I believe the Tees Valley is on the verge of joining the ranks of the big guns in the North e.g. Leeds, Newcastle, York and even Manchester.
I believe the Tees Valley is on the verge of joining the ranks of the big guns in the North e.g. Leeds, Newcastle, York and even Manchester. With investment in the University, Middlehaven, Centre Square and the town centre Middlesbrough is an up and coming area and is at the heart of the Tees Valley. Stockton, Yarm, Stokesley, Guisbrough and our amazing coast and countryside are just some of the too often overlooked jewels of Tees Valley which make up a landscape as vibrant and beautiful as anywhere in the UK. With the recent relegation of our local football team I believe the people of the area have a new optimism lacking in recent years as many is the time I've heard that "things can only get better" (ha ha, just remembered what made that phrase famous) and I think true "boro" grit and pulling together(ness) will raise the area beyond anything in the past.
Many people might say I would be the ideal "mouth of the Tees Valley" as I am most often found travelling around the area telling people about events that are on as well as organising many events myself.
I have recently become part of the "Love Middlesbrough" team. I have had their banners and promotional material at my events and hope to continue this relationship. I have co-ordinated many events in the area the most recent of which was a night of fashion and live music/dance at the Dickens Inn in aid of Oxfam and the people of Zimbabwe. I have put on jazz and local music nights and I'm currently working alongside Middlesbrough Council to expand on this already successful idea. I also spent two weeks helping TFM's cash for kids charity over Christmas. I hope to put on more events in the area including a "fashion week" next year to promote Middlesbrough’s shopping offer (we have more independent stores than anywhere else in the country!). As one of the "old guard" from Psyche I still have many friends in the business and several of them own their own boutiques. I also want to create a skating event with live music and demonstrations from local and national boarders/bmx'ers.
There are so many amazing little undiscovered pockets of beauty in the Tees Valley yearning to be discovered and as the face of the area I would open these up to people who think the area consists only of shopping and the pubs/club scene.
As a single parent the weekends are when my "work" really begins. Although I am lucky in that my daughter loves to be a part of the things I do and will always join in (recently modeling for Kate Fernley with all the "big girls") and loves to come to see friends play live or accompany me to rehearsals with the Cleveland Concert band.
As a single parent the weekends are when my "work" really begins. Although I am lucky in that my daughter loves to be a part of the things I do and will always join in (recently modeling for Kate Fernley with all the "big girls") and loves to come to see friends play live or accompany me to rehearsals with the Cleveland Concert band.
We love to get out of town whenever I'm not working and see the contrasting sides of our area. We love to surf at Saltburn and go hiking in the countryside (we used to have our own ponies but these days have to beg and borrow when we can).
Weekends are not limited to Saturday/Sunday due to my work and often fit things in after school like swimming and cinema (Orange Wednesdays being a favourite of mine!) We like to visit Middlesbrough Theatre and have recently been to see "Sweet Charity". My daughter Lauren's grandparents are a great help and she often travels to York to visit allowing me to stay in touch with what is happening in the area’s bars/restaurants and clubs where I have many friends and "colleagues".
