Helen’s coatee, images of grandchildren

I was pregnant in 1973 and, five weeks before I was due to give birth, Derek called my sister in law over for advice. She timed my contractions and, sure enough, I was going into labour. I arrived at the hospital and they were surprised at how big I was.

After some tests, they drew two biro marks on my stomach, and we were off!

In many ways, Helen took after me, becoming a mother and a teacher. However she teaches at a secondary school rather than in Adult Education. I see her and my three wonderful grandchildren every six weeks or so. They live in Plymouth so I sometimes go down there and they sometimes visit here.

Jack, her son, is studying law at Bristol and I visited him on the way down to see the rest of the family. Zoe and Grace are still in Plymouth, studying at their mum’s school.

I have no greater joy than spending time with them!

Ian’s Coatee, Photo of Ian by Derek’s theatre memorial

The two biro marks on my stomach meant twins - surprise! Helen arrived alongside her twin brother, Ian. The first three months with twins was hairy but, with the support of their grandmothers, we got through.

Helen’s twin brother, Ian, had always been an explorer- he loved to travel. He worked as a travel agent in Penzance and his sister initially moved to Cornwall to be closer to him. His passion for adventure took him to work in Thailand and Vietnam, where he attained his dream job, sharing his passion through creating bespoke adventures for other people.

Ian passed away suddenly just before the pandemic, aged forty-six. The only comfort I can take is that his explorer’s spirit wouldn’t have managed being isolated from his family during the lockdowns.

Helen’s prom dress, knitwear by Helen, newspaper article

I’m not the first of my line to end up in a museum! My mother was a skilled tailoress and the second ever lady freeman, after campaigning with the first lady freeman for their rights. Some of her work is recorded in the Herbert Museum. Derek’s mother was similarly gifted- she sewed some of the twins’ clothes when they were little.

Unfortunately, the tailoring genes did not land with me- I can’t even machine sew straight! However, perhaps it skipped a generation, because my daughter, Helen, is skilled in knitting and sewing. She made the dress on display for herself for her secondary school prom.

I am deeply proud that my mother was a trailblazer for women both in Coventry and nationally, and that both me and my daughter are able to have fulfilling lives as a result of the passion and tenacity of women like her.

Honeymoon mandoline, nutmeg grater, marzipan fruit, catering certificate

I was a catering and household manager for 5 years before I started a family - and I hated it! There was a high turnover of staff because their wages were so low and so I had no chance of keeping anyone on. I was glad to find Adult Education when I did.

I started my catering management qualification because I loved cooking. I did learn some useful cooking skills while I was doing it, they came in handy when I had a family! But, for the most part, I didn’t enjoy it at all. I only stuck at the course because my parents had invested in the uniform and equipment and I didn’t want to be ungrateful or let them down.

My two careers did share one thing in common-marzipan fruits! I learnt to make them during my catering career, and used them as props to help to teach counting in Adult Education! Marzipan fruits are more useful than you’d think!

Map of Sandra’s community connections

Community has been central in my life- from the Cathedral community, to my community of students, to the Coffee Pot Club where I met my husband. I think the Community Centre in Cheylesmore is a wonderful thing to have, and it’s amazing that there are so many resources available in one space.

Having left adult education, I started volunteering at the Community Centre library. I assumed that I would just be stacking shelves and helping people to find books, which I was more than happy with. But, when they found out about my background in Adult Education, they invited me to start a group where people could come together and practise English. It’s just verbal and it’s far more informal than my old lessons but I’m looking forward to hosting a new community there when the sessions gather momentum.

Cross of Nails, Chaplain’s ID badge, ‘Iftar in the Ruins’ material

I have always had a strong faith and it has only grown stronger throughout my life. My husband had an impressive theological knowledge and ran a Sunday school: his faith strengthened mine.

Twenty five years ago, as a member of the congregation at Coventry Cathedral, I became a Lay Chaplain. I support those who come into the cathedral looking for advice. I’ve helped with issues ranging from faith, to family, to substance abuse, we are here for everyone.

For me, the glass window at the front of the cathedral says, “come in!” to students and other citizens who might pass by.

On my most difficult days, I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit- my faith keeps me going.

Coventry Ragged School crockery, rescued memorial seat plaque

I met Derek at a group called The Coffee Pot Club- a group of adults who met to socialise. I knew he was ‘the one’ after only a couple of meetings. Derek also supervised a Sunday school- the Coventry Ragged School- which he had attended since he was three. Our first date was a Sunday school trip, children in tow, to the Belgrade Theatre to see a pantomime. I was more interested in him than the show!

After seven months, we got engaged and then later married- we were soulmates.

When the twins were born, the nurse said that Derek couldn’t be in the room for the birth. I laughed, Derek would no more be in the room than fly to the moon! He would have fainted!

When Derek passed away thirty years ago I found myself grateful for that twenty years of quality, some people don’t even get that.

Book written by past learner, student photo, marzipan fruit

I started volunteering in adult education 40 years ago. I love, love, loved it! The centre I worked in funded my training so I could teach as a career. For me, it was all about building learners’ confidence. I taught students aged nineteen to eighty!

I remember one student who had never sent a birthday card to his wife because he couldn’t write one. After working hard in my lessons, he was finally able to send one to her! That’s what it’s about for me.

I was grateful to be teaching Adult Education at more challenging moments in my life. I earned enough to afford restricted view Shakespeare tickets and treat my grandchildren, and I loved what I was doing. That was enough for me.

I’d still be doing it now but during the pandemic they moved lessons onto Microsoft Teams and I decided that was my time to leave.

Benjamin Zephaniah poetry and learners’ response

I enjoyed teaching poetry through Adult Education, and I sometimes write a few haikus myself. I enjoy trying to fit the words into the syllable count. It was a useful challenge for my students, as well.

At one point, students had to use their newly improved English to write a letter. We sent letters to all sorts of people over the years including Stephen Spielberg, Prime Ministers and the Queen!

We received letters back, generally written by secretaries or agents.

One year, though, we wrote a letter to Benjamin Zephaniah because the students had really enjoyed reading his poem, “The British.” He wrote back himself and you could tell it was directly from him, telling us that he enjoyed the letter and that it was refreshing to receive a letter of appreciation that didn’t ask him to attend an event!

Various programmes including; Twelfth Night, The Lady in the Van

I love Shakespeare- I visit Stratford to see plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company as often as I can. It’s expensive so I get restricted view seats, you only have to move your head a bit anyway and you can see everything on stage. The first RSC play I saw was Twelfth Night - a play about twins!

My favourite Shakespeare comedy is Much Ado About Nothing. My favourite tragedy would be King Lear but I can’t stand the bit where Gloucester’s eyes are gouged out! It’s just too

gory for me. Once, I went to see a production of King Lear at the RSC, aimed at teenagers and they were selling jelly eyes in the interval, the kids seemed to love it!

I have also taken my adult learners to the theatre - we once went to see Lady in the Van at the Criterion Theatre in Earlsdon. A wonderful production and a perfect opportunity to share my love of theatre with my community.