Lynne Mortimer, journalist with the Eastern Daily Press, spoke to us about the “Life and Laughs of a Journalist” - and we certainly laughed. She also writes a fashion column and a TV preview for the Ipswich Eastern Daily Times.
Inevitably a member asked about the progress of grandchild George. She made us laugh with tales including baby weaning.- 'they eat what they want then throw the rest on the floor'.
Lynne describes herself as a 'crabby, menopausal woman, but not stupid'. She joked about the cartoon of herself in the EDP, now replaced by a jovial photograph. She met her husband in1973 and they have been married for 36 years. They formed a pantomime writing team. Politically correct scripts were performed by various local drama groups. Unfortunately health and safety will not allow sweets to be thrown from the stage.
Lynne studied politics and economics at university, afterwards working for a building society, and at Volvo cars as a market analyst. Next came career break for motherhood. In 1989 training began with the EDP, covering law, local government and shorthand. Then a stint in the newsroom, and as a court reporter. She humorously described telephone interviews with Andy Williams, Sooty, Basil Brush, and a man who kept ferrets fed on pettegrew jam. This turned out to be Pedigree Chum!
She says that now she feels free to write what she wants. Further laughs came on describing a “rubbish diet” where no rubbish should accumulate - hers was in black bags in the garage. Her friend Dorinda suggested a safe-sex course for pensioners – it was cancelled through lack of interest!
Lynne finds herself active, travelling further doing simple tasks such as going upstairs and downstairs. Bad grammar annoys her, but she is getting used to text-speak. She also has requests such as ending queuing at ladies toilets. She laughingly finished by referring to a previous comment - “never iron a fitted sheet”.
Thanks, Lynne, for a very entertaining evening.
Anne Jones