There’s nothing more life-affirming than growing up amongst a large, animated Jewish family. It held much stability and a sense of belonging. However, this was compounded with the need to be solitary at times, in order to regroup and not lose sense of who I was as an individual. This led me to immerse myself in my appreciation for horses, which held much significance in my early adult years.

These values taught me resilience and to take responsibility for my objectives. I would especially revel in taking time out to read and achieve my academic goals.

Life was good, I didn’t come across too much adversity growing up. My parents’ marriage was mostly amicable, but essentially teemed with love. I always anticipated a comparable relationship for myself…

My father was recruited into the army as a frontline skydiver during the 1948 conflict in Israel. Once the peace treaty halted the war, my mother visited Israel with friends whilst volunteering on a dairy farm. It was here they crossed paths and never looked back. They returned to England and shared an enviable connection.

Reminiscent of my parents, my husband and I also married young,

My own relationship seemed to replicate their narrative. He was a kind, genuine man, from a Greek Orthodox family. This didn’t concern my parents as they were not discriminatory and encouraged me to marry solely for ‘love’.

However, his father did not approve.

His only son carrying on the family name with a non-Greek wife was inconceivable.

I’d like to think we proved his father wrong as we got married and continued to form a fortunate alliance for many years!

Below: My grandmother Mavis and I