Gayna & Steph Hankey
Pure
Photography by Lara Jane Thorpe
Continued from page 37
A short walk away the Ford family are preparing their family pub for opening time – The Poet Laureate in Pummery Square. Owners Nicky, Alex and their children Finley, aged four, and Ivy, aged two, say their lives are very much entwined. But running a pub is something they both love, and Nicky believes it is the perfect arrangement.“ I wouldn’ t have it any other way,” she says.“ We get to spend time together as a family rather than run separate lives.” Alex, who spends most of his day in the kitchen, said he knows it isn’ t for everyone but that he grew up on a farm working with his parents and that there is a satisfaction that comes with working and building a life for the whole family. He says:“ Poundbury is a lovely place to live which helps – we like the fact the kids will grow up here and there’ s nice parks to take them to when we close the pub – for us it works.” A few streets over Leah Kemp is working away at her mother Maria’ s estate agency Kemp & Co. After watching her mum work hard through her childhood, Leah finished her A Levels and decided to follow in Maria’ s lofty footsteps. Starting just one day a week with‘ the worst jobs’, as described by Maria, Leah worked hard to prove she was up to the challenge. Two years later and she is an integral part of the business. Maria said at first she was not sure the arrangement would work but that her daughter
“ I am just really proud and also feel so lucky to have this calibre of person on board. She has been hands on, dedicated and I couldn’ t ask for more”
Andrew & Denise Jones
A R Jones Accountancy surpassed all expectations and now she can’ t imagine the business without her. She says:“ I am just really proud and also feel so lucky to have this calibre of person on board. She has been hands on, dedicated and I couldn’ t ask for more.” Leah has plans to help her mum to grow the business and then take over the legacy in future years. She continues:“ At first we both weren’ t sure if it would work but ever since I’ ve started I have really enjoyed it. We certainly work in a different way but I think I’ ve definitely picked up lots of her traits and I’ m proud of that.” For mum and daughter Gayna and Steph Hankey,
38 WWW. CELEBRATINGPOUNDBURY. CO. UK