Wed, September 03, 2008

A day’s training at Instep UK turned into a surprise trip down memory lane for delegate Jacqui Barker from Middlewich.

After booking a place to attend the Personal Effectiveness Programme (PEP), Jacqui, who works as a Director’s PA at Pochins plc in Middlewich, discovered that the location of the training was in fact where her grandparents once lived.

Now the office of Instep UK, Willow Barn in Brereton near Sandbach was once a working farm run by Jacqui’s grandparents Sid and Eve between 1940 and 1977. Where offices and training rooms now preside, was previously home to a battery hen run, dairy and pigsties.

Jacqui, who grew up in Sandbach where her family ran a local post office and jewellers, comments: “I was aware that a company had restored and now occupied the old barn but didn’t know who the company was. Therefore it was a complete surprise to discover when I booked to go on the training course that I would be returning to my grandparents former farm.”

Originally called Brown Edge Farm, Jacqui’s grandparents lived and worked on the farm for over 30 years. “I was fairly young when my grandparents lived here, but it was a wonderful experience to return as it brought back many happy memories for myself and my family,” adds Jacqui.

Instep UK’s Managing Director Peter Hitchen, said: “When we bought the barn in 1998 it was completely derelict. We knew a bit about the history of the building but it was lovely to meet Jacqui and find out more about the family that use to live here.”