my talk to you is quite personal and if you will you will touch on some things
you will you will touch on some things
you will you will touch on some things in Northern Ireland that you will
in Northern Ireland that you will
in Northern Ireland that you will recognize but first we’re gonna start
recognize but first we’re gonna start
recognize but first we’re gonna start with the word does anybody know what it
with the word does anybody know what it
with the word does anybody know what it is it’s pronounced jefra phobia and it
is it’s pronounced jefra phobia and it
is it’s pronounced jefra phobia and it means a fear of bridges and here’s a
means a fear of bridges and here’s a
means a fear of bridges and here’s a bridge now this bridge is over the
bridge now this bridge is over the
bridge now this bridge is over the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland in the United
Chesapeake Bay in Maryland in the United
Chesapeake Bay in Maryland in the United States and when they built it it was so
States and when they built it it was so
States and when they built it it was so scary because you can see it’s quite
scary because you can see it’s quite
scary because you can see it’s quite slender at the sides then a lot of
slender at the sides then a lot of
slender at the sides then a lot of people were too afraid to cross it so
people were too afraid to cross it so
people were too afraid to cross it so the locals started calling it the bridge
the locals started calling it the bridge
the locals started calling it the bridge to hell now you can see look four points
to hell now you can see look four points
to hell now you can see look four points three miles long a hundred and eighty
three miles long a hundred and eighty
three miles long a hundred and eighty six feet high you can actually get a
six feet high you can actually get a
six feet high you can actually get a tall ship underneath that see can you
tall ship underneath that see can you
tall ship underneath that see can you imagine driving over this bridge so what
imagine driving over this bridge so what
imagine driving over this bridge so what happened was some people drove across no
happened was some people drove across no
happened was some people drove across no problem looking at the fantastic view
problem looking at the fantastic view
problem looking at the fantastic view watching the boats looking for their
watching the boats looking for their
watching the boats looking for their destination others got halfway across
destination others got halfway across
destination others got halfway across and throws they couldn’t go forwards and
and throws they couldn’t go forwards and
and throws they couldn’t go forwards and they couldn’t go backwards and then
they couldn’t go backwards and then
they couldn’t go backwards and then others couldn’t even get onto the bridge
others couldn’t even get onto the bridge
others couldn’t even get onto the bridge at all they were too afraid so a
at all they were too afraid so a
at all they were too afraid so a solution had to be find and the solution
solution had to be find and the solution
solution had to be find and the solution was and is until this day because I did
was and is until this day because I did
was and is until this day because I did a story on this bridge 20 years ago if
a story on this bridge 20 years ago if
a story on this bridge 20 years ago if you’re afraid someone will get into your
you’re afraid someone will get into your
you’re afraid someone will get into your car at the end of the bridge and drive
car at the end of the bridge and drive
car at the end of the bridge and drive your cross now our lives are rather like
your cross now our lives are rather like
your cross now our lives are rather like bridges aren’t they we go from here to
bridges aren’t they we go from here to
bridges aren’t they we go from here to there opportunities and obstacles this
there opportunities and obstacles this
there opportunities and obstacles this is my life and we tried to make little
is my life and we tried to make little
is my life and we tried to make little bridges but you get the idea don’t you I
bridges but you get the idea don’t you I
bridges but you get the idea don’t you I come from Belfast yes I went to London
come from Belfast yes I went to London
come from Belfast yes I went to London then from London to Belfast again then
then from London to Belfast again then
then from London to Belfast again then from Belfast I went to Tokyo then from
from Belfast I went to Tokyo then from
from Belfast I went to Tokyo then from Tokyo I went to Frankfurt Frankfurt to
Tokyo I went to Frankfurt Frankfurt to
Tokyo I went to Frankfurt Frankfurt to Washington DC when I did the story about
Washington DC when I did the story about
Washington DC when I did the story about the bridge and Washington DC back to
the bridge and Washington DC back to
the bridge and Washington DC back to London where I am now I know a career
London where I am now I know a career
