08/09/2024
Well that's all folks! Yesterday was my final Group as a Slimming World Consultant and I was given such a very special send off from my Saturday morning members. They honestly have spoiled me rotten, and this picture captures just a gorgeous snapshot of an incredible 12yrs of being a Consultant and Team Developer.
I have to start by thanking Leah Bell who first introduced me to Slimming World chips, quiche and beans. That dinner to discuss Panto was the beginning of an incredible adventure.
Next I have to thank Chris Bateman who I lovingly call my Slimming World Mam. I never would have achieved my Target weight without her support, and then she did the craziest thing and told me to go along to a Consultant Opportunity event. I only joined to get the pack! Thank you for giving me THAT Opportunity.
Gina Lindley was my Team Developer, protective shadow and Guru and in those first few months - I honestly don't think she left my side. It says so much about who she is. She was the best Team Developer for me, and has always been such a support over the years. Bloody gorgeous inside and out .. AND she has never made me feel bad about the time she came home to help me and took her shoes off, only discover when she went to put them on to go home, Dolly had eaten them! Happy, happy memories.
Over the years I have been around the block with my Groups and have to send so much love to every member who came and joined one of my Groups or had me descend on theirs temporarily! My baby - Marsden Inn Mondays which became St Margarets. Tuesdays at St Bedes (on relief originally) and Friday mornings at the New Crown. Along the way, I have moonlighted at the Clover and Wolf and even spent 3 months in West Denton!
I have to thank the brilliant staff at The Charles Young Centre. That venue has definitely been the happiest of homes for my Group. Gordon, Sharon (and Nathan) & Ian - you were the best Landlords! In recent years I was lucky enough to look after Thursday mornings and evenings there (love those members), before scaling back to Saturday mornings. The final chapter!
Saturdays - I launched the first ever Saturday morning Group in South Shields 6 weeks after my first Monday evening Group at the Ocean Rd Community Centre - and it was an abysmal flop - especially after my Monday Group had 47 new members on night one and went to a double session the following week. I kept faith, moved venue to the Masonic Hall and promoted the hell out of it. Within a year I had 160 members and was running a triple session. That wasn't my dream and Slimming World supported me to make it work for me and that lead me to the wonderful double session at The Charles Young Centre.
I have to thank Lara Marie Ross who was my first District Manager. She gave me the most terrifying and weird visit where SHE was being observed giving ME feedback from HER manager at the time ..and then she came back a few months later for another visit. We sat together in the New Member area at the end of group but this time she didn't give me any feedback. Instead, said she had seen everything she needed and would like me to come for an interview with a view to becoming the Team Developer for South Tyneside. I will always be thankful for that chance - it taught me so much about being a Manager and providing a quality of service. Best memory - me and Lara hugging the hell out of each other in a carpark which I'll lovingly call 'The Episode Where Feedback Went Wrong' .. and only she could make me wear a Chewbacca mask! Love you x
Sue Thompson - the thing I adore about you most (and there are lots of things) is you always made work ..fun! If all managers could be like you ❤️ potty mouthed, crazy buzzers in meetings, sticking with you when you had a mission to complete and giving you space when you just needed to "crack on" .. thank YOU for being a human first every time and ..for all that you do for the Durham & Wearside District. You just care x
My Angels - very few businesses put their trust in someone who doesn't have a pay packet! A Social Team member is someone specially chosen to have you, your group and your members best interests at heart. They are the first face often seen, and in my experience the very heart of Group. I have had the best of the best - and then some. You are more than a Team - the very reason I call you an Angel. Thank you to every Angel for everything you have done - especially Deborah and Sharon for throwing stones at my window the ONE TIME ONLY I slept in for Group. My favourite bit of our time together has always been just before Group started. Those conversations and catch ups were very special. You have always had my back and put up with my silliness. So much love to you all x
Friendship - I have, through Slimming World made some very special bonds. It was through SW I was able to make and develop solid friendships with Matt, Claire and Tina. We have such a special connection, understanding and love for one another that blossomed over the past 12 years. I'll probably still not be in touch for 6 months - but you know I love you x
To the Members - well, thank you coming along because ..it could have been 12 minutes if you hadn't. Seriously, whether you came for a week or stayed for over a decade I hope you learned something in my Group and were always made to feel at home. There would never have been 12 years without you. Forever grateful x
It has been lovely over the past 24hrs getting messages (and SEEING!) some of our extended Slimming World family - you truly are never out of mind, however much time passes.
Over the years we have lost some of our Slimming World family through illness and for some, it was just their time. I won't name check those special people out of respect for their families, but they are forever in our thoughts and treasured in our hearts. Slimming World is a very special community and some people are never ever forgotten.
Gareth - I know you've never known me without Slimming World but I have always appreciated you understanding how much it meant to me, and respecting the time I gave to it - I mean we had to be "back for Group" whenever we made plans!! Like you said the other day .. "it'll be weird to think we can go out on Friday". Love you forever x
And finally HAPPY 55TH ANNIVERSARY Slimming World & Margaret Whittaker OBE for next weekend. What a gigantic and extra special achievement. The public has no idea the level of support, care and WORLD CLASS training you give Consultants. Opportunity after opportunity, a real sense of being nurtured with such passion from across the company (every department) to succeed - when you form a partnership with SW you are genuinely cared for and allowed (and encouraged) to dream big. I notice it even more in recent years when my career path has led me to other things. When you have worked with the best you go into new chapters with high expectations! A wise woman once wrote, 'with Oceans of Love' .. she delivered!
And that's it! Thank you for following me on here, for liking my millions of chip photos and for supporting me. While I may be hanging up my scales (and possibly posting a bit less!) I will be here - on the side lines with Slimming World in my heart.
Thank you for the memories x
