After a varied career in banking and PR I was appointed Regional Manager and Head of Policy for Surrey Chambers of Commerce in April 2000. We ran a couple of small markets in Epsom and a colleague, Carolyne Taylor, was in charge and gradually expanded them to Cobham and Walton. I helped out with directing traders setting up and breaking down at the Walton market, when Carolyne formed Surrey Markets Ltd she offered me the post of Marketing Director.
Apart from helping at the markets themselves, I write press releases each week keeping the local papers and radio stations informed and since October 2011 I have had a weekly 5 minute slot on BBC Surrey Radio , 104.6FM, at 6.50am every Saturday morning. It is called Where’s Pauline and each week I stand alone in a car park in a different town, usually in the dark and clutching my mobile phone chattering to Nick Wallis , who is in a nice warm studio in Guildford! I talk about where I am and who is coming, any new traders or give suggestions for what to buy for dinner that day and from which trader.
Over the months I have built up a following and people email or phone in guessing which town the Market is in that day and also meeting me in the market to tell me they have come specially to buy goose eggs or goat’s cheese or smoked trout as I recommended that morning.
What a great life – all that fresh air, fresh food and friendly traders and shoppers.
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