London where I am now I know a career like that has loads of opportunities but
like that has loads of opportunities but
like that has loads of opportunities but it also has many obstacles I started my
it also has many obstacles I started my
it also has many obstacles I started my career at a time
career at a time
career at a time when it was mostly male dominated the
when it was mostly male dominated the
when it was mostly male dominated the media particularly here in Northern
media particularly here in Northern
media particularly here in Northern Ireland so first I went into my
Ireland so first I went into my
Ireland so first I went into my broadcasting newsroom someone looked at
broadcasting newsroom someone looked at
broadcasting newsroom someone looked at me a male colleague and said hmm I said
me a male colleague and said hmm I said
me a male colleague and said hmm I said oh it’s a girl there’s a great job going
oh it’s a girl there’s a great job going
oh it’s a girl there’s a great job going in the library so I thought okay
in the library so I thought okay
in the library so I thought okay day two don’t be having any ambition
day two don’t be having any ambition
day two don’t be having any ambition you’re from Northern Ireland you have a
you’re from Northern Ireland you have a
you’re from Northern Ireland you have a Northern Ireland accent you’re going
Northern Ireland accent you’re going
Northern Ireland accent you’re going nowhere so it didn’t take the job in the
nowhere so it didn’t take the job in the
nowhere so it didn’t take the job in the library and I went everywhere
library and I went everywhere
library and I went everywhere yeah night.the along the way just like
yeah night.the along the way just like
yeah night.the along the way just like people were helping others over the
people were helping others over the
people were helping others over the bridge I had some help as well and
bridge I had some help as well and
bridge I had some help as well and strangely it was mostly from women
strangely it was mostly from women
strangely it was mostly from women firstly when I was at school and I
firstly when I was at school and I
firstly when I was at school and I wanted to be a journalist it really
wanted to be a journalist it really
wanted to be a journalist it really wasn’t a job for a girl in Northern
wasn’t a job for a girl in Northern
wasn’t a job for a girl in Northern Ireland all that time again and people
Ireland all that time again and people
Ireland all that time again and people were saying be a teacher be a secretary
were saying be a teacher be a secretary
were saying be a teacher be a secretary no I wanted to be a journalist and the
no I wanted to be a journalist and the
no I wanted to be a journalist and the person who gave me the confidence to do
person who gave me the confidence to do
person who gave me the confidence to do that was my English teacher she believed
that was my English teacher she believed
that was my English teacher she believed in me therefore I believed in myself and
in me therefore I believed in myself and
in me therefore I believed in myself and I wouldn’t be here where I am today if
I wouldn’t be here where I am today if
I wouldn’t be here where I am today if it hadn’t been for her the other people
it hadn’t been for her the other people
it hadn’t been for her the other people who’ve helped me along the way are my
who’ve helped me along the way are my
who’ve helped me along the way are my family I couldn’t have done without my
family I couldn’t have done without my
family I couldn’t have done without my family even if they didn’t see me from
family even if they didn’t see me from
family even if they didn’t see me from months apart from on TV they were always
months apart from on TV they were always
months apart from on TV they were always there at the end of the phone and they
there at the end of the phone and they
there at the end of the phone and they were always there in full support when I
were always there in full support when I
were always there in full support when I was travelling around the world I have
was travelling around the world I have
was travelling around the world I have my two daughters with me so my mother is
my two daughters with me so my mother is
my two daughters with me so my mother is here tonight used to travel with me
here tonight used to travel with me
here tonight used to travel with me sometimes to look after my children if I
sometimes to look after my children if I
sometimes to look after my children if I was on assignment because you also have
was on assignment because you also have
was on assignment because you also have to realize that it wasn’t just me
to realize that it wasn’t just me
to realize that it wasn’t just me travelling on this journey I have my two
travelling on this journey I have my two
travelling on this journey I have my two daughters with me so they were traveling
daughters with me so they were traveling
daughters with me so they were traveling on these bridges and these challenges in
