Who We Are

I was born in Wood Green, London in 1935 and evacuated during the war, first to Bournemouth, then to Lancashire (fortunately both times with relatives!!).  I left school aged 17, took a short-term job with British Rail before joining the Army for National Service and spent 19 months in Libya.  On returning to civvy street, I spent my working life as Transport Manager for three major national companies, retiring at 63.  I ended up in Norfolk, where I became a volunteer Little Tern warden at Winterton, working with the RSPB and Natural England.  I then graduated to seals at Horsey through my connection with Natural England for the 2004/5 season, when there were less than 100 pups born!  I have chaired FoHS since its formation ten years ago, and this year was privileged and proud to be awarded the BEM for services to Norfolk seal conservation.

My name is Lynn, and last year I retired from teaching after 20 years in both Mainstream and Special Education secondary schools, supporting children with severe mental health issues.  I have also worked as a Bank Manager and an accountant in the NHS.  I am married to Paul, and we live near Great Yarmouth after re-locating from Worcestershire in 2015.   We have four children and four gorgeous ‘Grand pups’ that we love to have come and stay for holidays.  I volunteered for Friends of Horsey Seals last year and thoroughly enjoyed my first season; meeting and chatting to lots of visitors, supporting other wardens and the seal rescue team.  I am now a member of the committee helping with the secretarial duties.  I enjoy walking, especially on the beach, Yoga, swimming, gardening, and reading, especially historical novels.

After night shift as a 19-year-old nurse, I’d walk to my local beach to swim with the harbour seals that often appeared.  My nursing career meant I moved often.  I was a Ward Sister on the Orkney islands, managing a new 30 bed ward for adults.  I’ve always loved animals, spending spare time looking after our pigs, ducks, chickens and dogs (collies) at our Croft.  We had a colony of grey seals on the beach nearby.  When my Husband’s Coastguard station closed, we moved from Orkney to Norfolk.  My local beach was Horsey and in 2000 there were only a few grey seals there.  I became a seal warden and then a trustee on the committee.  I am now the FoHS fundraiser, educator and I mentor new wardens and look after our mobile information unit.  I also administrate our newly installed exclusive Warden’s only rota and news feed site hosted by Three Rings.