Homecoming!

Those of you who know me, or who have taken the time to read my biography, will know that I'm a native of Yorkshire. More specifically, East Yorkshire.

I have not lived there for over 40 years but it is still home and I have made the journey to visit family at least twice a year, for many years with my parents and now on my own, since my parents moved back a few years ago.

When we first started driving between East Anglia and Hull the route took us via Goole over the Boothferry Bridge. It was the closest crossing of the Humber, unless you took the ferry.

Then they began to build the Humber Bridge. My Dad had dreamed of such a bridge from being a youngster and now it took shape before us. Each visit to Hull saw us on the bank to see the progress being made on what was then the longest single span suspension bridge in the world.

Imagine the excitement when eventually our route took us, not via Goole but across this magnificent structure, soaring over the river that had for so long been a major obstacle. It took half an hour off our journey time.

Many people consider the Humber Bridge to be an expensive white elephant. I don't. I think it's beautiful and my heart soars every time I swoop round the bend in the road on the south bank to see it arching across to the other side.

Call it fanciful but I always feel different when I get halfway across. I'm home. My family have been part of the East Yorkshire landscape for generations - at least back to 1600 on my grandmother's side - and it's in my DNA.

Today I have arrived back in East Yorkshire via this magnificent structure.
My heart sings!