Aimee Yates chatted to Resident about her struggle with anorexia, being a Cambridge Olympic torchbearer and daydreaming about her ideal home.

Q: Tell us about yourself?

A: I’m 38 and trained as a music therapist at Anglia Ruskin but lately I’ve been working as a flute and music theory teacher in a school in Comberton

Q: Why did you want to be a Cambridge torchbearer?

A: I became ill with anorexia about six years ago and wanted to raise awareness about the illness. I’m a healthy weight now and go to a local gym to build up my strength but I’m still struggling with eating disorders and wanted to be open about that. Of course people do recover but it takes time. You don’t have to be well to reach out and help others. I’m not a sporty person at all so I like the idea of showing people that you don’t have to be that kind of person to do something a bit athletic

Q: Do you get to keep your torch?

A: Yes, minus the gas canister. I’m planning to loan it to my school for the sports day. It’s very tall and gold-coloured with 8,000 holes in it to represent the 8,000 people carrying it

Q: If you won the lottery what sort of home would you buy?

A: A period house in Cambridge with high ceilings and big windows, with a contemporary interior. I like very modern bathrooms and kitchens – minimalist with natural materials like wood and stone. I would choose earthy, natural colours. I imagine a sage green kitchen and I have a craving for a really comfy grey sofa to lounge on

Q: What luxuries would you like?

A: A music room with space for my piano and a Victorian wooden duet music stand which was given to me by my parents for my 18th birthday. I would also love plenty of shelving space for my piles of music and books – a book-lined study would be great

Q: What’s your real home like?

A: I currently rent a lovely stone building at the bottom of my landlady’s garden – it was originally a bakehouse and is full of character, but tiny

Q: Where are your favourite places in Cambridge?

A: Kettle’s Yard for the sculptures and the Fitzwilliam has amazing free exhibitions. I love living near Mill Road, the character and atmosphere is wonderful

Q: What about the garden?

A: I help out friends on a co-operative allotment in Horningsea and I’d love to have a garden in which to grow vegetables as well as have a few sculptural plants – I love the Winter Walk at Anglesey Abbey as a lot of the plants there are very spiky and red. I’d hate a pretty country style garden

Aimee prefers modern bathrooms like this Urbana range from Cambridgeshire bathrooms, Sawston Park, London Road, Pampisford CB22 3EE, 01223 837939

Aimee craves a comfy grey sofa. This low back Burleigh modular design can be made-to-order in a range of fabrics from Wesley Barrel, 62 Regent Street CB2 1DP, 01223 460377

The vibrant neighbourhood around Mill Road

The inspiring interiors and exhibitions at Kettle’s Yard, a favourite haunt of Aimee’s