It may come as a surprise to those of you who have lived here all your lives, but your part of the world, East Lancashire, is probably one of England’s best kept secrets.

Living most of my life to the age of 34 in the concrete jungle that is London, I have been used to all that living in a big city entailed - the traffic, noise, pollution, heat and the ninety mile an hour rush to do everything yesterday. 

I was lucky to live in a borough called Islington. To some, it has the image of sun-dried tomatoes, Tony Blair and quiet affluence. Now, all of that is very true but there is also another side of Islington and that is where my family come from. Big council estates, going up and down Chapel Street market, a mixture of good and sub-standard schools and all the normal problems you would expect of the inner city.

When I first came out of Clare’s door and looked up at the tops over Rishton, it was quite a wow moment.

You would have to travel about an hour and a bit outside of London to be in such a place.

But the best was yet to come as the feast for my eyes was but ten minutes away. I apologise to sound like an innocent but the first time I saw Pendle Hill in late summer was a wonderful moment.

Within ten minutes' drive from Rishton is some of the most wonderful scenery you can see in England. I have a keen regard for the county of Kent, so called garden of England, but nothing could prepare me for the Ribble Valley and travelling around places like Downham, Whitewell, Chipping and Chatburn. All were so charming and set against what I can only describe as the majestic beauty of Pendle.

There is another element to this. Many people live and work in London and when walking through those streets most people do not look up. All there is to see is a strip of usually grey sky. However, I once worked in Wigmore Street. If you are ever walking along that street do take time to look up as they are some of the most beautiful buildings you will ever see.

A favourite walk of mine is along the Leeds & Liverpool canal and at one point you are in between Pendle and Coppice and you can see Great Harwood, Clayton and further afield to Padiham, Nelson and Burnley.

From that point I can tell you, that is one big sky.