Who's who

"I cannot think of anywhere better to live and to bring up children…We shall always remember our first visit to Helmsley as we descended the hill through the flowering chestnuts in May 1970. It was a beautiful tranquil market town. We resolved to stay and it was the best decision we ever made."

Jan's mention of the flowering chestnuts is note-worthy for a flower secretary, who has such a love of flowers in the wild as well as on pedestals.

A Modern Languages graduate, Jan had worked in Vienna for the Foreign Office. Once in Helmsley, she combined being the local GP's wife and the care of their three sons with a teaching career at first Ryedale School and then Gilling Castle, before a change for the next 12 years to her chemist business in Bridge Street.

Now in retirement, Jan and Mike enjoy being grandparents. Her other interests include travel, music, fine art, charity work, cycling (Yes, she's done the Yorkshire Historic Churches sponsored cycle ride), walking and golf. Having studied wild flowers over a number of years, she is interested in all flora and fauna, as well as in flower-arranging.

Click here for the flower rota.