Set 446

Where are they now?

Lesley
(Lesley's photo collection)

Clive and I met on Morris Ward, Mile End Hosp, 30 yrs ago this year. Within 18mths we were married. Within 8yrs we had 3 kids. Tom is now 25, Joe is now 24 and Jade is 21. They have all left home and are pursuing their own lives.

What do you do when you marry a man with a name like Pratt? Two possibilities: divorce or make him change it. We went for the latter. So once we stopped being Pratts we became Ashleys and found it's much better to be at the beginning of the alphabet!

Clive became a Vicar 20yrs ago and after tripping round the country from London to Durham to Manchester to Newcastle, we moved to Chichester 15yrs ago, but something tells me this is not our final resting place. We now find ourselves in a lovely new vicarage with only the doggies (Monty and Jasper) for company. A new 5 bedroom house-- bummer hey?

When I finished training I knew that ward nursing and I were not made for each other. I never had any serious mishaps you understand, just caused thousands. So, I staffed at the infamous Whitechapel Clinic for 1yr before leaving to have Tom. I liked the Clinic - no one died. I left nursing for 12 yrs while the kids were young and returned when we came to Chichester. I began working at the GU Med clinic in Chichester in 1993, but it bore no relationship to the Whitechapel clientelle. The problem was that no one had sex in Chichester. If you wanted sex you had to go to Bognor!

Following that I did my Family Planning course, and BSc in Community Health, becoming a Community School Nurse for 5yrs. Then to Portsmouth where I fell into the unplanned pregnancy work, which I mostly enjoy, but it can be gruelling. Currently, I am the lead nurse for the unplanned pregnancy services for Portsmouth Community PC T. As Pompey has a 26% higher than average unplanned pregnancy rate, you can imagine, business is good.

Any hobbies? Not really, a little light swearing, the occasional alcohol and jogging with Clive and the dogs. We hope to join the Great South Run this year, without the dogs, but with the boys.  Other than that I keep an eye on the parish in my capacity as deputy Church Warden.

Lesley is living in West Sussex

Photo of Lesley's wedding?
click here