Coffee break

Name: Lucy Delaney

Age: 40! I had a mini meltdown. Then I got a grip of myself, celebrated, and life carried on as usual.

Lives: Alton, Staffordshire

Married? To Ben. He has a brilliant knack of putting things into perspective.

Kids? Two girls, Isla, six, and Alice, three. They are funny, smart, cheeky, life-changing and challenging.

About you: Honest. My friends say I should write a book about being a parent – I tell it how it is. I can’t help but get my hands dirty with DIY projects.

Three things you like: Independent shops in and around Ashbourne

– we have tried to use locallybased businesses and craftsmen and women as much as possible at Ednaston Park. Good food and wine – with an ambition to test as many local pubs and restaurants as possible. Walking – making the most of the stunning countryside.

Three things you dislike: Rude people, aubergine and whiskey.

Are you an Up’ard or a Down’ard? Down’ard all the way

Born and bred: In Alton, so I’ve not moved very far. I went to university, travelled, then lived in Cardiff for a while, then moved back to Derby for a year, across to Newcastle under Lyme and finally back to Alton – it’s like a magnet.

Family matters: They are all bonkers. My mum and dad still are successful entrepreneurs. They had their own businesses and taught me to work hard. I get my obsession with property from them and have lived in seven houses in Alton alone, all of which we have done up. My family live locally, including my 92 year old Nana, and I feel lucky to have roots here.

Work-wise: I’m the new business centre manager at Ednaston Park. I started in September and it’s been fantastic to see the building really coming together. Our first businesses have now moved in and it’s great to see it coming to life. It was the former St Mary’s Nursing Home, so it has a lot of history and many local people have connections to it, so we’re hosting Open Days on 4th and 5th December so that anyone who is interested in the building can come and have a look at the transformation.

My role is to manage the business centre and bring new businesses into it. My background is in business support and serviced offices and I’d like to pull that experience together to create a supportive business hub, that helps the businesses based here to thrive.

What are you best at? Taking a project or idea and bringing it to life. I’m quite practical so always think about the detail.

Your ideal holiday: Where the sun is shining, there’s space for our girls to run free and explore, and there’s a beautiful view.

Your favourite food: Mexican. Fajitas, burritos and mojitos!

Who inspires you? People who work hard and play hard.

What would it say on your epitaph? Dance and be merry!