Praise for Leading on the Frontline

The book is a compelling read for those who have a genuine desire to be the best leader, whether a CEO with oversight for thousands of employees or a young business student starting out on their professional journey. It is also a truly gripping and memorable collection of Linda’s adventures on the frontline. I hope you find the book and the story of Linda’s life as enlightening, inspirational and transformational as I have.

Alan Hassenfeld, Director, Hasbro Inc., USA

I’ve been privileged to witness Linda’s ability to inspire, motivate and galvanise a group of individuals into a formidable and determined team, ready to face anything together. In this book, Linda tells several remarkable, true stories of leadership where the stakes can’t get much higher and the lessons land with real impact. She not only shows you what real leadership looks like, she makes you want to be a better person too. If Indiana Jones wanted to become a better business leader, he’d start by reading this book.

Bryan Adams, CEO and Founder, Ph.Creative, UK

Linda Cruse is an unstoppable force of nature who has much to teach us about empathy and leadership through her selfless (and sometimes quite terrifying) adventures on the frontline. I have had the honour of being on a ‘Be The Change’ trip, out of my comfort zone, where she led, inspired and enabled us to use our business brains to provide a hand-up for the local community — an experience which certainly changed me.

Karen Emanuel, CEO, Key Production (London) Ltd, UK

Great leaders shine during times of hardship and struggle. Linda is uniquely qualified to help share the wisdom of leadership as she has been on the frontlines with leaders during some of the most trying times imaginable. She has witnessed examples of extraordinary courage and also witnessed leadership failures, all captured through engaging storytelling in her new book. Her positive spirit, compassionate heart, global experience and crystal clear focus on what’s important make this book a must read for leaders everywhere.

Jean Oelwang, President and Trustee, Virgin Unite

If you genuinely want to develop into an incredible leader or are running an organisation and struggle to find ways to engage with your staff or make a meaningful contribution — then this book, Leading on the Frontline, is a must-read.

Lawrence Wosskow, CEO, Wilson LLC, USA

One of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career was participating as a mentor in a recent ‘Race4Good’. While our team’s primary goal was to help families in need, it was these very families that gave us the invaluable lessons learned through enduring hardship, valuing community and teamwork that will last a lifetime. In Linda’s latest book, Leading on the Frontline, her values, principles and desire to make a difference in the world, are distilled in what I would refer to as a business and life manual.

Charles L. Black III, Managing Director of Luxury, Compass, USA

Leading on the Frontline is a monument to courage and the capacity for each of us to change lives and our future for the better. It is a must-read for those with a passion to live a life of meaning, significance and impact at a time when we need it most.

Simon Mainwaring, CEO of We First and New York Times bestselling author, USA

Redmaids’ High School alumna, Linda Cruse, perfectly embodies our school values and ethos. We need more global citizens with her drive, commitment and knowledge if we are to tackle international challenges relating to health, education and poverty. We are delighted she is working closely with us, running highly-educational, overseas humanitarian trips for our students. Together, we aim to develop the leaders of the future.

Isabel Tobias, Headmistress, Redmaids’ High School, UK

Linda Cruse is a breath of fresh air — make that a force of nature! I have never met anyone with her force, drive and can-do approach to the most challenging of humanitarian and leadership situations. Her infectious personality positively carries you along and you cannot help but be inspired by her drive to make and Be The Change.

Jon Brown, Virgin Limited Edition, UK

A captivating and compelling read. Linda shares the powerful leadership lessons she has learnt through her unfathomable experiences as a humanitarian aid worker on the frontline.

Kim Ross, Collaboration Designer for Social Impact, Australia

No amount of pre reading or learning can quite prepare you for the frontline. Taking part in my own ‘Be The Change’ experience in Nepal, I was ready to fully embrace anything that came my way. Linda’s passion, leadership and clear direction meant as a team we could successfully execute our mission to help the most vulnerable through an economic hand-up. I left Nepal with not only a lifetime of memories but a sense of purpose, fulfilment and gratitude. An experience not to be missed!

