I was born in Madeira, it‘s a beautiful island located in the Atlantic Ocean.

My family was friendly with an English family from Leeds. After the birth of a baby boy they were home sick then they offered me a chance to come to England for two years as an au pair when I was only 16 years old. I took it.

I still have contact with the family. He is now grown up and lives in Saltaire. 

When I was 18 I had no idea what to say to the Immigration Officer when he asked me why I wanted to stay in England. I think I said something about bigger dance halls – and he laughed, then I got a job at Carlton Studios.

If you asked me if I was homesick – yes I was. Sometimes I cried. But I would never admit it to my family back home. 

But they all followed me three or four years later – both sisters and my parents they all settled in West Yorkshire. My mother died in March this year. She would have been 95 this June.

My sisters and I all married here and had children. I have 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren with one more (a girl) expected in October. I see all of them now and then but they have busy lives and I have a busy life too!

I have had different jobs but for my last 30 years I worked as a nurse, at first I didn’t think I would last because the aspects of nursing is a demanding profession but I liked the contact with people and its rewarding job.

I remember meeting Paul Eddington (Margo’s husband from ‘The Good Life’) we treated him for skin cancer while he was acting at the Alhambra, he was friendly and charming to everyone. While I was I was tiding the Clinic he came and sat next to me and chat. It was sad when he died, still quite young.

I’ve been back to Madeira a few times. I think that’s why I like the open air so much, nature and growing things my dad was always growing flowers and vegetables – he always outside. My mum was never interested.

When I retired I took dancing lessons – and even some exams! It was at a dance session at the Ritz and Mytholmroyd that I met Alan from the Playhouse he wanted people for his next show, so that’s how I came to perform here and later to work. It’s been brilliant!

In lockdown I’ve been living with my sister Alice. We are very different but have got to know each other better. My hearing has got worse, so we have misunderstandings but we sort them out. It will be good when things get more back to normal. 

So now you know something about me.