Paul

Anybody who knows me will be aware that I am happy to travel for miles looking for the right photograph of a crumbling façade, cracked window or fading ghost sign. The route to Newcastle takes me past a number of very interesting places and I’m looking forward to a pilgrimage along the A1 to spend a few days in the shadow of the Angel of the North.

I’ve been going to translation conferences for centuries, and always leave with the feeling that the time spent has been worthwhile. I’ve been looking forward to this conference since the closing seconds of the last ITI conference in Gatwick and can’t wait to catch up with friends, colleagues and sparring partners (hopefully no enemies though) from all corners of the linguistic globe.

I studied translation in the 1980s and have worked in the field ever since. I managed the translation and localisation process for a number of software companies before taking advantage of a redundancy package to return to the translation and interpreting coal face at the beginning of the millennium.  I mainly work in the technical and ‘business’ fields. With Patricia Sommer, who translates from English into French, I am a director of Manzana Business Solutions Limited, a translation company which specialises in work between English and French.

I have also now been a member of the American Translators Association for 20 years.

When not translating, I am a keen gardener (although not a particularly effective one) and have a strong interest in photography. I am also a passionate believer in education and have been chair of governors at a highly successful state school near our home in Surrey for many years.

Patricia

I’ve never been to Newcastle before, but Paul got quite excited when he told me where we were going, and insisted he had to drive us there, possibly over several days, with many stops along the way. I’m still not quite sure what he is planning to photograph, or whether he’ll actually spend any time at the conference itself, but I’m looking forward to renewing personal and professional friendships in April. Ever since the first ITI conference we attended, in Cardiff, ten years ago, the event has been one of the highlights of my calendar.

I was born and grew up in Troyes, a beautiful mediaeval town in the Champagne Region. Following my degree in English, I studied translation and obtained a D.E.S.S.. I met Paul Appleyard in Wales and, after some time in Lille, we ended up in Surrey, where we have been ever since. After working in-house for seven years, I then became a freelance translator, specialising in international development and training.  With Paul Appleyard, who translates from French into English, I am a director of Manzana Business Solutions Limited, a translation company which specialises in work between English and French.

When not translating, I am an active member of our local gym and yoga groups, and enjoy cooking (in particular recreating my Grandmother’s recipes), fine wine and good books.