Maggie Parkinson President
Originally from Southend, UK, Maggie's love of France started on a high-school exchange to Gers. After university (UEA Norwich), she trained as a journalist on the local evening paper in Southend, was a sub-editor on The Times on Fleet Street, and later ran marketing departments for divisions of BT and GEC in the City of London and Wellingborough respectively.
She moved to the US to work for a startup in Silicon Valley, California, eventually staying more than 30 years and raising two daughters.
Through it all, Maggie dreamt of one day living in France. Finally, Brexit gave the final push and she relocated from San Francisco to Hossegor just before the deadline in late 2020.
Sheila Hobbs Secretary, Activities
Sheila, who was born in Northern Ireland, is an experienced international buisnesswoman who has worked extensively within Europe, the USA, Central America and Asia. Choosing early retirement in 2017, she came to live in France with her husband Adam. The Landes region has always held a special place in Sheila's heart, having had a holiday home in Messanges for more than 25 years, and is where she currently resides.
Elizabeth Rozier Vice President
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Liz met her French husband while on holiday in Spain. After A levels, the young couple decided she should come to France. Marriage followed shortly after, as Britain wasn't yet a member of the EU, and tourist visas were good for only three months.
Elizabeth obtained her degree and Master's in English Language and Literature, majoring in Linguistics, at Pau University and began teaching adults in companies in the south west. After the births of her son and daughter, Liz passed her CAPES, and taught in college and lycée in order to have the same hours and holidays as her children. Her last post was teaching science students at Pau University. On retiring, the couple moved to Seignosse to be near the sea.
Gitte Offredi Membership
Born and educated in Denmark, Gitte worked
for UNICEF International Supply division, Copenhagen, before meeting her British husband. She moved to Belgium in 1988 for his work and raised their two children. They later relocated to Metz, France for work and 12 years later to south west France. For a few years she ran a traditional B&B part-time, which was a great experience for her, meeting lots of very nice people. Her spare time now is spent in the garden, and improving her golf swing.
As well as being in charge of membership, Gitte serves on the club's sub committee, helping organise fundraisers for our charity.
Marielle Plummer Treasurer
A French national who crossed the Channel and married an Englishman. Marielle lived in London for more than 30 years, raising four children. She is now the proud grandmother of two little ones. She started her career in banking and later became a property developer in the French Alps alongside her husband, building and interior designing chalets and two 4-star hotels. She has now peacefully retired back to her homeland, the Basque Country, where she enjoys gardening, bridge and longe-côte, and warmly welcomes friends and family in her home.
Jane Storm Newsletter Editor
Jane is from the south of England and has always had a lust for travelling the world. She left home at 18 to become an au pair in Sweden. Various career changes led her into the world of sales management and sales coaching. Her work took her to countries around Europe, Africa, South America and Russia.
Jane settled in France in 2015 with her husband and joined the club in 2020.
Her hobbies include needlework, patchwork, walking, cycling and travel.
Françoise Diarra Activities
Originally from the beautiful department of Les Landes, Françoise traded the fine sandy beaches and pine forests for the snowy mountains and forests of the Vosges, where she spent nine years as an English teacher.
After moving back to Les Landes, she decided to pack her bags once again and lived successively in Mali, Senegal, the Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Enriched by her years in Africa, she moved to the Netherlands with her family, where they spent five years among the windmills, tulips and bicycles, before finally returning to settle back in Françoise's native south-west France.
Anne-Marie Liaunet Archivist
Anne-Marie is French, and was born in the south west, where she has lived most of her life. Here, she studied tourism and secretarial skills, got married and raised two children.
She has enjoyed many opportunities to travel - to England, the United States, Italy, Greece, Malaysia, Norway and Singapore, either visiting family or simply on holiday.
Upon retiring from her job as a secretary for a surgeon in Dax, she joined the club in 2018, thanks to a French lady, Claude, who introduced her. Anne-Marie enjoys painting, gardening, reading and meeting family and friends.
Florence Bourgeois
Florence was born, bred, educated, married and worked as an English teacher in Metz, in the east of France.
She has three children, one in Soustons, another in the south east of France and the youngest one in Hong Kong.
Her main interests are cycling, golf and music. She moved to Soustons three years ago.
Florence got to know the club thanks to Gitte, whom she met on Seignosse golf course.