THE FIREBIRDS

Met Jeffrey at Cambridge, where I studied law. Did not qualify as a Solicitor until age 40, then practised as a ‘wet’ shipping lawyer (ships that don’t pass in the night…); and then Citizens’ Advice adviser. Spent a great year at the Old Bailey, and another at the Mansion House. Have two sons (specialising in Climate Change and Philosophy), a lovely daughter in law (DFID), and two grandchildren (a Brownie and a Ninja Tot).

Growing up on RAF stations all around the country and then becoming a veterinary surgeon means that Samantha is a relative newcomer to the City. Now she is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen and married to the Alderman for Lime Street Ward who was Sheriff of the City of London (2015-2016) and Lord Mayor (2017-2018).

Samantha is also caretaker of two teenage daughters, dogs, ponies and a small flock of sheep. She is a Radio 4 addict (The Archers by default), swimmer and enthusiastic gin and tonic drinker.

Born in Whitstable, Kent, to a long line of Oystermen, Fishermen and Mariners.  Ancestors included a member of the Franklin Expedition to discover the North West Passage, and were very early divers using traditional diving suits.  Also famous for smuggling and avoiding the revenue men!

I am a graduate of Leicester and Warwick Universities with a BSc in Engineering and an MSc in Structural Engineering. Much of my early career was spent in building water and transport tunnels around the U.K. and in Hong Kong, following which I spent 18 years at London University as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering.  I combined lecturing with running my own Civil and Structural Engineering practice, and also farming.  I took early retirement from the University before my first wife, Paddy, died 19 years ago.

I have owned Woodlands Farm for 37 years, during which time I have raised beef cattle before converting to arable.  We currently farm green subsidies by way of 53 acres of solar panels, and growing maize for bio-digestion.  I live on the farm with my wife, Christine, who you all know.  My son, Michael, daughter-in-law, Sally, and grandsons, Harry and Jake, live only 40 yards from my front door in a converted 16th Century barn.  We are lucky enough to live in a 16th Century timber-framed hall house which seems to require constant maintenance.