on these bridges and these challenges in
on these bridges and these challenges in this journey as well they were changing
this journey as well they were changing
this journey as well they were changing schools they were leaving their friends
schools they were leaving their friends
schools they were leaving their friends we were moving countries all those sorts
we were moving countries all those sorts
we were moving countries all those sorts of things which are very disruptive and
of things which are very disruptive and
of things which are very disruptive and during that period I actually built
during that period I actually built
during that period I actually built myself a bridge of guilt in my head you
myself a bridge of guilt in my head you
myself a bridge of guilt in my head you know what we’re like if anyone who’s got
know what we’re like if anyone who’s got
know what we’re like if anyone who’s got children are we doing the like sing will
children are we doing the like sing will
children are we doing the like sing will they be okay
they be okay
they be okay is a school right for them but as they
is a school right for them but as they
is a school right for them but as they grew older they actually demolished my
grew older they actually demolished my
grew older they actually demolished my bridge of guilt and they told me that
bridge of guilt and they told me that
bridge of guilt and they told me that they wouldn’t have changed our troubles
they wouldn’t have changed our troubles
they wouldn’t have changed our troubles and adventures for the world
and adventures for the world
and adventures for the world the other things that happened to me
the other things that happened to me
the other things that happened to me along the way let me just give you an
along the way let me just give you an
along the way let me just give you an example from Tokyo for instance I had a
example from Tokyo for instance I had a
example from Tokyo for instance I had a male or a female translator and I would
male or a female translator and I would
male or a female translator and I would go to these big meetings that were all
go to these big meetings that were all
go to these big meetings that were all male and it was as if I haven’t walked
male and it was as if I haven’t walked
male and it was as if I haven’t walked into the room I changed the translator
into the room I changed the translator
into the room I changed the translator to a man and suddenly I was somebody to
to a man and suddenly I was somebody to
to a man and suddenly I was somebody to talk to because I had a man working for
talk to because I had a man working for
talk to because I had a man working for me I kid you not this is the very early
me I kid you not this is the very early
me I kid you not this is the very early 90s the other thing that happened to me
90s the other thing that happened to me
90s the other thing that happened to me throughout my career is I’ve experienced
throughout my career is I’ve experienced
throughout my career is I’ve experienced all the things that a lot of women have
all the things that a lot of women have
all the things that a lot of women have experienced ageism sexism and gender
experienced ageism sexism and gender
experienced ageism sexism and gender inequality ageism was the one that hit
inequality ageism was the one that hit
inequality ageism was the one that hit me hardest as a woman gets towards 50
me hardest as a woman gets towards 50
me hardest as a woman gets towards 50 particularly in the media we disappeared
particularly in the media we disappeared
particularly in the media we disappeared both in front of the camera and behind
both in front of the camera and behind
both in front of the camera and behind the camera
the camera
the camera a man can age in front of a camera
a man can age in front of a camera
a man can age in front of a camera whereas a woman can’t a wrinkle on a man
whereas a woman can’t a wrinkle on a man
whereas a woman can’t a wrinkle on a man will be seen as maturity and experience
will be seen as maturity and experience
will be seen as maturity and experience a wrinkle on a woman is considered old
a wrinkle on a woman is considered old
a wrinkle on a woman is considered old so it’s just imagine you’re approaching
so it’s just imagine you’re approaching
so it’s just imagine you’re approaching a fifties you’re in your early 50s and
a fifties you’re in your early 50s and
a fifties you’re in your early 50s and you’re dealing with all the aspects of
you’re dealing with all the aspects of
you’re dealing with all the aspects of getting a little bit older anyway
getting a little bit older anyway
getting a little bit older anyway perhaps you’re thinking you might have
perhaps you’re thinking you might have
perhaps you’re thinking you might have the menopause if you’re having the
the menopause if you’re having the
the menopause if you’re having the menopause all of those things that we
menopause all of those things that we
