MY SCHOOLDAYS: Ruth Strong

Last updated 11:22, Wednesday, 25 June 2008

I went to Hesket Newmarket School, which is no longer there. From Hesket Newmarket I went to Overwater School for my secondary education, a private school run by the Quakers in Fisher Street, Carlisle.I’ve always liked art, doing and making things. I would make things and sell them in the shop.The reason I went back into education was to get more ideas about what I could sell. I was stagnant at the time looking for inspiration and I thought it would be good to learn and pick up a few ideas.

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Ruth Strong: ‘I had dyslexia before the word was probably even invented, before we’d all heard of it anyway. It means my spelling is atrocious’

It was fun. There only used to be 10 of us in a class. I liked that, it was like a big family.

I remember a few of the teachers. Beryl Hibbs lives in Hesket today and I still know her. There was also the science, music and PE teacher Corinne Clark, who started off Priests Mill in Caldbeck where the Wool Clip shop is today.

But there was a big problem throughout school. I had dyslexia. I had it before the word was probably even invented, before we’d all heard of it anyway. It means my spelling is atrocious, even today.

I see some letters back to front. I recognise the pattern now of words and I can sort some things out myself but I still have some problems.

Handling day-to-day stuff was okay but it was difficult for me when it came to exams.

I didn’t get the right grades to go to art college. Instead I worked for my mother at her gift shop in Caldbeck and later in Wigton and Penrith.

I got my first sheep when I was 18 – Beryl and Sandra – like the characters from The Liver Birds.

From there I kept collecting different colours and breeds of sheep.

I first learned to knit when I was small, my mum taught me. I remember trying to knit a jumper for my Barbie but it didn’t fit because of her large chest but I kept on with it and did different things.

My aunt was a potter and I used to help her out, I found I had an interest there too.

I think I’ve really learned my business skills from my mother over the years.

She’s had a business since she was 16 and 40 years ago she started the Old Smithy at Caldbeck when she had four children. She’s also been involved in the Fairtrade shop in Caldbeck.

We were part of the Eden Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and founder members of the Northern Fell Craftsmen.

We knew it was important to be in touch with the public so we used to take part in exhibitions. People like to see the background of what they buy, where it comes from.

Now I’m back in education doing an art and design BTEC level 2 at Newton Rigg, it started last September.

It is hard work. The making and doing, the practical stuff, is great but again it is the writing that is tough.

They do recognise my difficulties and the staff are brilliant, they are helping me.

I find it is a lot more relaxed this time round. Maybe that’s because I’m more mature. It is up to you to do the work and if you don’t, you don’t get the qualification.

It’s one a day a week and I’m not the oldest.

In fact I think I’m the second youngest in our group.

But from my experience, I’ve been trying to drum into my children that you really only get one good chance at education and that is when you are young.

That’s unless you are willing to take that big step and go back into the system.

I’m telling them to knuckle down while they have the chance.

I know it’s terribly boring and it is hard work but I didn’t really appreciate how much use it would be.

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