Elsa Renton, GlaxoSmithKline, New Zealand

Linda is the real deal! She is overflowing with all the ‘good stuff’: passion, purpose, positivity, productivity, and persistence. Linda is an amazing light in this world that is spreading compassion, hope and love for humanity everywhere she goes. I have been in emergency response and disaster management for 23 years, with my most recent (and still ongoing) being the recovery and rebuilding efforts in the BVI in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Linda has been a breath of fresh air in a time and space that has been stifling and overwhelming, and she has helped to rekindle my passion and renew my faith in humanity as well as polished the tarnish off my purpose. This book is a must read for everyone from 9 to 99, from the ‘poorest’ man to the ‘richest’ man, and from the man sitting in the corner office at the corporate headquarters to the man sitting on the corner of the street. They say that another man’s experience is indeed the best teacher — Linda provides an immense and equally useful trove of ‘nuggets’ that we can all benefit from and share with others. This is not fiction, this is not fluffed — this is real. Anything realer than this is to be beside her on the frontline.

Dwayne J. Strawn, CEO, D. J. Strawn & Associates, British Virgin Islands

This book will be useful to those who tread the unknown in this uncertain world. Linda, who I know well, has made a career in encouraging and developing leadership in difficult circumstances. As a retired solider and having served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland, I appreciate perhaps more than most what it takes to keep a cool head in difficult and dangerous situations. For those who may face such problems in the future, this book will help.

Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, British Army Officer (Retd), UK

Linda’s intensely personal stories will inspire you to examine your own life. Through this absolutely unique and amazing book, you will discover lessons about empathy, courage, surrender, compassion, leadership and other traits that are essential to being fully human and fully alive. I highly recommend this book for anyone who seeks to make a positive difference in the world.

Joseph Kerski, Education Manager, Esri, USA

It has been my pleasure to be part of Linda’s journey which I would call ‘how life should be lived’. Not many people have Linda’s courage and zeal and as a business leader I admire the unique way she tackles human crises through leadership and entrepreneurship. I am sure Linda’s book will provide a new dimension to business leaders to create a balance between their work life and giving back.

Mujeebullah Khan, CEO, iTextiles, Pakistan

Linda Cruse’s Leading on the Frontline is the next step in breaking out of the old hierarchic mindset that stunts creativity and causes the downfall of companies that can’t adapt as technology and culture change faster than anyone ever thought possible. Although not a textbook about technology or even change, the leadership lessons from this book allow us to create organizations that are adaptable to any kind of new situation, organizations that thrive and grow through times of failure, organizations that are full of people eager to come to work every day to fulfil the mission of the company.

Lise Laurin, CEO, EarthShift Global, USA

Leading on the Frontline captures Linda Cruse’s exhilarating adventures from the front line of global disasters. Linda is a truly inspiring international humanitarian aid worker and demonstrates how courage, passion, selflessness and determination can transform you into a great leader.

Kerry-Ann dos Santos, Ironman and Ultra runner, British Virgin Islands

Through her writing, Linda showcases her alchemical talents and gives us the ingredients necessary to develop world-class leadership skills. Her stories from the frontline inspire us to think differently. We learn that it’s not about us; rather, it’s about us serving something bigger than ourselves. A few words of caution: as you read this book, your soul – inevitably – will come calling!

Rita Ciolek, CPA, MFA, Filmmaker, USA

Linda Cruse is the epitome of someone who leads from the front. But, like the best (but by no means all) leaders, that’s not about ego, it’s about what achieves the best results. On the frontline of humanitarian crises all over the world Linda has inspired people to rebuild their lives and rediscover their self-respect.

David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood, UK

Having attended Linda’s workshops over the years, she demonstrates how telling stories is a great way to engage people. However, telling real stories that enable you to apply her lessons learnt to your business leadership style is not just engaging, it’s powerful.

Mark Dolan, Consultant, Sysdoc, New Zealand

I found I was holding my breath while reading about Linda’s harrowing events that in the end have helped many souls. As an educator, I see the many lessons we can take from her work. Ironically, more developed societies can learn from the developing world on how to function better, in terms of human relations, priority setting and holistic views.

Dr Kelly Edmonds, E-Learning Specialist, Canada

Linda’s book changes the way you look at life and your ability to overcome real and imaginary obstacles that stop us from excelling as extraordinary leaders. Linda is the real deal! I have travelled with Linda on ‘Be The Change’ trips and ‘Race4Good’ challenges. Reading about her courageous life’s work is an inspiring window into what’s possible for all of us.