menopause all of those things that we have to deal with and then suddenly
have to deal with and then suddenly
have to deal with and then suddenly you’re being slightly sidelined for
you’re being slightly sidelined for
you’re being slightly sidelined for younger models I haven’t got anything
younger models I haven’t got anything
younger models I haven’t got anything against younger models and we all were
against younger models and we all were
against younger models and we all were there and we all came through but there
there and we all came through but there
there and we all came through but there is a time and a place now this got so
is a time and a place now this got so
is a time and a place now this got so bad for me it went on over a period of
bad for me it went on over a period of
bad for me it went on over a period of two years and it got so bad for me that
two years and it got so bad for me that
two years and it got so bad for me that I woke up one morning and thought I’m
I woke up one morning and thought I’m
I woke up one morning and thought I’m going to give up my job now bearing in
going to give up my job now bearing in
going to give up my job now bearing in mind everything I’d done and where I was
mind everything I’d done and where I was
mind everything I’d done and where I was and how hard I’d fought for this this
and how hard I’d fought for this this
and how hard I’d fought for this this was a huge decision except after I’d had
was a huge decision except after I’d had
was a huge decision except after I’d had a cup of tea I suddenly thought I’m
a cup of tea I suddenly thought I’m
a cup of tea I suddenly thought I’m gonna give up my job it’s my job Ponta
gonna give up my job it’s my job Ponta
gonna give up my job it’s my job Ponta on I’m not giving it up then I had to go
on I’m not giving it up then I had to go
on I’m not giving it up then I had to go through this difficult process of how do
through this difficult process of how do
through this difficult process of how do I address this so I did go through the
I address this so I did go through the
I address this so I did go through the and it was difficult but I claimed my
and it was difficult but I claimed my
and it was difficult but I claimed my place I kept my job
place I kept my job
place I kept my job I stayed there wrinkles and all but the
I stayed there wrinkles and all but the
I stayed there wrinkles and all but the reason that happened as well as there
reason that happened as well as there
reason that happened as well as there was support there was a support network
was support there was a support network
was support there was a support network from female colleagues and female
from female colleagues and female
from female colleagues and female friends and my family obstacles can be
friends and my family obstacles can be
friends and my family obstacles can be overcome but we’ve got to be strong
overcome but we’ve got to be strong
overcome but we’ve got to be strong enough to do them you’ve got to be
enough to do them you’ve got to be
enough to do them you’ve got to be strong enough to drive across that
strong enough to drive across that
strong enough to drive across that bridge and if you can’t there’s nothing
bridge and if you can’t there’s nothing
bridge and if you can’t there’s nothing wrong with asking for help this is me
wrong with asking for help this is me
wrong with asking for help this is me and my sisters I grew up actually about
and my sisters I grew up actually about
and my sisters I grew up actually about five miles from here so this is on the
five miles from here so this is on the
five miles from here so this is on the left this photograph is with me look at
left this photograph is with me look at
left this photograph is with me look at the lovely curls what happened to them
the lovely curls what happened to them
the lovely curls what happened to them with my grandfather visiting him in
with my grandfather visiting him in
with my grandfather visiting him in Hollywood he was very dear to me and
Hollywood he was very dear to me and
Hollywood he was very dear to me and this is me with my two sisters and it’s
this is me with my two sisters and it’s
this is me with my two sisters and it’s actually taking me 60 years to get to
actually taking me 60 years to get to
actually taking me 60 years to get to where I am today some of the you’ll get
where I am today some of the you’ll get
where I am today some of the you’ll get some nice old photographs here several
some nice old photographs here several
some nice old photographs here several of the challenges I grabbed with both
of the challenges I grabbed with both
of the challenges I grabbed with both hands you know it’s like great I’m
hands you know it’s like great I’m
hands you know it’s like great I’m having that job I’ll do anything to get
having that job I’ll do anything to get
having that job I’ll do anything to get that job some of them I sort of thought
that job some of them I sort of thought
that job some of them I sort of thought so I suppose I was halfway across my
