Albert Park skater in US.

Byline: DUSTY WHITE TINKLER

I HAVE just been home to England from the USA where I now live and want so much to support the lovemiddlesbrough campaign my sister has told me about.

Amazingly in Redlands, California, I hear occasionally of people talking about the place and not always positively, saying it has changed so much and has lost some of its soul.

Having visited recently, I now know this is not true.

I attended Bertram Ramsay School and became a WRAC for four years, travelling to Hong Kong and Singapore as well as Germany (NATO HQ) as a Royal Signals teleprinter operator.

I then went as an au pair to a family in Las Vegas, Nevada, on a one year programme and worked for a casino owner's family in Honolulu for a while.

Now aged 63, I live in Redlands, California, where I raised my own family.

I remember Middlesbrough very fondly - things like Stewart Park, Roseberry Topping, Eston Hills.

As a child, I attended the central swimming baths and my favourite, the roller skating rink at Albert Park.

When my children were old enough I put them into artistic roller skating lessons in the US, therefore carrying on the tradition from Middlesbrough. They carried off many medals and trophies in competition for figures, dance and freestyle.

At a world class meet three years ago in Fresno, in Northern California, I was stunned to meet coaches and teachers with the English team who had skated at Albert Park when they were children.

What a wonderful experience to know they were still interested in the sport and for me to know that I had probably skated alongside them all those years ago.

I still skate regularly, which is great for my health and is still my joy.

I wish Middlesbrough all the best with its new campaign and I can only add that it has impressed me.

DUSTY WHITE TINKLER, California