Lesley Smith, Motivational Speaker and Change Maker, Lesley Smith Productions, USA

Linda’s work as a humanitarian has given her a unique insight into some of the purest elements of leadership. How does one lead when lives are at stake? Can one taken lessons from leadership on those edges and apply them to our more fortunate challenges in the developed world? Through her story, Linda gives the reader a chance to reflect on these questions, and much more.

Dolly Singh, Founder and CEO, Thesis Couture, USA

Recently we drew on Linda’s ingenious program, Race4Good, to help us find ways to tackle the serious issue of food insecurity in Vail Valley. Led by Linda, the Race proved to be beyond our dreams — who would have thought that in just four hours disparate teams could produce such meaningful and insightful business plans. Linda loves her work and we loved playing with her huge heart!

Kat Haber, Curator, TEDxVail, USA

Linda Cruse is an exceptionally capable humanitarian and leader as well as a terrific writer — able to draw the reader in so we feel we are with her on her amazing adventures. I loved her first book, Marmalade and Machine Guns, and now she’s written another winner. Get ready for a terrific read and to be inspired and motivated to make the world a better place.

Claire Fordham, Writer and Producer, USA

Being a single mother and an entrepreneur takes courage, curiosity, resilience and passion. So many people think that working for oneself is the easier way out than being an employee. This story reflects what many female entrepreneurs endure, juggling and multitasking, with little thanks for many years. I am so proud to know Linda who is telling a story so many of us want to tell.

Seonaid Mackenzie, Managing Partner, Sturgeon Ventures LLP, UK

Without individuals like Linda, the vast needs of the developing world’s poorest and neediest would continue to be under-addressed. It is amazing what leadership she has demonstrated without the support of traditional institutional backing. Through her continued conviction to help others in need, Linda has inspired many to recognize how they can make a difference in the world in their own way.

Heather Potters, Chief Business Development Officer, Vice-Chairman, Co-Founder, PharmaJet Inc., USA

Linda understands the need to maintain a level of compassion in the face of adversity. Her ability to hear those around her — no matter the class or culture — is a testament of true leadership. This book empowers leaders to think outside the box while staying grounded in the humanity around them.

Michelle Mercier, CEO, Create Honesty, USA

Linda Cruse is one of the most inspirational, courageous and genuine leaders I’ve ever met. Linda leads by example; her enthusiasm and passion for her work inspires others to get out of their comfort zone and join her on one of her humanitarian adventures. Linda combines her passion for humanitarian aid work with practical entrepreneurial solutions in the spirit of her ‘hand-up not a hand-out’ approach to aid work. I was introduced to Linda by the former British Consul General of Los Angeles as I was looking to give something back to the world; I wanted to use the skills I had learnt during my career in business to help those in need, meeting Linda was meant to be.

David Freeman, International Corporate Banker, USA

I first heard Linda talk at a networking event and was immediately inspired by her story of working on the frontline of disasters worldwide. In this book Linda shares personal life lessons of courage, trust, empathy, resilience, innovation, passion and more — a rich tapestry of what it takes to lead under the direst of circumstances. I commend Linda’s story to anyone looking for inspiration. From the lessons shared here those of us in business can find much that is relevant to our own experience and be inspired to lift our own leadership to a new level with courage and passion.

Karen Fistonich, Chair, Villa Maria Wine Estates, New Zealand

There are not many people in the world who would be prepared to give up their comfortable and secure lives and travel to the frontline of human suffering, on their own with little support network in place. Linda is one of those special people. I have had the pleasure of knowing Linda for some time and to watch with admiration as she continues to work her magic in places where help is needed. Leading on the Frontline is a topic Linda knows well and her book will take a special place in my collection of must-reads.

Chris Hawker, Director, Emergency Management Otago, New Zealand

A mixture of high-octane energy and high-octave notes remove any doubt as to who is to be followed when solutions are required. Linda Cruse has the gift to lead and that gift is not squandered on ego; it is lavished on the less fortunate. Her drive, courage and decency has been tested beyond most limits and her stoic resolve is inspirational. Linda is a true friend of humanity.

Ivor Wood, Director, Pathway Risk Management, UK

Linda’s work is that of a true warrior. By comparing her work in the frontline with that of business leaders, she is making it real and worthy of the best of human endeavours, something that is easily forgotten in the business world. Through this book and through her leadership programmes, she is applying the best of her leadership to uncover solutions for the wellbeing of many.

