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.