so I suppose I was halfway across my
so I suppose I was halfway across my bridge and you know the way we women say
bridge and you know the way we women say
bridge and you know the way we women say things like Oh could I really do this Oh
things like Oh could I really do this Oh
things like Oh could I really do this Oh will I be good enough will it be okay of
will I be good enough will it be okay of
will I be good enough will it be okay of course it’s going to be okay
course it’s going to be okay
course it’s going to be okay of course we can do it why shouldn’t we
of course we can do it why shouldn’t we
of course we can do it why shouldn’t we able to be able to do it so there we go
able to be able to do it so there we go
able to be able to do it so there we go I’m going around the world and I’m
I’m going around the world and I’m
I’m going around the world and I’m crossing a lot of bridges at that time
crossing a lot of bridges at that time
crossing a lot of bridges at that time for female journalists as well so I’m
for female journalists as well so I’m
for female journalists as well so I’m going into jobs and I’m going into areas
going into jobs and I’m going into areas
going into jobs and I’m going into areas that perhaps they wouldn’t have been
that perhaps they wouldn’t have been
that perhaps they wouldn’t have been there before that’s John Major’s the
there before that’s John Major’s the
there before that’s John Major’s the back of his head by the way I was very
back of his head by the way I was very
back of his head by the way I was very glad the photographer my face and the
glad the photographer my face and the
glad the photographer my face and the back of his head I was in Washington I
back of his head I was in Washington I
back of his head I was in Washington I was in Tokyo and I covered some of the
was in Tokyo and I covered some of the
was in Tokyo and I covered some of the biggest stories in the world but again
biggest stories in the world but again
biggest stories in the world but again right along the way one of the things I
right along the way one of the things I
right along the way one of the things I always did I was I always helped other
always did I was I always helped other
always did I was I always helped other young journalists male and female but
young journalists male and female but
young journalists male and female but particularly young female journalists
particularly young female journalists
particularly young female journalists coming through who perhaps didn’t have
coming through who perhaps didn’t have
coming through who perhaps didn’t have the confidence it’s that sort of help
the confidence it’s that sort of help
the confidence it’s that sort of help that I would love to have heard when I
that I would love to have heard when I
that I would love to have heard when I was a young journalist with my first
was a young journalist with my first
was a young journalist with my first walked into that news room and was told
walked into that news room and was told
walked into that news room and was told to get a job in the library so here we
to get a job in the library so here we
to get a job in the library so here we are I’ve not been a journalist for 40
are I’ve not been a journalist for 40
are I’ve not been a journalist for 40 years so it’s been fairly successful and
years so it’s been fairly successful and
years so it’s been fairly successful and I covered everything that I’ve wanted to
I covered everything that I’ve wanted to
I covered everything that I’ve wanted to do and I am very very pleased to report
do and I am very very pleased to report
do and I am very very pleased to report it’s no longer male-dominated so we have
it’s no longer male-dominated so we have
it’s no longer male-dominated so we have a very good gender mix knife what we
a very good gender mix knife what we
a very good gender mix knife what we don’t have though is a gender equality
don’t have though is a gender equality
don’t have though is a gender equality and pay equality so we have to still
and pay equality so we have to still
and pay equality so we have to still fight for those things not just in my
fight for those things not just in my
fight for those things not just in my industry but in all industries we have
industry but in all industries we have
industry but in all industries we have to fight against any form of ageism any
to fight against any form of ageism any
to fight against any form of ageism any form of sexism and definitely any form
form of sexism and definitely any form
form of sexism and definitely any form of gender pay inequality I left the BBC
of gender pay inequality I left the BBC
of gender pay inequality I left the BBC in April this year it was my decision it
in April this year it was my decision it
in April this year it was my decision it was on the 15th of April when I gave my
was on the 15th of April when I gave my
was on the 15th of April when I gave my last broadcast and one of the reasons I
