This quote reminds us of the importance of taking action to turn our dreams into reality. Dreams and aspirations are significant, but they truly come to life when accompanied by effort and determination.
26 September 2023
Dear Andrew,
Reflecting on the events of this past month, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. It’s official — I am now a pensioner. Additionally, I’ve taken the significant step of selling my house in Chorley, severing ties that have lasted for years. It’s remarkable how life can change in an instant. Almost 16 years ago, to the very day, my life took a different direction, and the journey since then has been nothing short of extraordinary.
As you are aware, I dedicated every ounce of my energy to defending myself against the accusations. The ordeal threatened to consume not only me but also my family. However, it transformed me, strengthening my determination to combat the injustice. Thanks to Andrew’s media connections, I was interviewed by Julian O’Halloran and the BBC File-On-4 team at The Farthings. Subsequently, I welcomed the renowned polygraph expert, Don Cargill, followed by a series of meetings with newspaper journalists from various publications, notably The Times and The Telegraph.
One of the standout moments during this period was my radio interview with Graham Liver, for which R..... accompanied me to the London BBC Television Centre. This was a remote interview conducted by Radio Lancashire, and R....., with her training and experience, took the lead and coordinated the interview at the BBC London studio. Later interviews were conducted at Sky Television News. During this time, I corresponded with two prime ministers and engaged in conversations with education ministers. My proudest achievement was instigating a parliamentary review led by Barry Sheerman, MP and I was honoured to receive a personal letter from Her Majesty the Queen.
In time, I found myself in agreement with Andrew’s perspective, concluding that it was futile to persistently demonstrate my innocence. Those in my circle, and even those unfamiliar with me, were already aware of the truth, while the opinions of others held little or no significance. It became a situation where, whether I won or lost, the result remained unchanged. Consequently, we devised our strategies to depart from the United Kingdom.
15 years ago, I arrived in Pechón, Cantabria, Spain and began a new adventure, furthering my teaching aspirations and career. Local primary school teaching in Pesúes was far from fulfilling – bureaucratic processes like those of Ofsted pushed my direction into the formation of my own language school – “Chatterbox” – after gaining TEFL accreditation. My world of fun, laughter and teaching grew and my reputation spread throughout the region. My pupils were diverse in age, background and I even taught the officers of the Guardia Civil at the nearby defence station.
Owning my school granted me the freedom to structure my days as I saw fit, and attending a Tai Chi class on our beach every Friday offered me a profound sense of relaxation. Our instructor often wondered why I wore a constant smile, little did she know, I frequently envisioned an alternate reality where nothing had transpired in Chorley, picturing everyone from there participating in a “Good News Assembly”.
The residents of Pechón, a village of 250 people, welcomed us with open arms, and our life there closely resembled the heart-warming community depicted in the film “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”. It was a place filled with warmth, love, and a strong emphasis on family bonds. In 2010, we established a traditional Cantabrian choir named “Brisas de Amió”, and a remarkable aspect was that nearly a quarter of the village’s population became involved in the choir. Together, we embarked on coach journeys across Europe to participate in musical events, including destinations like Granada, Sevilla, France, and the pinnacle of our experience was performing at the Prague International Music Festival.
Our departure from Chorley in 2008 couldn’t have been timed better, especially since R..... was on the verge of starting her university education. Inspired by Andrew’s background in television broadcasting, it wasn’t surprising that she followed in his footsteps and graduated in Broadcast Production and Engineering. Given my unfortunate job loss, all of her fees were fully covered, and everything fell into place seamlessly.
Her initial career goals provided her with opportunities to present various events, including the Edinburgh Fringe, BBC Proms, Wimbledon, and the London Olympics. However, her career path took a different turn, and today she is a senior manager and copywriter. R..... is happily married and resides in London, with her first child expected in mid-October.
The repercussions and aftermath of Covid affected everyone, prompting us to reassess our future plans. With some regrets, we decided to depart from Spain and embark on a new adventure in our lives, with Scotland as our chosen destination. Initially, we had contemplated the solitude of living in the Highlands, but we soon recognized the value of a close-knit community not unlike that of Pechón.
Ultimately, we discovered our ideal residence in Tayside, where we have come to cherish our new lifestyle. Without ever setting foot on the property, we purchased our home after a Zoom call from Spain. This historic sandstone house, constructed in 1856, has retained all of its original charm and character, nestled within a walled garden in a beautiful, tranquil town.
Reflecting on our journey, we’ve come to understand that life’s path is inherently uncertain, often leading us to unexpected destinations instead of the ones we originally envisioned. These unpredictable twists and turns serve as poignant reminders of the value of each fleeting moment, prompting us to hold dear both our aspirations and the steps we take to bring them to fruition.
I’ve cherished and embraced each day of my existence, finding purpose and reward in teaching and understanding the significance of sharing knowledge, wisdom, and truth. What’s truly remarkable is that, without your involvement, my life would have remained unchanging in Chorley, rather than the vibrant and fulfilling adventures I’ve experienced and will continue to enjoy throughout my life.
Thank you,
Jane
Jane Jameson (née Watts)
