Meet Park Radio’s new Local News Reporter - Mandy Smith
I lived and was schooled
English Literature
in Lowestoft from the age
degree and graduated
of eight and then went
with a BA (hons) in
straight into the Nursing
2004.
school at the Old Norfolk
I then took up my own
and Norwich Hospital, with
business in outside event
a gap year in Germany as
catering. I catered lots of events, including
an au pair. I qualified as an SRN in 1975 and
festivals, wakes and weddings. In between,
started my Midwifery training in 1976. Two
my son and I ran two pubs at different times,
thirds of the way through I took a break to do
the Duke of York in Ditchingham and The
what I refer to as my ‘practical’ – I had a baby
Chequers in Bungay. I also served as a
boy! After my six weeks post-partum leave,
District Councillor on South Norfolk District
I returned and completed my training in 1977.
Council from 2003 – 2007.
I worked part time on nights at the N&N and had another baby, this time a girl.
After several years I wanted to slow down a bit and I gave up the large events, but kept
We moved to a smallholding in Denton where
my hand in cooking for Country Markets,
we bred pedigree dairy goats, pigs, chickens,
eventually becoming Market Manager at
ducks and geese and grew all our own
Beccles until it closed at Christmas last year.
vegetables. In 1982 I landed my dream job as
I still cook for individuals for their special
a community midwife in the Bungay area.
occasions and Bungay Country Market on a
I was very happy in that job, but
weekly basis. As I’m not ready to dwindle
unfortunately after many patients and lots of
into the sunset yet, I am also helping out by
home deliveries I had to take early retirement
collating the local news for Park Radio, which
for health reasons. I could no longer do the
the presenters read out on their shows. So
job I loved and had to consider what to do
that’s me Mandy Smith, as you can see, very
next. As I had gone into Nursing at 18,
much a local girl since the age of eight.
I decided to fulfil my other love and enrolled
Also known as Park Radio presenter Matt
at the UEA as a mature student doing an
Smith’s Mum!
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