last broadcast and one of the reasons I
last broadcast and one of the reasons I left was because having been a
left was because having been a
left was because having been a journalist for 40 years had also been at
journalist for 40 years had also been at
journalist for 40 years had also been at the BBC for 20 years I thought it’s time
the BBC for 20 years I thought it’s time
the BBC for 20 years I thought it’s time to do something else it’s time to have
to do something else it’s time to have
to do something else it’s time to have another career because when you think
another career because when you think
another career because when you think about it I’ll come back to that one in a
about it I’ll come back to that one in a
about it I’ll come back to that one in a second we’re up against a lot as women
Madeleine Albright the US Secretary of
Madeleine Albright the US Secretary of State former said that when she was
State former said that when she was
State former said that when she was rising up through the ranks to become US
rising up through the ranks to become US
rising up through the ranks to become US Secretary of State she felt that she had
Secretary of State she felt that she had
Secretary of State she felt that she had to be better than an equivalent man so
to be better than an equivalent man so
to be better than an equivalent man so you could have the same qualifications
you could have the same qualifications
you could have the same qualifications but you had to be better and I thought
but you had to be better and I thought
but you had to be better and I thought that right through my career I could be
that right through my career I could be
that right through my career I could be sitting or standing beside a man with
sitting or standing beside a man with
sitting or standing beside a man with exactly the same qualifications and
exactly the same qualifications and
exactly the same qualifications and exactly the same experience but I had to
exactly the same experience but I had to
exactly the same experience but I had to be better and she said the same thing
be better and she said the same thing
be better and she said the same thing and what she said was she could be a
and what she said was she could be a
and what she said was she could be a mediocre man but you can’t be a mediocre
mediocre man but you can’t be a mediocre
mediocre man but you can’t be a mediocre woman and she was right I’m crossing a
woman and she was right I’m crossing a
woman and she was right I’m crossing a new bridge this year as you can see from
new bridge this year as you can see from
new bridge this year as you can see from the birthday cake
the birthday cake
the birthday cake I was 60 in September and I’ve decided
I was 60 in September and I’ve decided
I was 60 in September and I’ve decided to start a new career using all of those
to start a new career using all of those
to start a new career using all of those skills that I’ve gained in the last four
skills that I’ve gained in the last four
skills that I’ve gained in the last four years as a journalist because you know
years as a journalist because you know
years as a journalist because you know what we women are living longer
what we women are living longer
what we women are living longer we are healthier and we are ready for
we are healthier and we are ready for
we are healthier and we are ready for any challenge that we face is us my
any challenge that we face is us my
any challenge that we face is us my grandmother would have been retired at
grandmother would have been retired at
grandmother would have been retired at sixty I want a whole new career and as
sixty I want a whole new career and as
sixty I want a whole new career and as it says on the cake
it says on the cake
it says on the cake sixty is really the new 40 so I take you
sixty is really the new 40 so I take you
sixty is really the new 40 so I take you back to the bridge
back to the bridge
back to the bridge you remember from the beginning the
you remember from the beginning the
you remember from the beginning the scary bridge because when you cross your
scary bridge because when you cross your
scary bridge because when you cross your bridge as a woman in particular and
bridge as a woman in particular and
bridge as a woman in particular and you’re feeling successful and you’re
you’re feeling successful and you’re
you’re feeling successful and you’re feeling you can go across your bridge
feeling you can go across your bridge
feeling you can go across your bridge turn around reach out your hand to the
turn around reach out your hand to the
turn around reach out your hand to the next woman and if we all do that we’ll
next woman and if we all do that we’ll
next woman and if we all do that we’ll build our own bridge and then we’ll be
build our own bridge and then we’ll be
build our own bridge and then we’ll be invincible thank you very much
invincible thank you very much
invincible thank you very much [Applause]
”
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