Hannah Obee
Hannah Obee is director of collections, programming and learning for the Harewood House Trust. An experienced manager and curator, Hannah has called Yorkshire home for the last three years.
What’s your first Yorkshire memory? I applied for, and got, a curator’s position at Chatsworth. The Devonshire family have estates at Bolton Abbey, and it was when we went up there that I got my first taste of the county, and I was immediately bowled over by the beauty of the place and the landscape.
What’s your favourite part of the county – and why? Just about anywhere in the Dales, and up and around the River Wharfe. It’s where we always take friends when they come to visit. But one thing I’ve learned is that there’s always far more to discover – this county has unlimited possibilities for exploration.
What’s your idea of a perfect day, or a perfect weekend, out in Yorkshire? My partner Fergus and I went up to Saltburn-by-the-Sea not so long ago, and we loved that coastal walk down to Robin Hood’s Bay. It was just for a day, but next time we go up there, we’ll make sure that it is for much longer, and we’ll find somewhere to stay over.
Do you have a favourite walk, or view? I’ve come to love the area around Grassington, and one of the greatest pleasures is a stroll with a final stop at the Old School Tea Room cafe, where they serve wonderful cakes and a great cup of tea. I’m also very fond of Ilkley, which still has a lot of little independent shops.
Which Yorkshire sportsman, past or present, would you like to take for lunch? Jessica Ennis-Hill is a heroine to me, and the opportunity to talk to her about all the stress that she must have gone through when she was at the height of her competitive success, and how she managed to juggle “real life” with being the focus of so much attention would be fascinating. She is such a role model for younger women, and she always seems so down to earth and genuine.
Which Yorkshire stage or screen star, past or present, would you like to take for dinner? For the sheer breadth of what he has done, and what he has achieved, it has to be Sir Michael Palin. He always seems to have a twinkle in his eye, and never takes life too seriously.
If you had to name your Yorkshire ‘hidden gem’, what would it be? Sunny Bank Mills Gallery, in Farsley, which is a lovely space that does so much for the community. It’s an old industrial building that has been perfectly adapted so that it flows through from exhibition space, to an overview of its heritage, and then on to a cafe and a small shop.
If you could choose somewhere, or some object, from or in Yorkshire to own for a day, what would it be? I’m going to stay in Harewood and I’m going for a stunning little Sevres tea service, which was made for and first owned by Marie Antoinette of France. It was made in about 1779, and acquired during the revolution, when a lot of things changed hands.
What do you think gives Yorkshire its unique identity? It’s a place full of characters, all passionate about what they do, honest and straightforward. There’s the landscape, too – whatever you want, you’ll find it here. I can only speak for myself, but it seems that the further north you go, the happier you will be.
Do you have a favourite restaurant, or pub? The Agora restaurant in Horsforth, Leeds. It’s a lovely, family-run place that features Mediterranean cuisine and is very friendly and always busy.
Do you have a favourite food shop? When we lived in Ilkley we were never out of Lishman’s, which was always a delight – everything from superb pies and meats to an impressive deli section. Elsewhere, it’s farm shops for me.