| Simone 
        Kilburn started at Troika in Newlyn in the autumn of 1975 after "O" 
        levels at Penzance Grammar School. Being good at art, she thought the 
        job would be an interesting fill-in before she could start training as 
        a nurse at the West Cornwall Hospital. 
 When Simone joined Troika, Avril Bennet was the head decorator and Roland 
        Bence was the manager. Other colleagues at the time were Don Fowler, Penny 
        Broadribb and Sally Bart.
 
 Simone remembers Les Illsley's 40th birthday when he brought in bottles 
        of sparking wine and they had a party upstairs in the pottery. Les was 
        very particular about quality control, especially fingerprints in the 
        glaze! Simone did lots of overtime, taking home as much as £23 a 
        week!
 
 During Simone's stay at Troika, Sue Lowe replaced Penny Broadribb and 
        Hilary Cox replaced Sally Bart. Others who joined during that time were 
        Colin Carbis, Louise Jinks, Anne Jones (part time), Alison Brigden and 
        Tina Doubleday. Sue Lowe left to have a baby and Colin Carbis left to 
        earn more money as he was getting married.
 
 Simone   left Troika in the spring of 1977, which was earlier than planned, to help her   mother get through an operation. Since then, Simone did some nursing, and has   had several businesses. Later, she became a personal fitness instructor and in   2001 achieved the marathon distance and 1,000,000 metres indoor rowing awards.   Until 2006 she was the marketing director for an international   magazine.
 
 Simone now spends time between Cornwall and her house in the Limousin, France and has started a new website-based business creating and selling alternative cards and gifts.
 
 For further information see: www.simonekilburn.co.uk
 
 
 (2008)
 |