We’re pleased to welcome Barbara Leigh as the new Volunteer Coordinator for the Friends of Pittville Green Space Volunteers team. She will be working alongside Chris Archibald, the outgoing Volunteers Coordinator over the next few months before Chris and Jill leave Cheltenham permanently for a new home in northern England. We will be thanking Chris more formally in the next issue for the amazing contribution he has made to Friends of Pittville and to the whole Pittville community. But in the meantime, in Barbara’s own words …
‘We first bought our home in Windsor Street in 1976 and have lived here permanently following husband Bruce leaving the RAF in 1986. As a “camp follower” for a number of years, which involved tours in the Shetlands, Germany, Italy and around the UK, I had the opportunity to acquire a number of eclectic skills (some more useful than others!) and had a variety of jobs, mostly around business, admin, marketing and sales but also teaching swimming at the Rec Centre and Dean Close school.
‘Having left Air Force life, I worked with Bruce to create a software company which we ran for around sixteen years. Following a merger with a larger company, we moved on. For the last ten years I worked with a psychologist to create a company offering training and consultancy for organisations until I retired in 2023.
‘I’ve helped out with the Friends of Pittville volunteer team for the last year now and have enjoyed meeting new people and really loved the privilege of working in this beautiful park with its amazing trees. My passions (after family) are nature, gardening and community and I’m looking forward to taking on the role of Volunteer Coordinator of the FoP Green Space Volunteers, but I’m very aware that I have some very large shoes to fill!
Author: Andy Hopkins