1953 was the year I got married, my husband decided that we would bake our own wedding cake. Back in the day, there were coal ovens that were used. These were made by Yorkshire Range but we did not have a coal oven of our own.

I used to be a hairdresser before I got married and one of my customers overheard me saying that we are going to bake our own wedding cake, so she offered that we could use her oven to make a fruit cake. Back in the day, we used to only make fruit cakes. No one dies on the wedding day after eating our cake, so I am hoping it was a good cake.

I used to be a hairdresser when I was 16 years old. I was a hairdresser for about 5 years and then I got married and became a homemaker. I enjoyed baking and making jam and pickles for my family. I also enjoyed gardening and used to grow vegetables, flowers and shrimps.

My motto was simple, if you can bake it then don’t buy it. I used to bake 90% of my own bread. After my husband retired, he used to go fishing and I used to bake or be in the garden. Thursdays were baking days. I miss baking now. But ever so often when my daughter comes to visit me, she and my grandchildren take me to the Morrisons nearby to make me smell bread. I love the smell of freshly baked bread.

We have travelled a lot as well. My daughter has had a pen friend from America since she was very young and we used to visit them and travel across the USA with her and her family. She used to visit us here as well and we have had many lovely holidays together.

I am 91 years old now and I can say that I have led a lovely life. I am very grateful for the love and care of my family.