MY SCHOOLDAYS: Helen Skelton

Last updated 11:10, Saturday, 22 November 2008

I went to Kirkby Thore Primary School, a small rural school with fields all around.

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Big moment: Above, Helen Skelton; left, Helen and fellow presenters Joel Defries and Andy Akinwolere speak to the Queen during a reception marking the programme’s 50th birthday at Buckingham Palace

We had a big garden and pond. My cousin went there too so I felt it was quite a family place. Two of my best friends today, Amy Collin and Kim Stephenson, were at primary school with me.

I was always outside. I remember my friends and I would be nipping around the village on our bikes.

After that I went to Appleby Grammar School. I remember I didn’t want to go. I was the only girl from our primary going there.

I thought it was scary because it was something new and I was on my own but when I got there my brother Gavin and cousins were there so it was OK.

I was into sporty things at secondary school. I was in the netball team, I was wing attack. I liked swimming too and badminton.

I was captain of the hockey team. We were rubbish but I took it so seriously. I’d get really mad when we lost.

I’d also travel around a bit playing tennis with my friend Kim.

I was a bit of a swot too. PE was my favourite lesson but I also really liked CDT (Craft, Design Technology) because we’d make stuff.

French and history were also memorable. Mr Mills was my French teacher, Mr Connell took history. I always remember they were both very enthusiastic about their subjects.

Mr Mills was always good fun. He was a big Carlisle United fan so you had a common ground with him.

Mr McConnell was really into history. He would get clips from modern films for us to watch and it was a way that he would get us all interested in the subject.

I always remember the black-out curtains in the windows to make sure it would be dark when we all watched the films.

I got As and Bs at GCSE – geek or what! I stayed on to do A-levels. I did French, history, psychology and general studies. I got As and a B in French.

After my A-levels I went to France and worked in a restaurant in Nice to help improve my language skills.

Then I came back home to Cumbria to do journalism. To be honest, I didn’t really want to go away to university. I was doing a bit on Border TV – the Border Birthdays.

When I first came back from France I did work experience at CFM. Border is just across the way and I was going there one morning a week. Once I got my foot in the door there that was another reason for me not to leave.

I also had a look around for university courses but to be honest my course at Carlisle – at the Cumbria Institute of the Arts – was brilliant. It was run by industry people, not academics, so it was very focused on what you had to do. I graduated with a first-class degree.

A lot of people feel pressured to go to university. Sometimes people end up going for the wrong reasons. You have to make sure it is right for you.

After graduating I started freelancing at Radio Cumbria. I also did some work at Four Square Marketing at Penrith. I got a full-time job with Radio Cumbria in January 2005.

I suppose overall I’m an all-rounder because I will have a go at everything. I never really excelled in one particular area, I worked hard for everything I achieved.

I would say have a go at things. If you enjoy something you’ll be good at it and if you enjoy it, that will come across.

Interview by Kelly Eve