Ann Morris –

First my Cornish background. My father was born and died in the white painted granite cottage on a hill in Lugdvan that my great, great grandfather built and where my brother now lives. Although my parents work meant we were based in London, our childhood was filled with long visits ‘home’ during every school holiday. All summer we would be left with my grandmother to roam the woods, wade through the streams and walk the three miles to the beach at Long Rock.

My husband and I continued with the same pattern with our own children and bought our own cottage in Godolphin Cross 23 years ago where we now spend more than half the year.

I have always been interested in art and took art history at A level, but, rather than pursue that love, went into journalism (like my father). After training on local newspapers,  I worked as a news and feature writer on the staff of the Press Association, The London Evening News and the Daily Mail. I went on to write under contract as a freelance feature writer for the Daily Telegraph, The Observer, Harpers and Queen and The Evening Standard. I have also written four books: two on adoption, one on property and most recently a novel based on the true story of my mother-in-law. Two of the books I have written were sponsored by The Daily Telegraph.

In the 90’s, while continuing to work as a freelance journalist, my husband and I took on my father’s small publishing and consultancy business dealing with the Gulf Arab World. Our work, now part time, has morphed into exhibitions about British explorers of Arabia but continues with the basic intent of developing better understanding between different cultures and peoples.  Most of our exhibitions are held at the Pavilion Gallery, part of the Royal Geographical Society in London – though some go on to other destinations (notably one on women explorers – Gertrude Bell, Freya Stark, Lady Anne Blunt and others – is currently at the Foreign Office).

As we spend more and more time here at our home in Cornwall, I really appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the work of the Friends of the Penlee House Gallery and Museum. I am happy to write whatever is required or contribute in any useful way.