We recently launched our ‘Love Where You Live‘ campaign to shine a light on the UK’s beautiful towns and cities. As well as learning about why our team members love their homes, we also asked you to share why you love where you live – with the chance to win some fantastic prizes!
We were enthused by the number of responses we received from up and down the country. It is truly heartwarming to see how many people passionately love where they live.
Finally, the results are in, and we’re thrilled to announce the winners! In this blog, you’ll meet Julie Jessup, who lives near the market town of Richmond, North Yorkshire.
“I’m really pleased to have won,” smiles Julie as she sits down to speak with us. “I already know what I’m going to do with the winnings: upgrade my four-year-old granddaughter’s play area in our conservatory!”
It’s clear that Julie cherishes her family dearly, and they are all proud to call Richmond home, having moved here more than thirty years ago.
“I’m originally from Portsmouth, so I suppose you could call me an adopted Yorkshire person,” she jests. “I was a civil servant in the army, meaning my husband and I lived all over the place! His last position was here, and we liked the area so much that we decided to stay.”
Surprisingly, she wasn’t sold on the idea of moving to Yorkshire when it was first proposed to her, but the stunning countryside and picture-perfect villages quickly won her over.
“I thought we were going to move to London, but my husband’s post – he’s also in the army – got changed at the last minute,” she shares. “I thought Richmond was way too far away from my friends and family, but after just a couple of weeks of being here, we fell in love with the area.”
Once Julie and her husband set their heart on the vibrant, scenic town, the house-hunting process was relatively easy.
She explains: “We looked at a few places, but this one stood out. We really liked the vibe. It has a big garden, lots of inside space and it was really good value. It needed some work, but luckily my uncle and brother are builders, so we decided to go for it!”
With its architecturally rich cobbled streets, historic castle and luscious woodland paths, it’s no wonder Julie decided to raise her family in this beautiful area.
“I feel so lucky to live here,” she continues. “Our local town is stunning: the museums, the river walks – it’s just so pretty. Then, of course, there’s the Yorkshire Dales, which are heaven on earth.”
Beyond the natural beauty of the surrounding villages and countryside, the bustling local community also makes all the difference.
“The people in my area are fantastic,” she explains. “There’s a real community spirit, and we all look out for one another. During the pandemic, for example, we banded together to help vulnerable people in the town and support local businesses. It’s always been that way: a really strong community.”
As they say, home is where the heart is and, for Julie and her family, Richmond and the astounding Yorkshire Dales have captured theirs.
“I don’t think I could see myself living anywhere else,” she concludes. “I’m really thankful to live here.”
If you’re interested in remortgaging your property, contact the PLS team today. Our dedicated team of specialists can help you remortgage with confidence.
