Helen started life as a trainee restorer with Period Furniture Limited and Tomlinsons Antiques in 1989.

Tomlinsons was the largest Antiques trade warehouses in the UK and for 19 years, this company gave her the opportunity to learn and develop her skills in antiques restoration. This includes polishing, leathering, Gilding, woodturning, carving and veneering.

Outside of work Helen has many varied interests. In 1992 she became a volunteer for Harrogate Mencap, helping to run a social club for adults with a learning disability and subsequently helped to set up a football club for people with learning disabilities. She still plays a very active role within the football club today.



Above:   Helen restoring a Georgian chair at Castle Howard

She was also instrumental in securing sponsorship for the club from Period Furniture.

In 2003 she was extremely fortunate to go to Kenya to oversee a sightsavers project which was being sponsored by Tomlinsons. This was a tremendous trip which gave Helen the opportunity to see clinics and projects that sightsavers were running in some of the remotest areas of the country.

The rest of Helen's spare time is taken up teaching a small Linedancing club in the village and looking after her two beloved dogs.