District Governor Visit

I was born near RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire. My parents were in the RAF and hence we lived in many places until we moved to Orpington, Kent, where I attended Chislehurst and Sidcup Technical High School for Girls.

I went on to train and work as a Radiographer at the Hammersmith in London. Having specifically chosen a profession that would enable me to work and travel abroad, I seized the opportunity to work in a big Post Graduate hospital in Adelaide, Australia.  After a few years, I travelled back home overland for three months, via Kathmandu, Iran, Afghanistan and behind the Iron curtain - those were the days!

Back in the UK, I joined the Radiography team at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge and met my husband-to-be, X-raying his eye following a rugby injury! A brief interlude in the specialist Cardiology Department at the Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, led me back to Cambridge for a role at Papworth Hospital, right at the beginning of the heart transplant programme -  hugely exciting!

I'm married to Bob, with two boys, Stuart and Simon. Bob’s job took the family to Towcester for a few years and then onto Uppsala, Sweden for three years. A fabulous experience for us all but especially the children. We returned to St. Ives in the mid 90s, as the boys started secondary school. Bob continued to work abroad periodically, while I worked at the local hospital in Huntingdon and studied for a specialist Post Graduate Certificate, which led to new roles at private hospitals in Cambridge. 

After the boys finished their studies, I took the decision to stop work and join the Rotary Club of St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, where I quickly became Club Secretary. Later, as Club International Chair, I lead a multi-club project to build a Sand Dam in Kenya.

After my year as Club President, I felt that my Rotary experience and interest in Rotarians might be best utilised in a District role. Hence, I joined the LDT and Compliance Teams. In the following year I was appointed District Safeguarding Officer, which enabled me to meet many members across the District. This lead to me being asked to take on the Assistant Governor’s role, and subsequently being nominated to take on the role of District Governor.

Apart from family, sailing, walking, and gardening, my passions are centred on Rotarians themselves, for the amazing people they are and the things they do. 

My message to all Rotarians is to carry on doing the amazing things you do, while also igniting your "Inner Giggle" and having fun !