I was born in Bromley, Kent in 1947 where we lived in Chislehurst, before moving to Wilmington, Dartford, just down the road from Mick Jagger’s home. I went to school at Wilmington County Primary, then Dartford West Secondary.

Ever since I can remember, horses, cowboys, and Indians became part of my dreams, so I was lucky that my paternal grandfather had lots of western books. I grew up with William McCloud Raine, Hopalong Cassidy, and my favourite author, Zane Grey.

I loved watching every western on TV that I could: Wagon Train, Bonanza, Wells Fargo, Bronco, and my all time favourite, Laramie. Because I had trouble sleeping, I used to lie awake at night ‘daydreaming’ adventures. Friends at school became interested when I told them what I was doing, and I began writing the story down by torchlight under my bedclothes for them. It actually became a pleasure to go to bed, although my short sightedness probably started because of it.

At a local fete there were horse and pony rides and as I was too big for the pony, I had to scramble up onto a 16.2hh chestnut called Nikki, paying 6d (2 ½ p) for the privilege. Getting off, I rejoined the queue for another go. After the third time and making them laugh, they offered me riding lessons. When they gave up, a riding school opened up for a year just up the road from where I lived and I spent all my spare time there.

I met Les when I was 18 and we married 6 years later. He worked at the same firm as I did, Jennings Musical Industries in Dartford who made guitars and amplifiers under the name of Vox Sound Equipment. Unfortunately the Beatles came one year while I was away on holiday.

We moved to Whitstable in 1974, and just after our daughter, Ann-Marie was born, Les started up his own business, Upstairs and Downstairs, and I often went to help him, learning to paint and decorate, even managing small jobs of plastering, tiling and artexing.

Aged only 41, Les died from cancer and Ann-Marie and I were devastated. He’d had a lung removed at Guy’s hospital, and despite the dreadful radiotherapy afterward, had fought the illness with his typical bravery.

Shortly after, I was lucky to be left some money in a will from an elderly aunt, and bought Charlie, a 13.3hh pony, to start riding again. After nine months, I was ready for a bigger horse, sold him on and bought a pretty little 14hh palomino mare. Despite having her vetted, she had bad leg problems, and was retired after just 18 months. 

Then one day, I was stuck by another tragedy. I came home from work to find Ann-Marie had committed suicide because of a debilitating illness called Endometriosis that she had suffered from for all her teenage years. After she died, I lost interest in everything .

Six months later, due to an American friend living in Ramsgate, I went to look at a grey and white white gelding. I fell in love and named him Blue Boy, his show name being Grey Cloud. I trained him western style and he carried not only me and the saddle, but my lariat, canteen and saddlebags.

Then I was lucky enough to go to America, despite my terror of flying. I've been 5 times in all, and can't wait to get back again.