On the spot with Jill Peel

What was your first job?

I had a Saturday job working at a post office on a council estate in Bradford.

If you weren’t in your present position, what would you be doing?

Working with animals, although I would have found it almost impossible not to get emotionally attached.

What was your worst mistake?

Not setting my business up sooner. Sometimes you have to listen to yourself before others and be confident in your abilities.

Describe your ideal day away from the office?

A long walk with the dogs over our glorious Yorkshire moors. A long lunch at one of Yorkshire’s fine eating establishments. A long afternoon watching a movie in front of an open fire.

Name the one person you would most like to have dinner with?

I would love a dinner with various members of my family who are no longer here; some of them were fascinating characters.

What was your best subject at school?

Art.

What would you do if you won the Lotto?

I would buy a house with a few acres so I could have more rescue dogs and a couple of donkeys, and a cottage in Whitby.

What’s your top time-saving tip?

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. The quick way to look as if you’ve had a great night’s sleep.

What is your favourite time of day and why?

Early morning – the earlier the better. Driving to work when the sun is rising is a great feeling.

What is your favourite item of clothing?

Currently a quilted Barbour jacket.

What is the best thing about Yorkshire?

It’s big, beautiful and as interesting and varied as the people who live here.

What would you like your epitaph to be?

She was a good friend to good friends and looked after the family to the best of her ability. Her work was her passion.