She and her husband Chris are tenants of Scaife Hall Farm, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. They keep Swaledale and North Country Mule sheep and, over the last 10 years, have built up a herd of 100 pedigree Belted Galloway cattle, supplying quality beef to local restaurants and farm shops.

Alongside this and over the last three decades, Christine has also built up a highly successful award-winning bed and breakfast business, attracting visitors from all over the world. An active member of Farm Stay UK for nearly all that time, she spent 10 years on the Board of Directors, initially covering Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire, before boundary changes defined Yorkshire as a region in itself.

Three years were spent in the office of National Chairman which gave her the opportunity to travel the UK meeting members, as well as helping with overseas promotion of affordable UK holidays.

Christine has served several years as a Harrogate Borough Councillor, sitting on the both Planning and Licensing committees and serving for one year as Deputy Mayor of the Borough, which she views as a great honour.

Alongside this, Christine is an active Parish Councillor and an elected member of Council for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, where she sits on the Charitable Activities Committee. She also chairs the Yorkshire Rural Support Network, which actively works to bring together all the rural farming charities, as well as other support networks including the Samaritans.

Christine has hosted several fundraising events at her home, the most popular being the Farmhouse Breakfast events. Usually held over three days and serving up to 200 people each time, these help to raise vital monies for the Addington Fund.