Jane and I met twenty seven years ago whilst both in our second year of study at York University. What began as a shared tutorial quickly became cheap student lunches filled with heated debate where we sought to put the world to right.
In 1982, shortly before graduation, we were married in a small civil ceremony on campus with our nearest and dearest in attendance.
We both began our prospective careers at the end of 1982. I joined the graduate programme and began lecturing in Political Science at York while Jane began her teaching career at the local comprehensive. We lived in a small flat not far from campus and began planning our family.
We were thrilled when Justin was born in 1983, followed closely by the twins in ’85. By then, we’d relocated to London where Jane continued to teach part-time and I began my doctorate.
By 1990, when all the kids were off to school, I was again lecturing, this time at the University College of London. Jane was also keen to return to the classroom and joined the staff at Grey Coat Hospital in Westminster, leading their History Department.
It was right around this time that our good friends Terry and Louise invited us to spend Cowes week with them on the Isle of Wight. Jane and I quickly fell in love with the island and made firm plans to return soon. The kids were ecstatic when we bought Rosewood Cottage in 1993. We still love to spend family time on the Isle of Wight.
Well time really does fly and before we knew it, Justin was off to read law at Cambridge while the twins both completed their A Levels in London. Jane and I thought it would be a great time to buy the little boat we’d been coveting for so long. Our neighbour Bob gave us a great deal too!
By the time Anna and Kirsty were off to their prospective universities, we were finding ourselves ducking down to sail as often as we could.
So here were are today; semi-retired and living three days a week in London where I still lecture Monday – Wednesday. The rest of our time is spent in Cowes sailing, painting or trying to tame the unruly garden.
We spend as much time together as a family as we can and escape the hustle of London for the Isle of Wight whenever we can. This June we’re looking forward to everyone joining us to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary.
It has been a spectacular 25 years!