Until my recent semi-retirement I was a partner in a firm of architects and surveyors and therefore have a wealth of experience in small business management plus professional building experience in my role as a chartered surveyor and chartered architectural technologist. I have very strong local connections having been born and brought up in the Parish of Morwenstow and indeed was a pupil at St Mark's School (where my father was Chair of governors at the time) and both my children and subsequently my grandchildren attended the school. I am also chairman of the local church's Patronal Festival committee which helps forge links between the school, church and the community.

As a parent of two daughters at St. Mark's and an English teacher at Budehaven. I absolutely believe that it is vital that every child, regardless of academic ability, has a right to feel happy and supported in school. I regularly visit our feeder primary schools to deliver English lessons and thoroughly enjoy this experience! I have been a teacher for nineteen years and have witnessed and been involved in numerous curriculum and policy changes in Education.

I have lived in Morwenstow for 45 years, and my children and grandchildren attended St Mark's. I started the first pre-school group in Morwenstow about 35 years ago, and then worked in education for 30 years, specialising in working with children that have learning and behavioural needs. As a governor I have responsibility for EYFS and SEND.

After working as an employment law solicitor and training as a workplace mediator, I retrained as a primary school teacher three years ago and am now teaching at a neighbouring village school. I am a partner in my family furniture design business, where I manage the accounts. These roles have given me an understanding of legal, educational and financial matters, as well as dispute resolution, all of which are useful to the governing body.