Salvador Acevedo, Vice President of Culture Strategy, Scansion Inc., USA

Linda is the embodiment of humanity at its best; an incredible leader, dedicated to saving life and providing uplift for forgotten communities. She is a hero who leads where help is needed the most, sometimes regardless of her own safety. This book captures the extraordinary narrative that is Linda’s life and contains invaluable lessons for today’s business leaders.

Nelofar Currimbhoy, President, Shahnaz Herbals, India

Linda has travelled the globe and learned hard lessons along the way that now make her the most phenomenal teacher. If you want to learn about leadership, then find a comfy chair, pick up this book and be inspired by Linda. In my opinion, if you do not read this book, you are totally missing out … on adventure, on learning, on life. Don’t let life pass you by like that. Grab it! Now!

Helen Jamieson, Managing Director, Jaluch Ltd, UK

Working with Linda was nothing short of a life-changing experience. While years of experience can sometimes turn professionals into rigid traditionalists, Linda’s decades in the field have only increased her creativity. She’s mastered her tools, allowing her to approach any situation with flexibility and clarity and understanding that no two cases can be treated exactly the same. As a young person with high ambitions, Linda showed me that the concept of leaders-as-saviours is flawed, that true leaders unlock the potential in the people around them. Linda helped me find and use my strengths to create genuine positive change in the world. She will do the same for you.

Dan Patel, University of California, USA

Linda Cruse is someone who walks her talk, a woman of ACTION. Her frontline work is real, on the ground, tough and dirty and provides lasting impact in communities. The tacit knowledge she has about what works and what doesn’t is captured in focused leadership lessons that will resonate with today’s business leaders and university students.

Manisha Javeri, Associate Professor, California State University, USA

Linda imparts important leadership wisdom. Among them, that it’s not about you and that in a life of leadership, your list of teachers is usually longer than your list of accomplishments. Her book shows the way to be your best self on your own frontline. I met Linda on my own frontline: working with students to change paradigms and change realities, and I recommend you meet her on your own frontline, by reading this book.

Rachel Christensen, Center for Peace and Commerce, University of San Diego, USA

Linda’s book is filled with stories of courage and perseverance on the frontline that will leave you ready to book a flight! Taking part in a recent ‘Race4Good’ was an opportunity of a lifetime. Being able to provide a village with an economic hand-up by working with a wide range of professionals pushed me to discover my true passions, hone my business leadership skills and encouraged me to stretch myself further than I ever thought possible. From courage to empathy to communication, Linda shows us how to be the best leaders through a unique frontline humanitarian lens.

Veerali Juthani, Student, University of Southern California, USA

As a student of Claremont McKenna College, I worked directly with Linda Cruse and became captivated by her mindset and philosophy of leadership. Linda has shown me that leadership is a method of understanding and responding to people and situations and begins with an internal evaluation of yourself. This is how change can occur and real-world humanitarian problems can be solved, whether in the university, at work, or on the frontline.

Hunter Kettering, Claremont McKenna College, USA

Through compelling storytelling, Leading on the Frontline not only entertains with suspenseful accounts from remote corners of the world but enriches with knowledge on how to improve your approach to life. No matter who you are or who you want to be, Linda’s stories and shared wisdom will empower you to become a better person, and consequently a better leader. It is an exquisite collection of powerful experiences that you’ll find difficult to put down and will want to read again and again.

Cinzia Angelini, Animation Filmmaker, USA

Linda’s mission is to transform, and I can confirm that her influence is nothing short of transformative. Her unique angle on development facilitates a symbiotic experience — enhancing the livelihoods of the individuals in the communities she works with as well as those of the business leaders and students she takes to the frontline.

Khadija Hassanali, former Student, Claremont McKenna College, USA

Inspirational, enlightening, and universally applicable, Leading on the Frontline is imperative for students who crave leadership advice beyond the classroom. Taking a unique storytelling approach, this book propels you into the complexities of the frontline where you must rise to the challenge. The transformative lessons I received as a member of a ‘Race4Good’ team in Nepal are seamlessly incorporated into her narrative so that everyone can benefit from her innovative strategies to living a life of meaning.

Alexa Libro, Student, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

Go to the people.

Live with them.

Learn from them.

Start with what they know.

