Q. Firstly, introduce yourself – name, nickname, where you were born, how old you are, where you live, what your job is or what you study. You don’t have to answer all of these....

A. My name is Claire and I was born in Swindon, Wiltshire and have lived here all my life. I am currently working for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council on a fixed-term contract, although in my previous life I worked here for 11 years. I refer to this as my previous life as this was before I undertook a degree in Animal Science and Management at the grand old age of 37 years old. This was aimed at creating a complete career change which I am still working on – a work in progress, shall we say ……….

Q. What do you do in your spare time? What are you passionate about?

A. In my spare time I make jewellery – mostly with a gothic theme. This is made for friends as well as for me. Have just started to venture into Steampunk so am busy sourcing watch parts and pocket watches on the web as well as at car boot sales. Also enjoy reading and have bought many of the books reviewed in the LVG Chronicles magazine.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

A. My most treasured possession if I can call him that – can anyone truly say that they “possess” a cat – it is perhaps more likely the other way around - is, toothless “Sabre” , who due to lack of teeth can dribble for England.

Q. Which living person would you most like to meet?

A. I would like to meet Sir David Attenborough and Professor J Altringham – a bat expert at Leeds University.

Q. Name your top three bands

A. Old School gothic styli – The Sisters of Mercy, and The Mission. Also like Muse. Find any sort of music appealing really.

Q. Name your top three movies

A.
• Interview with the Vampire
• Queen of the Damned
• Alien

Q. What is the most important book you have read? (can be non-vampire)

A. “Finding your North Star” – a book about how to live the life you were meant to.

Q. Which is your favourite horror/vampire book?

A. Have read so many but like the Christine Keehan series in particular – The Dark Prince. The vampires in this take on animal form – bear, wolf, and falcon for example.

Q. Do you think vampires are real? Explain.

A. No I don’t think the blood sucking variety exists, but there are emotional vampires that can drain you of your life source.

Q. What were your reasons for joining the London Vampyre Group? What do you want to get out of being a member?

A. I want to be in touch with like-minded people. I also enjoy the Chronicles especially the book reviews and like to be informed of all things gothic/vampyre/fortean although I realise that the LVG covers other topics as well. In Swindon there is very little “alternative” culture and little enthusiasm for it, and feel this is a shame. Even though I don’t live in London, I hope to able to attend a few of your meetings or even meet up with the group at one of the Whitby Gothic weekends.

Q. What is your favourite word?

A. “Unsavoury”

Q. What is your greatest fear?

A. Losing the people I love and wasting my life by not taking opportunities as they arise on account of my shyness.

Q. What is the most important thing life has taught you?

A. Not everyone is kind. To do what feels right and trust your intuition. This has saved me on many occasions.

Q. Give a song lyric / quote from a film or person or a passage / sentence from book that you feel embodies your approach to life.

A. To treat everyone with respect and in a friendly manner (quite surprisingly said by Christopher Timothy who played the vet James Herriot in “All Creatures great and small”. He said this as a guest on one of the morning breakfast shows and this has stuck with me.

Q. Do you have a live journal or personal webpage that we can link to?

A. Not at the moment