Marcia Bryant - life talk (Cooden Beach Hotel)

“After listening to the benefits of the job and no minuses it seemed I would be foolish to refuse,” so said Marcia Bryant on accepting a new job for which she was head-hunted – by her father, fellow Senlac Rotarian Pat Connor. Marcia spoke to the club on 3 May 2017 about her life prior to becoming a Rotarian.

Marcia is 49, married to David, whom she met when they both worked at Tesco, and mother to two, Alex and Hannah.  Having moved to Hastings when she was four she was educated locally and then gained a Medical Secretary’s Diploma from Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology. Her subsequent employment at the   Regional Health Authority came to end when her job was privatised and moved to London. Recently married the London move was not an option and she was recruited by her father to run his fruit and vegetable shop in Bexhill. The benefits of the job were somewhat exaggerated by her father and, although true in principle, were open to interpretation. “Thanks dad!!!  I sometimes think he was the script writer for 'Open all Hours' or that's where he got his ideas from on how to run a business “, continued Marcia. Marcia was not so inclined to thank her Dad, who working with Marcia’s husband David, caused their newly bought bungalow to collapse while trying to remove a conservatory. The silver lining was a new build!

When Pat retired in 2001, David and Marcia took over the business but, as with many small concerns, they were hit by new shopping trends and times became difficult. It was decided that one of them should seek a full time job and with Pat supporting them Marcia entered the employment field. Doubting herself because of a lack of experience she was offered an interview at the Spire Hospital but was not accepted. A friend then suggested she apply to the Dental Practice where she worked; Marcia applied and was successful and absolutely elated that she had done it; she has now been there a year.

Marcia said she always puts her family first and whenever they need her she is there.  She likes to cook and does some catering as a sideline, She likes to travel, go to the theatre and concerts – the previous Saturday she went to her first boxing match at Wembley. She likes to swim and walk and she started charity walking in 2012 and has personally raised over £5000 for the Moonwalk breast cancer charity and the Chestnut Tree charity, (for those who do not know the moonwalk is completed at night starting at midnight and is 26.2 miles, the equivalent of a full marathon, walking around London). She has completed the moonwalk four times and also completed two half marathons. Sadly her distance walking has stopped as her knee will no longer allow it.  Her knee needs replacement but she is too young (!), however she can still walk shorter distances.

Marcia has long Rotary connections through her father but has helped out at the Classic Car Show where she has run the catering for the last three years; she is also a Yellowman and has enjoyed four amazing visits to Kenya.

Well done Marcia, a very interesting and enjoyable talk and we are so pleased that you decided to be one of us.