Janice Maskill

Lion Secretary

I grew up in Sheffield, took lessons in shorthand and typing from the age of 12 and after attending what was then Granville College on a Secretarial Course, began working at 16 at a small branch of an Insurance Brokers.  My first wage was £3/7/6p and I bought a Beatles LP, happy days!  I was later employed as Secretary to three Directors of a Lloyd’s registered Insurance Brokers in Sheffield, leaving in 1977 to have my two boys.  In 1982 I began working for an Advertising Agency as a Secretary but later took on the responsibility of running the very busy Media Department, booking space in all areas of media, Magazines, Newspaper, TV, Radio and Bus Sides.  It was a very demanding job with constant deadlines but also very rewarding.  Before retiring, I worked for a number of years at Rathstone CCP Ltd. an IT Supplier to schools, colleges, local and national businesses.  I am now happily retired and have actually started baking, something I never had time for in my busy working life.

I joined my husband Colin, already a member of  Maltby and Rother Valley Lions in 2012 after having helped with the sleigh runs at Christmas and the annual Pensioners’ Carol Concert and seeing the great camaraderie between members.  I soon took on the role of Secretary responsible for taking Minutes, organising the necessary licences etc. and dealing with general correspondence and enquiries.

I have also collected on several occasions on behalf of Marie Curie for the Daffodil Appeal, a joint venture with the Lions.
Favourite Colour – Blue
Favourite Food Dish – Curry
Favourite Animal – German Shepherd
Favourite place to visit – Paris
Favourite things to do when you have time on your hands – Reading, Game of Thrones, Shopping

“My Great Grandfather Joseph Crofts Brothwell opened the Hillsborough Palace of Varieties which closed in 1911 and also had a pleasure boat on the River Don. In those days there were salmon in the river. He also owned a Laundry and Mineral Water Factory; I am still searching for one of the old bottles in flea markets and second hand shops.”