Hi I’m Lorraine and as some of us are not acquainted, I would like to let you know a bit about my background.

After working in Retail Finance and Project Management for many years, specialising in fraud and data integrity, I took early retirement and planned to craft and do a few craft fairs. Unintentionally, I turned my sewing hobby into a business. With my husband, Phil, we traded at large land events, a small shop and a Christmas pop-up shop in a National Trust property.

After trading on land at IWA Canal Cavalcade and Crick boat show for a couple of years, we decided to have another go at semi-retirement, but this time on a boat. I had never been on a boat before. but we moved onto a Widebeam boat with 2 cats, a dog and my sewing machines. We have been trading and learning on the canals ever since.

I love the buzz of retail. One of my strengths is enthusiasm, and one of my weakness is fabric. I love Bunting! I make lots and lots.

I have volunteered as I found the RCTA members were very helpful and supportive in our early years of towpath trading and thought that now is my opportunity to try and repay the favour. Integrity is very important to me, as is laughter, and I am looking forward to helping with chapter 2024 of the RCTA story.