Biography of Lorna

Lorna’s first jobs were summer jobs in hotels on the Isle of Mull. She went to college to study drama for one year and while there worked in a Medieval Banqueting Hall in London. She also did a one year Secretarial Course.

Her first professional job (c. 1979) was at the Girl Guides Association HQ in London in the PR department. In those days it was all manual typewriters and carbon paper.

After working there for a while she moved down to Brighton where she worked in a Casino for four years. For the first two years she worked in the administration department; in the second two years she worked on reception – her duties including parking cars, hanging coats, checking ID’s and dealing with ‘troublesome’ customers!

For 15 years Lorna also sang in a dinner-dance band at weekends – mainly doing weddings. She has also worked as a Cook/Housekeeper.

After Lorna married she helped her husband run his building business. Since she and her husband moved to Rye in 2000 she has worked from home running a small business managing commercial properties.

Besides her business work Lorna has done a lot of voluntary work in Rye. She was Chairman of Rye in Bloom for many years – one year Rye won in the ‘Best Small Town category.’ She also ran the Scallop Festival for four years and was Deputy Mayor for a year. Lorna also set up the Rye Flower & Veg Show. 2023 marks the 18^th year.

Audio of interview with Lorna