children

In July 1982, Carmel  was just finishing her first year of teaching  when she met Colyn, an impecunious student just starting work for Berger Paints in Essex during the "Industrial Year" of his Chemistry degree course at Loughborough University. Over time, their friendship grew and blossomed, fuelled by enjoyment of each other's company, conversation and humour, not forgetting "the Yellow Peril", Colyn's lovely Motorbike!

So - not love at first sight,  but definitely love at first kiss! - and that was on her hand!!

Six  very happy months were followed by eighteen months of miserable, enforced separation, peppered with many up-and-down-country dashes via St Pancras Station, while Colyn finished his degree and found a job. 

Happily, Carmel finally found a job in a school in Sherwood Forest and moved to Nottingham to be with Colyn. 

They married and have three wonderful children of whom they are very proud.