teaching I had a part-time job in the Photographic Department of The National Gallery London and being given the choice I opted to work full-time in the Gallery. I took my BTECH in photography and attended the Civil Service Management Training College and in time was promoted to head the department.

I am a founder member of the Association for Historical and Fine Art Photography and have been President of the Association for a number of years, you can find out more about them at; http://www.ahfap.org.uk

I have now retired from The National Gallery and seem to be busier than before. I work as a life coach, I am a speaker for the Women's Institute and have just been accepted as a volunteer for the Demelza-James Childrens Hospice. We also have a new puppy so I am busy training him too.

I enjoy swimming, walking, reading, creativity in all its forms. I am a wife, stepmother to two now grown up children, have two step grandchildren, I am a teacher, tutor, manager, mentor and coach. But more than this, I am me.