Us

Quite a few people are important for our story, even if we don’t always mention them by name. We are Jill and Andy Walker and we own East Byreleask Steading.

Jill is a first-generation native Aberdonian, living in Bucksburn for most of her childhood, with a younger sister and even younger brother. She studied Geology at Edinburgh University and went on to get her doctorate at Imperial College, with her PhD project based on geochemical studies of the Outer Hebrides thrust zone. She has worked in Suffolk libraries for many years.

Andy is a Lincolnshire boy, born in Spilsby and brought up around Spilsby/Horncastle, as a middle child with three brothers and one sister. He studied Geology at Birmingham University back in the late 1970’s, then lived in Edinburgh for a number of years, where he worked on a career change to computer programming. He moved to Lowestoft, Suffolk, in 1984 to work for what was then the Directorate of Fisheries Research, part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This is now Cefas, a scientific agency of Defra – the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Having started as a software developer, he has reached the dizzy heights of team leader and project manager.

We live in Suffolk at present, not far from Lowestoft and are empty-nesters, with no family in Suffolk. We plan to move up to Scotland permanently around March 2019. Until then we are part-time builders, managing about 40 working days per year.

Our children are Catie, Mairi, Liam & Alec, all gainfully employed and scattered around the UK. They have all done their bit for the steading and we are grateful for that help, they will each have a room dedicated to them.

Andy’s brother Ric has played a bigger role, being our resident professional builder. He lives in Cornwall and is currently restoring a sea-going boat, He has worked a lot with granite buildings. He will have a whole wing dedicated to him.

We have long-standing ties with Aberdeen where Jill’s parents Lesley & Fred Glasser and sister Vicki Frenz live. Vicki’s other half is Bryan and their daughters are Anna & Lucy. Jill’s brother Neil lives in Aberystwyth with Mary and their children Hannah, Max, Rebecca, Robert & Alex.

Aberdeen is easy (if slow at times) to get to, so we often meet as a family there.

Our friend Lynn Yeneka lives near Glasgow and is one of our most practical supporters.

Andy’s brother, Geoff, is another professional builder and he and Julie willingly lend a hand when his business lets him. Andy also has a sister Christine and another brother, Mike, who are not yet involved.

We are fortunate to have Steve Brown as our architect and George Jamieson as our neighbouring farmer, at Mains of Leask. His son George is our digger man. Our immediate neighbour is Allan Aitken.

Mention must be made of our blue merle collie-cross, Misty who just loves the steading and building works, particularly those that involve hosepipes, shovels and strimmers.