Ten Questions: Lorraine Young

Published on Thursday 28 May 2009 09:43

Lorraine Young, 50, from Moredun, is head of health, fitness and sales for Edinburgh Leisure

1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? I clearly remember walking through Peters Place with my mother and looking through the railings at the local nursery.

2 What are your memories of school? Unfortunately, they are not very happy. I didn't particularly enjoy my schooldays and distinctly remember running away (from my classroom) in primary one on several occasions as I did not want to be there. It was always after playtime instead of going back to the classroom, I would run back home, much to the dismay of my mother who would have to walk me back to school.

3 Where is your favourite place in Edinburgh and why? It would have to be Cramond for the walk along the prom. It's my favourite place in the city and is full of happy memories because we used to go there with the dog and the children.

4 What are the best things about Edinburgh? You can't beat George Street for the quality of shopping and its impressive selection of restaurants but I would also say that the people make Edinburgh extra special too.

5 What would you change about the city? It would have to be the weather and the traffic.

6 Describe a perfect Edinburgh day/ night out. It would start with a round of golf and then I would have lunch in town with my husband Kenny followed by some tasty cocktails at Centotre.

7 Which sports interest you? Golf is my favourite outdoor sport and I also enjoy visiting the gym and taking part in any fitness class, especially pilates and body balance (a mixture of yoga, pilates and tai chi), which I teach at Leith Victoria Swim centre and Gracemount Leisure Centre.

8 What was your most embarrassing moment? When I was delivering a presentation to a large company, I looked down at my feet to discover, in horror, that I had two left shoes on.

9 What is your greatest achievement? On a personal level, it would have to be bringing up my children to be confident and successful in their own way. On a professional level, it would be winning the Fitpro Industry Professional Award 2008 for Edinburgh Leisure.

10 Sum up Edinburgh in three words. Cold, friendly, cosmopolitan.