Born just pre-war at the end of June 1939 in Orpington, Kent, I was the eldest of three children. We moved to Tunbridge Wells when I was a few months old and I grew up there and attended the local Grammar School. Despite the war, I had an idyllic childhood, spending most of my free time roaming round the countryside with my friends. I trained as a Legal Secretary and worked in London until my first son was born.
Married and divorced twice, I have two sons Colin (1963) and Steven (1965), and three grandchildren, plus another due in June. I have now been happily single for the past 19 years. I am also ‘Grantie’ to three great-nieces and nephews.
I ran my own business from home for ten years but after the second divorce, and with both boys independent, I joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (our Foreign Service). I worked briefly in London and then served abroad until my retirement last June. It was an interesting job, with lots of opportunities for seeing other cultures and exploring. I had postings to Belize, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine. I now live in Croydon, Surrey, but am hoping to move to either East Devon or Somerset in the spring to get out of town and back to my country roots. I love both the country and the sea, and ‘messing about’ in, on and under them (in Belize - caving under one and snorkelling under the other).
Apart from my PC and Chat, my interests and hobbies are golf, folk dancing, driving (exploring), jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, knitting, reading, music and I’ve just started line dancing. I also love all animals, but unfortunately they are not allowed in our flats (apartments).