Laura was born and raised in Liverpool. As the second eldest of seven siblings, Laura’s upbringing was sometimes hectic but always happy. She idolised her parents and always respected their dedication and determination to raise the family.

After leaving school at 14-years-old, Laura wanted to join the Land Army. She wanted to work outside, work alongside prisoners of war and feed her appetite for adventure. However, her father thought it too dangerous and wanted to get her a job in an office. Respecting her father’s decision, Laura worked in an office for a short while, but soon got very bored and impatient. She decided to take a job in a factory instead – at least that would be a bit more exciting, she thought.

When Laura turned 17, she finally got her way. She started working as a Land Girl in 1947, as Britain still needed to grow as much from its land as possible because food shortages continued long after the war. This was a huge responsibility for someone so young, but Laura absolutely loved it and it is still her favourite job to date!

However, after a while, Laura had to leave the Land Girls to care for her mother who had fallen ill. Laura took it in her stride and not only looked after her mother but also supported her five younger siblings during this tough time.

In the decades that followed, Laura went onto have a very varied and adventurous career. The majority of these being centred around caring for others. She worked for social services, supporting and caring for babies and young children who had been abandoned or abused. Laura also spent time as an Auxiliary Nurse in a hospital, caring for a whole host of patients and treating those with various illnesses and injuries.

While working at the hospital, Laura fell in love, got married and soon had her very own family. Although she had three young children to look after, Laura continued to work and still be a caring mother to her young family. Sadly, two of Laura’s children passed away at a young age, but that didn’t prevent Laura from giving her time to caring for others.

When her father-in-law became very ill, Laura cared for him at home – using the care, skills and experience she had gained as a nurse. Her passion and desire to help others has been an important part of Laura’s life over the years and has always been her focus.

During her Sixties, Laura’s husband sadly passed away. Having lived in Liverpool for her whole life, Laura made the brave decision to move to Exmouth, Devon and start afresh. With the help of her son and his family, she moved South and began a brand-new chapter. Her son and his family moved to Devon soon after.

Laura’s thirst for adventure and eagerness to care didn’t stop there. She has since continued her volunteering in Exmouth. She volunteered at Age Concern, where she helped with office admin, organising trips and caring for people. She then volunteered for a local charity called Open Door that supports people with mental health conditions and addictions. She concluded her volunteer career at the incredible age of 80-years-old.

Now aged 89, Laura has three grandsons, two granddaughters and four great grandchildren – all living between Devon and Liverpool. Laura lives independently in her own home, supported by Care Worker Jane from Helping Hands. Jane has supported Laura for 9 years and they have a lovely relationship. Jane enables Laura to live independently as well as being a close companion.