Born in Cornwall, made in Slough
I only meant to stay in Slough for two years at the most!!! Now – 22 years, a husband and two children later – my life is firmly entrenched in the streets of the town.
I came to Slough in 2022 fresh out of university and journalism college. I was 22 and embarking on my career as a journalist with the Slough Observer. As a junior reporter, it was a great ‘first job’ to learn my craft, develop my skills and then build contacts to move onto the nationals and wider world of newspapers.
Little did I know then how much Slough had to offer. I moved into a house-share in Chalvey with other reporters and found my way to Slough Rugby Club where I joined (and eventually captained) the ladies rugby team – the Slough Iceni.
Covering stories in Slough was an eye opener for a ‘small-town Cornish maid’. Growing up in the rural and coastal town of Hayle in Cornwall I had spent most of my youth wanting to ‘escape to the big city’! Arriving in Slough was as good as!
We covered all sorts of stories from school fetes, parish council meetings and police call-outs to members of the Royal Family in Slough Magistrates’ Court, the Prime Minister visiting Slough and trying to save a Cedar tree being felled to make way for Tesco. It was a complete mix of vibrant life. And still is.
After a brief break in my career and love life when I spent a year travelling and working in South Korea and Asia, I found myself back in Slough…married to a local man (thank you Slough Rugby Club for introducing us), our first foot on the property ladder (thank you Hencroft Street South) and two children (thank you Wexham Park Hospital).
Slough is where I became a mum. I walked the beat of playgroups and library sing and rhyme times with two little ones. I made friends with other mums and learnt the art of breastfeeding in public with the safety of others around me doing the same. Slough gave me everything I needed to help my family thrive. My daughter learnt to ride a bike in Herschel Park. My son learnt to sing and dance at Slough Library. I learnt how to juggle work, mum time and family life.
I now work for Slough Borough Council and get to work with all the amazing communities and groups across the town – as well as some incredibly devoted and talented people.
Slough has always been knocked by others. But for me, it will always be where I found love, found myself and found a belonging. It doesn’t matter where you were born, how you came to be living in Slough or what your role is – anything goes in Slough. And I like it that way.
(Additional note to make: You can buy food from pretty much anywhere around the world in Slough – but still can’t get a decent Cornish Pasty – maybe that needs to be my next campaign)
