I was taken on as a cub reporter by the Morning Telegraph newspaper in Sheffield (sadly no longer with us), and learned the trade the old-fashioned way. Assignments ranged from magistrates' courts and council meetings (when David Blunkett was in charge in Sheffield ), to the TV pages and weekly shopping guide! But there were big stories too, like the year-long miners' strike. Later I joined the Yorkshire Post and covered the inquiry into the Hillsborough football disaster. I joined the BBC as North Derbyshire producer for Radio Derby. Memorable moments included crowning the Wirksworth carnival queen and opening some public toilets in Matlock… Since then, I've had time in both BBC radio and TV. My jobs have included regional health correspondent, news editor for Radio Nottingham, and then managing editor of Radio York. Now I'm back in the East Midlands covering education and the arts for East Midlands Today and local radio. It's great fun, finding out interesting things, meeting loads of fascinating people – and playing around with all those wonderful words. If you want to contact me, send an e-mail. Top Ten List 1. Best Song Ever: Hard to pick just one. I'll go for No More Heroes by The Stranglers, my favourite band. But the Kaiser Chiefs are growing on me. 2. Best TV Show Ever: Fawlty Towers 3. Best personal TV moment: Getting a clip on Terry Wogan's Auntie's Bloomers, when someone I was interviewing was attacked by a wasp 4. Best place in England: At home, in the back garden on a sunny spring day… 5. Favourite/ worst food: I could eat spaghetti bolognaise every day, but I detest yoghurt. You see, I don't like milk – and yoghurt is just milk that's gone off! 6. Favourite/ worst drink: A strong cup of proper ground coffee (best). Worst – milk (yuk). 7. Favourite/ worst animal: I love cats; if I was re-incarnated, I would want to be one. If I could remove one species from the plane t, it would be slugs – they wreak havoc in my garden. 8. . Favourite name for boy/ girl : Tom and Katie (the names of my two children). 9. Favourite sport/ least favourite sport: Football (with female beach volleyball a close second)/mountaineering – I'm not good with heights. 10. Favourite politician/ historical figure: Nelson Mandela/The Duke of Portland – a total recluse who had an entire mansion built underground! Where I grew up: Kent – hence my irrational and incurable passion for Gillingham Football Club. What I'd love to do if I didn't have to work for a living: Travel the world…or play women's beach volleyball. | 
