Born in 1963 in Kharian City, Pakistan, and raised in Nelson from infancy, Bibi Ul-Haq grew up straddling two cultures – one deeply traditional, and one defined by the rhythm of British life. As a child, she spoke perfect English and often found herself translating for her parents and others in the community. School was not always kind. The late 1960s and 70s in northern England were marked by prejudice, and young Bibi, who didn’t quite fit in with either Asian or English peers, often found herself isolated.

She left school at fifteen and began working at Farmhouse Biscuits. Within two years, she married and soon became a mother of four by the age of thirty. Life was full and at times challenging, but she never stopped dreaming. At thirty-five, she enrolled in college, determined to prove her worth and rewrite her story. What began as a single computer class turned into a journey of transformation: GCSEs, HND, and finally, a Certificate in Education. Through long nights of study and balancing care for her family and ill parents, she became what she had once needed – a teacher.

Her teaching career flourished at Burnley College, Wigan & Leigh, and later Colne Primet Academy. She also found her voice in community work, teaching English to Asian women through Pendle Women’s Forum, a place that mirrored her own beginnings. There, she met women who, like her younger self, were learning not just language, but confidence and independence.

Every certificate, every exam passed, represents a victory over doubt. Her message to the next generation is clear and empowering:

“Study, study, study. Never give up. You can buy jewels, you can buy cars and houses, but they can all be taken from you in an instant. If you have knowledge, that knowledge is yours. You can start again anywhere.”