FGS 1951 -1958: Started in IIIb then Lower 4a etc. "A" Levels in Latin, French and History. My sense of fun often landed me on detention for Sally (Miss Westwood) or Mr. Rice (my French teacher and Head)! Played tennis and netball for FGS.
1959 - 1962: Civil Service (Leigh County Court) - had "fallen in love" so didn't want to go away to university!
1961: Married Alan Barlow, a mechanical engineer from Eccles.
1962: Geneva (Alan with CERN) - daughter born there in 1965
1965: Hull (Alan joined BP Chemicals) - we lived in Swanland, E. Yorks, where our son was born in 1968.
1973: I did full-time Honours Degree in Social Administration at Hull University . Got an upper second - no
firsts awarded so very proud of that as a young Mum! Decided that teaching would be the only thing to fit
in with children so did Post-Graduate Cert. of Education - hated every minute!
1977: Alan moved to Scotland (BP Grangemouth). I taught FE students at Alloa Academy.
1980: We were moved back to Hull, where I taught in a comprehensive school until I felt like throwing myself under a
bus — so I resigned.
1986: Daughter married, son went to Humberside Business School and we were sent to Germany - 6 months
in Hamburg for us to start learning the language and for Alan to prepare for his role as joint MD of
Erdolchemie (a joint venture beween BP and Bayer). We moved to a small town near Cologne, where we
stayed for 4 years. Quite a lonely time for me as there was little social life and what there was was very
formal. I spent the time learning German, playing a little tennis, doing a lot of shopping, and having friends and
family to stay.
1990: We were moved to Belgium - Alan had become President of BP Belgium. We lived near Brussels and had a good social life
there through work and British Womens' Club
1992: Moved back to England - Alan was then Chief Exec. BP Chemicals (Manufacturing and Research). He didn't
like working in the City (had always been autonomous until then) so he engineered his early retirement in
1995.
I play bridge and golf (both to a mediocre standard) and do Pilates. I love languages (learning Spanish at present) and am hooked on travel - I think I was a Travel Agent in a former life. My musical taste is very varied - from jazz to classical and "loud" rock in between. Play piano a little when in the mood.
Apart from having Sjogrens syndrome (immune system disease - dry eyes and mouth, weight loss) I am extremely healthy and active.
We live in Dorking, Surrey and are fortunate to have a very nice life. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me (only those who liked me please!). Please e-mail me via this website at fgs@dnet.co.uk.*
* NOTE: I'm afraid you can't click on that address because it's been doctored in a bid to foil the peddlers of spam. Please type it in. Apologies for the inconvenience. [LD]
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