Build with what they have.

But with the best leaders,

When the work is done,

The task accomplished,

The people will say,

We have done this ourselves!

Lao Tzu

Foreword by
Sir Richard Branson

I first heard about Linda Cruse through her fearless, compassionate and practical approach to humanitarian work in Thailand. Finding herself in the middle of chaotic scenes, Linda pulled together a high-level taskforce to provide a business ‘hand-up’ for hundreds of survivors of the Asian tsunami. From this moment, her reputation as a courageous humanitarian leader had been established and I wondered how I could involve her in the work of my foundation, Virgin Unite. Soon after, Linda and I worked together for the first time, it was 2005 and we were in Soweto, South Africa leading a group of international business leaders, demonstrating how business can be a ‘force for good’. Linda, in her usual yes-style approach to my request, had flown over to assist.

Three years later, we’re in Morocco. A failed hot air balloon experiment in the late 1990s had led me to Marrakech, where I had fallen in love with the Moroccan people and their country. I wanted to do something that would support them and bring more people to this beautiful place, so with the encouragement of my parents, I bought a crumbling citadel and set about transforming it into the Kasbah Tamadot hotel. Prior to opening, we worked hard to train members of the Berber community to take on the roles of head of departments, waiters, cooks, housekeepers and receptionists. It wasn’t easy, but we did it. Following the official opening, I began to look beyond the walls of the hotel for ways to uplift the surrounding community and asked Linda to come to Morocco to help.

Linda didn’t hesitate, having traded all her worldly possessions for a suitcase nearly two decades earlier, she was always ready to go wherever she was needed. For the next 18 months, Linda lived among the local Berbers, leading major projects on behalf of Virgin Unite. Whilst immersed in the community, she discovered a local association growing herbs, spices and other produce and immediately recognised a business opportunity which could dramatically uplift the wider community. It was her astute eye, quick thinking and resourcefulness which led the local Berber farmers to create a successful cooperative growing the most expensive spice on the planet — saffron. It was the start of a wonderful relationship. Tamadot guests jumped at the chance to visit local projects, to meet the Berber community and buy direct from artisans and our head chef began purchasing as much saffron as he could. Thanks to Linda’s entrepreneurial eye, honey, olive oil, spices, herbs and saffron all found their way into the hotel’s kitchen. Since then, Linda has been a friend and advisor on countless Virgin Unite initiatives.

During her extraordinary career on the frontline, Linda has led projects for HRH The Prince of Wales, The Dalai Lama and countless international businesses. But name-dropping does not interest her! I have never met a more dedicated, committed and passionate humanitarian and courageous leader. What drives Linda is finding ways to uplift forgotten communities devastated by disaster, often in the world’s greatest danger zones. She literally dives in where others fear to go. Heading to Thailand after the tsunami, to Pakistan after the earthquake, working in the Philippines following the typhoon and later in Nepal. Most recently, she was with me in the British Virgin Islands, working to create sustainable incomes for the hundreds of people whose homes and livelihoods have been devastated by Hurricane Irma. When thousands of people are fleeing the scene of a disaster, you find Linda flying in!

While working in these pressured, emotionally-charged, often chaotic environments, Linda keeps a cool head and instinctively looks around for opportunities for sustainable economic uplift. She is enormously compassionate, but her focus is always on achieving successful and measurable outcomes. She has the natural ability to identify potential in the most desperate situations, which is why I often say, ‘Linda makes the impossible, possible’.

What I’ve witnessed is that she is a real person of action, willing to throw herself into a problem to solve it. You can count on Linda to deliver, always.

Her courage, determination and brilliant mind compel everyone around her to jump in, roll up their sleeves and put their all into making things happen — often resulting in creative, highly effective solutions that might never occur without her. She’s a woman of action, who works at a fast pace to get things done and to create immediate impact.

As you’ll find out in this book, Linda takes a real business approach to creating change. It’s never just about the money. Linda learned early on that accepting a cheque will not solve a problem for long; the gold lies in getting the best and brightest brains to solve the biggest challenges. Above all, Linda is always tremendous fun! I think that’s a big part of how she gets so much done.

Linda’s book presents a powerful new perspective on what it means to truly lead. It captures her extraordinary leadership abilities and illustrates how one person can make a difference. Combined with Linda’s compelling adventures and misadventures, Leading on the Frontline provides invaluable insights for today’s business leaders and is a must-read for anyone who has a genuine desire to be the best leader they can be.

