'I left school at 16 and rose to be the MD of Hull Trains'

TRAILBLAZER RECENTLY HONOURED WITH OBE

- By SOFIE JACKSON

A TRAILBLAZING Hull woman who left school with few qualifications and became managing director of Hull Trains is dedicating her OBE to others who have been in her situation.

Louise Cheeseman, 64, left St Mary's College in Hull at 16 and "didn't know what I wanted to do". After joining the rail sector as a conductor in 2001, she had a successful career in transport and recently learned she had been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for "services to transport and diversity"

She said: "I was completely stunned, I had no idea that I was going to get one and I don't know who nominated me. I dedicate this OBE to all the women like me who have left school with very few qualifications and are, like me, juggling trying to have a family life and a career."