Biography
A dual British/Canadian citizen born in 1955, Sue Allan was raised in Merton, South London. After pressure forced her into giving up her ambition of studying as an artist, Sue was briefly employed as a bank clerk and check out operator before entering into a career in retail management. In 1976, she became a prize-winning student of the Institute of Grocery Distribution and one of only three women elected Associate Members that year.
After ‘retiring’ from retailing in 1982 to bring up a family, Sue concentrated her efforts on various areas of voluntary work which included serving as a Special Constable in the Metropolitan Police Force and for many years was an active member of the Women’s Institute, during which time she won the Jean Boucher Cup for writing. She is also an avid lover of history, another of her lifelong passions.
However, her enduring interest in art led her on in 2002 to team up with American Roger Vorhauer on a joint art project that unexpectedly resulted in the forming of a successful writing partnership. The result of this development was the completion of three historical mystery novels, Mayflower Maid , Jamestown Woman and Restoration Lady,on which Roger acted as her researcher.
These were swiftly followed by Sue's own ground-breaking research on Lady Rose Hickman resulting in her novel Tudor Rose (published in 2009 ) and her non-fiction 'Lady Rose Hickman - her life and family'.
Sue is an active comittee member of The Pilgrim Fathers UK Origins Association and Friends of Stow Minster as well as being a public speaker who serves in an advisory capacity to various Pilgrim Father and Jamestown related groups. She is a tireless champion in promoting the Pilgrim Father's heritage link to Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire both at home and in the USA.
Sue has also appeared in Blueprint Film's 'Pilgrim Fathers' documentary, as well as numerous times on both BBC Lincolnshire Television and Radio- most notably on Rod Whiting's Breakfast Show when together they retraced the Pilgrim Father's first escape attempt during five consecutive shows.
More recently she has been involved in the film, Monumental, with Kirk Cameron and has acted as advisor on several other Pilgrim Father related films and TV shows.
In her spare time Sue loves nothing more than to 'surprise' visitiors to Gainsborough Old Hall by suddenly appearing , unannounced as their volunteer tour guide.