Lastly, while Linda happens to share my love of magic, I know that her ability to transform lives is one hundred percent real.

Sir Richard Branson

Acknowledgements

Huge thanks to those men and women with vision, too many to mention individually, who have supported and encouraged me on along the way, who include: Sir Richard Branson, HRH the Prince of Wales, Wanda Whitely, Mary Mills-Brown, Penny Godfrey, Robert Tunmore, Jacqui Smith, David Smith, Cathy Boutin, Lesley Smith, Beth Shafer, Jane Donaldson, Fadzai Marange, Rita Ciolek, Jon Craton, Mark Abramczyk, Karen Emanuel, Mujeeb Khan, Anna Stove, Alan Hassenfeld, Charles Black, Sue Hale and Julian Venables.

Appreciation and admiration to the numerous companies that I have worked alongside over the years, that have shared their gifts, their innovation, wisdom, creativity, intelligence and critical analysis for the empowerment of challenged communities worldwide, including Manpower, Cadbury’s, Virgin, Hasbro, Nestlé, KPMG, Thai Beverage, Deloitte, Diageo, Accenture, Standard Chartered, Shahnaz Herbals, GSK, Hilton Hyland, Jo Malone, HSBC, Cross Colors, SpaceX, Wanda Group and many more.

Lastly, huge thanks to my wonderful family: Mum and Dad, who instilled in me my sense of wonder and adventure and who gave me the confidence to follow my heart and passion, and through all my craziness have cheered me on along the way. To my children and grandchildren: Gail, Gareth, Isla Rose, Luca and Theo, Graham, Michaela, Alfie, Teddy and Florence, each and every one of whom I carry in my heart as I climb the mountain, face the fear and celebrate the achievements. They cheer me on, teach me daily the true magic of life, and fill my soul with happiness, gratitude, love and laughter.

Some names and places in this book have been changed to respect the individuals’ privacy and guard their personal safety. I wish, in so many cases, that I had been able to name them and honour the sterling work they are doing in such difficult circumstances. To these unsung heroes: thank you.

A note from the author:

How it all began

I had always heard that a near-death experience can change your life. It’s true.

I was getting by, making a living as a single mum. People told me I should be proud of myself. By the last day of our annual sales conference I just felt wired. Sell, sell, sell. I was worn out and desperate to get home, to pull the duvet over my head and sleep forever. I decided to drive home that night, as I often did, to avoid traffic. Luckily, the road was almost empty.

One second I was driving along, struggling to stay awake, the next I was blind. A moment of stabbing pain behind my eyes, then everything went black. I don’t know how I managed to pull onto the hard shoulder — instinct, I suppose. Anyway, there I sat, whimpering in fear. Praying to a God to whom I hadn’t given a thought in decades.

My sight returned a few hours later. But in that dark time something in me changed. It wasn’t a nice feeling. It was disturbing, even frightening. What I saw in those hours of blindness was that the life I had been living was stifling me.

I had become a single mother in my early twenties and that, understandably, had reduced my scope for adventure. I adored raising my two children, but the free-spirited life of wide horizons that I later found so exhilarating simply wasn’t open to me. So I did what mothers in my situation do: I got on with the job, my own needs well and truly buried. I watched my two wonderful children grow and I got in the groceries, paid the bills, raced to pick them up from school. Rushed headlong through each day. Much of what I had was good. But I was in a meaningless job, selling something I didn’t believe in, eating the wrong foods, drinking too much and crying under my duvet at night.

When a friend asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I asked for a blue suitcase. For three years it sat in the corner of my bedroom, where I could see it. I tacked photos from travel magazines on a cork board on my wall, and marked out my route with pins on a big map of the world. I dreamed and I planned. I put a little money away each month. And although I had to keep working for another three years, I was much happier. I had something to aim for. I didn’t know anyone in the field of international aid work, but that wasn’t going to stop me.

Then the right time came. It was the year my son left home to join the army and his older sister went to university. They were happily following their dreams. My job was done. One summer’s evening after supper I looked at my darling children, all grown up, and said, ‘Is it okay if I leave home?’

We laughed together, nestled up close on the sofa. ‘Go, Mum! We are right behind you.’