FROM code-cracking army sergeant to Christmas pudding.It's not your usual career path, but one that this Suffolk mum has found herself unwittingly following after agreeing to raise funds for her village pre-school.

FROM code-cracking army sergeant to Christmas pudding.

It's not your usual career path, but one that this Suffolk mum has found herself unwittingly following after agreeing to raise funds for her village pre-school.

Less than 18 months after retiring from her job as a cryptographic sergeant Judith Allsop is preparing to don the roly-poly costume and persuade villagers to stump up the cash for puddings of their own.

Mrs Allsop, 42, originally from Hadleigh, left the army last September after a 22-year career and was determined to throw herself in to village life when she moved to Stowupland.

She said: “As a mum of two young children I wanted to get involved with the pre-school and signed up to be their treasurer.

“We had a meeting where we were discussing different fundraising ideas and who would take on what.

“When it got to the end I realised that nobody had taken on the Christmas pudding appeal so I said I would do it.

“It wasn't until after I accepted that I realised it would involve actually dressing as a Christmas pudding, so it's off with the uniform and three very sensible chevrons on my shoulder and into a fancy dress outfit!”

Her job will involve dressing up as a pudding at various Christmas events in order to help boost the sales of Christmas puddings in aid of Stowupland pre-school, which is eventually hoping to raise enough money for a building of its own instead of having to use a room in the primary school.

Mrs Allsop, who lives in the Old Police Station in Stowupland, said: “The puddings all have Stowupland Pre-School labels on them and they've sold well already but I've just ordered a second batch.

“I hope people feel they can come up and have a chat when they see me in the pudding costume.

“I'm not a scary army sergeant anymore - the days of the chevrons are long gone!”

It is a far cry from Mrs Allsop's army life which saw her travelling to places such as Belgium, South Africa and the Gulf.

It was during her time in Belgium that she met husband Larry, who is also from Suffolk originally, and the pair now have two children, Fred, three, and Stan, 19 months.

The puddings are available from Stowupland pre-school on Wednesday afternoons or by calling Mrs Allsop on 01449 777099.

Are you planning any wacky fundraising this Christmas? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk>