We were both born in Sheffield – arriving into the world at Jessops Hospital – and have lived nearby for most of our lives. Ann is from Kiveton Park. Robert is from the Handsworth area of Sheffield where his parents ran a general grocery store on the Ballifield estate. Having later lived in Doncaster for several years he moved to North Anston when he was 12 years old.
We both went to secondary school at Dinnington High School. This is just a short distance across the road from Throapham House where we have lived since 1993 having moved here from South Anston to allow Robert to do research and development work from home.
We have two daughters both with young families of their own, so having been left alone to rattle around in a large house we decided to try our hand at running a Bed and Breakfast business, something we always thought we might do someday.
Before Throapham House opened in September 2006, Ann taught ICT and office skills at Rother Valley College in Dinnington. She now thoroughly enjoys looking after our guests and finds welcoming people from all over the world an interesting and rewarding experience.
Robert is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology having gained a first class honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Sheffield. When he’s not cooking breakfasts he continues his electronics and software design consultancy work from his office in what was once the dairy to Throapham House.
Running the B&B has allowed us to spend a bit more time doing things together and we now enjoy Ballroom and Latin American dancing at Drapers Dance Centre and Harthill Modern Jive club.
Robert continues to play the ‘cello which he first started at school. While there he played with the Yorkshire West Riding Youth Orchestra which was a wonderful experience under the inspiring tuition of William Pleeth. For many years he played with Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra but now plays smaller scale classical works with Doncaster based Danum Strings where he’s been captured on canvas by local artist William Sculthorpe.
Robert has been invited to play ‘cello in The Easter Anthem – Love’s Young King at a performance of the People’s Passion at All Saints’ Church, Aston on Maundy Thursday (5 April, 7:00pm). This is part of a weeklong event broadcast across Radio 4 and local radio involving choirs across the country. Robert said… “I’m delighted [...]
After a busy spring at Throapham House Ann let me take a short break from cooking breakfasts in June to visit the Derwent Water area of the Lake District with a group of school friends from Dinnington High School. Our earlier walking trips have taken us to the Isle of Skye and the Yorkshire Dales. [...]
