Elaine moved to Basingstoke with she was 7 years old and has lived here for 55 years. As a family they moved from Hackney in London to Popley in 1969 “This was a very exciting move, we went from a single shared bedroom with no bathroom and an outside toilet to a three bedroom house, with a downstairs loo and even a garden!”

Elaine tells us fondly of her childhood growing up in Popley and being out in nature.

 “Popley was built in squares, you would go out and be told to be home by dark. We used to climb trees and play outside near the old Army barracks in Popley 5.”

“It was a carefree, safe environment. Popley had a great community. You would all play in each others houses and gardens. Your parents never knew which garden you were in, but you would hear them call you for lunch.”

Elaine attended secondary school at John Hunt of Everest School and told us it was a great school with good teachers and where she made good friends and had lots of fun. Elaine jokes about the rivalry between John Hunt of Everest and The Vyne School. Outside of school Elaine played lots of sport including martial arts, badminton and hockey.

After secondary school, Elaine went on to study at Basingstoke Technical College before her first job as a secretary. She recalls that a colleague gave her a address book with the words “training is everything” engraved on the front and she worked by this motto, training in Sales, then becoming an Executive Assistant before becoming, Head of Contracts and then  Chief Operating Officer of BT Global Sales in Europe.  She was also a Non-Executive Director in the NHS.

Elaine was once part of Basingstoke Carnival and was on one of the floats when she worked for a company called Digital, telling us that people dressed as sailors and pirates. The top floor of the office at the time would be used for carnival preparation and artwork. Elaine recalls other places she used to visit including Martine’s, the only nightclub at the time. She would walk from Popley to the town centre on Fridays and Saturday nights then a walk back home to Popley or a friends in Buckskin afterwards.

Elaine’s final role was working part time with Vodafone as the Programme Director for the Blue Light Emergency Services Network. Elaine tells us of her goal to retire before the age of 58 which she is pleased to have achieved.

Now retired, Elaine has an even busier calendar! Elaine’s hobbies and regular activities include, pilates, weekly art and dressmaking classes and  Dachshund walks in the Lime Pits. Being a part of the Basingstoke  u3a, Elaine attends quiz, gardening,  & board games clubs as well running the u3a book club and learning bridge .  “Basingstoke has a fantastic bridge club. I wish I learnt to play it earlier in life.”

She also enjoys walking, going to the cinema, shopping and meeting with friends for, lunch or cake.

 Elaine explains how Basingstoke has got bigger but likes that it has carried on being green. She likes to spend time and walks at Beggarwood Park, The Vyne and Micheldever Woods. She enjoys the local restaurants and cafes including The Parlour Tearoom at Viables Craft Centre, The Yard at Preston Candover and The Wellington Arms in Baughurst.

“Beggarwood park is fabulous, I like coming here for the park and the café, Sophie’s cakes are fantastic.”

“Basingstoke is a great place to live, you can do things here but easily move around when you want to. We’re so close to London and the coast. A few minutes’ drive and you’re out in the countryside”

January 2025