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My Secret Life: Betty Jackson, fashion designer

Friday 07 December 2007 20:00 EST
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Betty Jackson was born in 1949 in Bacup, Lancashire. Having studied fashion at Birmingham College of Art, she worked as a fashion illustrator in the early seventies, moved on to assist designers later that decade before being made chief designer of Quorum in 1975 alongside Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark. Named British Designer of the Year in 1985, she also won the British Fashion Council Award and received an MBE for her services to fashion.

I drive/ride: A Black Mercedes CLK Convertible and I absolutely love it... It's just the perfect car.

If I have time to myself I: Read rubbish or I lie in the sun... Or both if I'm in the right country

You may not know it but I'm no good at: Sewing. The girls in the workroom are horrified if I even offer to sew a button on, as I do it so badly...I'm much too impatient to sew.

You may not know it but I'm very good at: Table tennis. Hideously competitive as well.

A book that changed me: Titus Groan, Mervyn Peake. I read all of them at college and just loved the madness and the imagination

Movie heaven: Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, or any Walt Disney children's cartoon!

Comfort eating is: Eccles cakes and Lancashire cheese

When I was a child I wanted to be: Grown up. I have an older sister and she had ALL the fun.

I wish I'd never worn: Ridiculous idea! Ive never regretted wearing anything... unless it was uncomfortable and caused pain, as did my wedding shoes, but thatwas my fault as I bought them in a rush and stupidly bought the wrong size.

All my money goes on: My children, which is silly as they are both grown up now,... But still cost me a fortune!! Otherwise it's flowers from my friend Niki Tibbles at Wild at Heart. She does the best in the world and they last longer than anyone else's.

My favourite building is the: is the V&A, because its such a difficult and complicated building, but inside there are fabulous collections.... And I once had dinner on awalkway suspended between Ancient India and Medieval Silver, which was quite special!

My biggest regret: is never going on Concorde... We were always GOING to and then, it was too late.. I know it was probably hideously environmentally unfriendly, but it was just such a beautiful aircraft

It's not fashionable but I like: Scrabble

My favourite work of art is: Goggle heads by Elizabeth Frink

The best invention ever is: Sat nav on my car. Ill never have to look at an A to Z again. And its international, so I dont need to stop at Dover.

Betty Jackson lives in London with her husband and her store can be found at 311 Brompton Road, SW3 2DY. 020 7589 7884

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