Marga Burke (Newcastle)

I’m a specialist medical and pharmaceutical translator from French and occasionally Italian into English. The main areas I work in are clinical trials, journal articles and evidence-based guidance. I also provide a subtitling service, and was very excited to be offered my first book translation this year: an academic text about traditional medicine in Madagascar. I previously taught audiovisual translation at Leeds University, but these days I stick closer to home as I will be expecting my first baby this summer! I’m a qualified member of ITI and an alumna of the Professional Support Group. My website (badly in need of updating) can be found at www.margaburke.co.uk.

I have lived in the North East for most of my adult life: first Durham and now Newcastle. In my spare time, I sing soprano in a church choir, and I have recently started learning Farsi.

What I like about Newcastle…

Its versatility. Newcastle has all the amenities of a big city, but the Northumbrian countryside, the seaside and the picturesque city of Durham are all within a 30-minute car or train journey.

My three favourite places:

Durham is one of my favourite places in the North East and I could spend hours walking along the river paths or the cobbled streets, looking at views of the cathedral and castle. I also love the island of Lindisfarne, accessible by causeway at low tide only, off the coast just north of Bamburgh. Finally, in Newcastle itself, the formerly industrial Ouseburn Valley has been regenerated as a cultural hotspot with some marvellous pubs and lots going on.

My favourite Geordie word…

“Clarty”, meaning dirty or filthy, particularly in a sticky or muddy way. As my partner says, it does exactly what it says on the tin!