In 1999 I took my two teenage children to Cyprus on holiday where I grabbed the chance of a free try dive in the holiday village pool. Instantly I knew I wanted more! Unfortunately events conspired against me for a while but in April 2001 I made contact with York Sub Aqua Club and I've never looked back. Diving has become a very big part of my life and my only regret is that I didn't take it up sooner! I am now qualified as an Advanced Diver and I am an Open Water Instructor. Having previously served on the committee as Secretary for 3 years, after a year as an ordinary member, I have now taken up the Secretary's pen for a further year. In 2007 I completed the RYA Day Skipper course in order to improve my seamanship skills, and try to fit in a bit of sailing when the dive schedule allows!

Outside of YSAC I work as an Independent Financial Adviser within the York based firm of Chartered Accountants, Hunter Gee Holroyd. HGH encourages their team to develop out of work interests through their Lifetime Learning policy and actually paid my first years Diving Club fees! Prior to working in Financial Services I was a junior manager with Clarks Shoes. But sandwiched between those two employments was the best job of all - bringing up my two fantastic children, Helen and Mark. Helen now has her own home and a son, Lewis and works in Childcare Management.

Mark is a Database computer person for a company in Stockport but is also a qualified football coach and has recently returned from a sabbatical in America where he has been teaching the children how to play footbal properly! I enjoy all types of diving but wrecks have the greatest appeal because of the combination of history and the sea life they attract. I enjoy UK diving especially around the Farne Islands and the West of Scotland. Abroad I have been lucky enough to dive in the Red Sea, Gozo, the South of France, Tenerife and finally in 2008 I realised my ambition to travel further afield and dived at Palau in the Pacific - see club trips, wow! Go if you haven't been and don't count the cost