Tom Sutton

Once we  were sure our family had no interest in taking over the post office or our shops, and that they had fully qualified themselves for much better things, we sold our shops and stepped down from having the post office, and settled for the joys of retirement.

The Sutton family has grown over the years and our three children have given us seven lovely grandchildren.  Whilst I was never afforded the opportunity of further education, it pleases me that they have been able to do so and I would briefly like to mention some of their achievements.

Our oldest son, David, graduated fromSheffieldUniversityas an architect and worked for a long time for South Gloucester Council.  He now works as a Strategic Planning Manager atNorth Lanarkshirecouncil – dealing with built heritage, design and town centre enhancement projects.  As well as being an Architect, he is also a Town Planner and registered conservationist and urban designer.  Diane runs a consultancy specialising in advising on the equalities good practice.  She is a European expert advisor on equalities – and has representedEuropeat the UN.  Both were City Councillors inBristolin the 1990s.  Jessica, their daughter, has just finished her school exams.  She works in a bookshop, is interested in retro fashion, and runs a blog IDOLSCRAVINGBALLERINAS and edits a small magazine “Sweat”.

Our daughter, Valerie, qualified with a B.ED as a teacher and after many years in the profession is now retired.  Graham, her husband, has a BA Business Studies and is a Customer Care Manager with Glanbia Foods.  They both are very involved with golf at their local club.  Their first son, Gavin, graduated with a  1^st class degree in property and investment and he works in the city ofLondon with Anglo Irish Bank.  Her second son, Michael, is doing a Masters in product design engineering and has finished three years atGlasgow university.

Our youngest son, Kenneth, qualified as a doctor from Queens University Belfast and now is in general practice at Court Thorn surgery in Carlisle.  His wife, Jennie is a registered nurse, achieved a BSc 1^st class in professional practice in healthcare and now is training manager in the practice.  Their first son, Matthew is studying medicine inKosice,Slovakia and their second son, Aaron is also following in his father’s footsteps and reading medicine atNewcastle university.  They have both completed two years of study.  Their third and fourth children – Thomas and Naomi attendQueenElizabethGrammar school in Penrith.