Ann Clarke

(Member of Social Events Sub Group)

I was born in London, a post-war boom baby.  My mother and father met while in the forces and were stationed at Seckford Hall, Woodbridge, for a while.  I had one younger brother.  We moved to Westcliff-on-Sea and Harlow New Town during my childhood as my schoolmaster father changed schools and finally settled in Bury in 1961.

Once I left the County Grammar School, I went to Royal Holloway College, University of London, to do a degree in maths and to Cambridge University to study for a Postgraduate Teaching Certificate.  My first teaching post was at Sudbury Girls’ High School and, while there, I married Geoffrey, a Bury boy, with whom I had been going out for 7 years, and who still thinks I am an “interloper” after 48 years in Suffolk!

I took a break from teaching to have our two children, returning part-time to do tutoring for the Open University, teaching in local Upper Schools and lecturing in further education establishments.  My last full-time post was lecturing in maths at Cambridge Regional College.

Unfortunately, in 1992, Geoffrey had a mild heart attack which eventually led to a quadruple by-pass at Papworth in 1995.  To aid his recovery, Gylda Nunn (physiotherapist) suggested we join Upbeat in, I think, 1996, when the exercise classes were at Bury Sports Centre.  We have attended Friday nights ever since and started going to Southgate coffee mornings on Thursdays as our work commitments decreased.

Both Geoffrey and I enjoy walking and fell in love with the Yorkshire Dales just over 10 years ago, climbing Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside during 3 separate holidays.  Our walking came to an abrupt halt when Geoffrey had a second heart attack in 2005 a few days after climbing Golden Cap near Lyme Regis.  He has just had a second 2-way by-pass, so – who knows – we may be climbing peaks in the Yorkshire Dales again soon!

I also enjoy gardening and spending time with our two grandchildren.  I am an active member of our Parish Church and help with the Parent & Toddler Group there.  We are both members of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and the Morris Minor Owners’ Club (Geoffrey is doing up a 1971 Austin / Morris Minor 8 cwt. pick-up and I am in theory the co-driver if it runs!)  Since my retirement, I have started attending art classes, particularly drawing and watercolour painting.

I have been Social Events Secretary since mid 2008.  It’s proving to be a very demanding job, not just writing a few minutes as I was led to believe!  I keep the events calendar up-to-date, liaise with members, deal with bookings, issue tickets, ….  The list seems endless!  However, Upbeat has helped us so much that I am happy to give a little back.