World Tourism Day: Meet the alumna who has dedicated 54 years to sharing Newcastle with the world

First impressions of Newcastle

I have to admit that when I first came to Newcastle, I wasn't exactly enthusiastic. I was born in London and had grown up with a very London-centric view of the world. Newcastle felt so far away!

And so it was with trepidation that I followed my husband up north in 1970 for his job, with our two young children in tow.

I’m happy to admit that I warmed to Newcastle immediately. I was amazed by the city's location, its proximity to the coast and the warmth of the people. The more I explored, the more fascinated I became by the area's history. Before long, Newcastle had completely won me over.

The early years of my marriage had been spent moving from place to place as my husband’s work dictated, but now with a young family, I was keen to put down roots. So what should have been a two-year stay in the North East has turned into a lifetime!

Chance encounters

My journey with Newcastle City Guides began quite unexpectedly.

While my youngest children were at playgroup, I enrolled on an archaeology course through Newcastle University's adult education programme. I loved it. Before long, I was loading my children and our dog into a Land Rover and heading off to archaeological digs and historic sites across Northumberland. At an excavation on Doddington Moor, I met the Chair of Newcastle City Guides.

Before I got married, I trained as a Blue Badge London Tourist Guide while working for a large American company. Many of the visitors I accompanied were the children or grandchildren of people who had emigrated from Britain, and they wanted to see where their families had come from.

So when she discovered I had previous guiding experience, the Chair encouraged me to join their training programme. I tried every excuse imaginable. I had four children, a busy household and a husband who travelled frequently for work. Surely I didn't have time.

Nevertheless, I enrolled. I regularly arrived late because I was waiting for babysitters, and I was astonished when I passed the exam. Even then, I still wasn't convinced I'd actually become a guide.

Then one day, a guide had suffered an accident on the way to a tour and desperately needed someone to step in. As my surname begins with an A, I was top of the reserve list and so I arrived at Newcastle Castle with my children in a pushchair and led the tour myself.

That was my first Newcastle City Guide tour. I absolutely loved it.

Why Newcastle never stops fascinating me

People often ask how I could spend 54 years guiding in the same city without becoming bored. The answer is simple: Newcastle never stops surprising you.

I honestly believe it is one of the most extraordinary cities in Britain. We have evidence of prehistoric settlement, Roman remains, Anglo-Saxon history, medieval streets, magnificent Georgian architecture, Victorian industry and remarkable modern buildings all within a relatively compact area.

Few places can tell the story of Britain so completely.

I love that Newcastle respects its history but never becomes trapped by it. This is a city that built its prosperity on coal, shipbuilding and engineering, but it has always looked ahead.

You can stand in a Norman castle and watch a modern train pass by. You can walk from medieval lanes to cutting-edge research facilities in a matter of minutes. That combination of heritage and innovation is what makes Newcastle unique. And that is in part due to the universities and colleges in our city.

Joining Newcastle University

Before I was married, I had a place to study Classics at a university in London, but – to my parents dismay – dropped out and began a career instead. I don’t regret it, but when all my children were in school I needed something to satisfy that intellectual itch!

Joining Newcastle University became a defining part of my life.

As a mature student, I enrolled to study English Language and Philosophy. I was accepted by Professor Barbara Strang and Professor Colin Strang, who asked why I wanted to study philosophy. I replied that I had four children and wanted to be prepared for arguments when they became teenagers!

Studying as a mature student was a joy. The lectures were stimulating, the conversations were endless, and I loved every minute of it. I graduated in 1981 with a BA (Hons) in English and Philosophy and later completed a postgraduate certificate in North East History.

I pursued a degree purely for pleasure, but shortly after graduating, my husband became ill and was no longer able to work, so it was up to me to support my young family.

A career on campus

To do so, I joined Newcastle University's Careers Service as an administrative assistant and stayed with the university until my retirement.

I helped organise recruitment events, careers fairs and employer visits, and worked with generations of students as they prepared for interviews and presentations. Thanks to earlier training in speech and drama, I often helped students develop confidence in public speaking and presentation skills.

I also became known around campus for another role. For around seven years, I was responsible for managing the foyer during graduation ceremonies. When I retired, Registrar Derek Nicholson presented me with a spoof diploma naming me "Mistress of the Foyer", an honour I remain very fond of.

And because of my experience as a city guide, I was often asked to offer little tours to international students or visiting guests to showcase our region: whether it be a boat tour along the Tyne to Chemical Engineers or pointing out all the interesting features of campus to architects!

The Newcastle I see today

In my 54 years of sharing the city with tourists, the biggest change I've witnessed is how youthful Newcastle has become.

When I arrived in 1970, it was still heavily defined by traditional industries. Today, thousands of students fill the city with energy, ideas and creativity.

The Quayside has been transformed. The river is cleaner. Cultural opportunities are everywhere. We have theatres, music, museums, galleries and lectures taking place every day.

What I particularly love is that you can enjoy all of that while being only half an hour from the coast, from Northumberland countryside or from beautiful villages along the Tyne Valley.

I've lived in many places. I've never lived anywhere better. And while all four of my children moved away from the region, they’ve all come back – the furthest away is in Yorkshire now. It says something, doesn’t it?

My advice to new students

Every September, a new generation arrives on campus, and for many it’s their first experience of Newcastle. My advice to them is simple: make the most of it.

You'll make friends at university who may remain friends for the rest of your life. But don't confine yourself to a single group, a single street or a single routine.

Explore. Visit Ouseburn. Walk through Jesmond Dene. Go to a lecture outside your subject area. Visit museums, theatres and galleries. Join a society. Try a sport. Discover a different part of the city every week.

Be curious. After all these years, I still ask myself one question before I go to bed: "What have I learned today that I didn't know this morning?"

There's always an answer. And that's why, after more than half a century, I still believe Newcastle is one of the most fascinating places in the world.