Caryl Billingham MBE
Lanchester Polytechnic graduate Cllr Caryl Billingham was finally able to put her Modern Languages degree to good use, after a number of career false starts.
“I studied modern languages at Coventry because I was good at them; my headmistress told me I had a gift for them,” explained Caryl.
“I hadn’t got a clue what I would do afterwards, because we didn’t have much in the way of career guidance. It was a case of go to university or teacher training college, or become a nurse. At that time only 10% of people went to university.”
At university Caryl said the careers advice wasn’t much better, but becoming a travel operator was suggested so she could make use of her language skills. The job involved looking at hotels in the closed season and looking at tours for holiday makers.
“I went for an interview in London, but the people interviewing me didn’t know anything about a travel operator role and instead offered me a job as a child minder.”
After that Caryl looked into international banking and went for an interview at Barclays. “Obviously I wanted to use my language skills, but I was told they couldn’t have women in international banking. I was offered a job in domestic banking, but said no.”
After turning down a job teaching English as a foreign language in Madrid “it was an informal arrangement, there was not much money and no accommodation”, Caryl was asked to help out in the family newsagent and tobacconist business after her grandfather passed away.
“I worked there for 18 months until my mum sold the business and retired.”
Caryl had also undertaken a tri-lingual secretarial course, which she put to good use doing translation for a local business.
“The boss offered me a job as a temp, but later asked me to stay on. I retired 34 years later in 2011 as the finance and administration director. Among many things, I undertook all the foreign negotiations, so put my language skills to good use.”
I became a district councillor in 1990 and I was elected chairman of the council in 2005. I think I became the first “e-chairman” - I worked a lot of evenings and at weekends and was always available by email. Retiring enabled me to pursue more things in town.
“I’ve enjoyed working hard for my community and I’ve enjoyed being involved with a number of organisations and boards. Retiring enabled me to pursue more things in town.” Amongst many things, Caryl is a trustee of Homestart, chairman of a local charity, a member of the Rotary club, president of the local amateur dramatic society and has been Mayor of Brackley five times.
It is this ongoing work and dedication which saw Caryl included on the Queen’s birthday honours list last year for services to the community in Brackley.
“When I found out I was bursting with pride. I went to the palace in January and Prince Charles presented me with my award. It was a wonderful day.”