I was born in Northern Ireland where my Dad’s family were farmers. Where I grew up was determined by the toss of a coin. Dad – a veterinary surgeon –had job offers in the American mid-west and Dudley in the Black Country. Dudley won and so began a lifelong love of the Midlands. 

I wanted to be a newspaper reporter from a very early age which suited a girl constantly told off for being nosy and talking too much. Some work at the wonderful Wolverhampton Express and Star confirmed my choice but a cheeky application for a secretarial job in the Sports Department at the BBC World Service diverted the path to broadcasting. I was 18 and working in the most exhilarating environment – forty language services shared space in Bush House, a beautiful art deco building on the Strand in central London. I learned so much from the sports journalists who broadcast around the world around the clock.

University took me to Leicester and my first links with BBC Radio Leicester- a cracking local station which welcomed me in at 19 and never really let me go. 

TV came calling with a reporting job at East Midlands Today in Nottingham and then a dip into Network producing for the News Channel.

Eventually cuts across the corporation eradicated my job and I was made redundant. A re-evaluation of life meant family time with my husband and two little sons. I also freelanced as a media trainer helping prepare clients including Network Rail, Severn Trent and Eon for the rigours of media scrutiny.

But I couldn’t resist the chance to return to Radio Leicester- a wonderful place to work and an amazing news patch. We’re proud of our King found under a car park, our sports teams and our diverse communities who make up our modest little city.

Over the past few years I’ve presented the breakfast show, run the newsroom and written and read the local news with enormous pride and satisfaction. No more so than during the pandemic when our audience relied upon our information as our city experienced a longer lockdown than anywhere else in England.  I regularly host award ceremonies honouring impressive folk around the city and county – the Leicester Mercury Education Awards, the Leicestershire Law Society awards and events at Leicester’s hospitals have been a joy to be part of.

At home my boys are at University and my husband and I have two naughty black Labradors to keep out of trouble.  I’m a big reader – crime thrillers are a particular favourite – and walking through the beautiful Leicestershire countryside is the best place to reflect on a busy life full of fun.