I was born in Uppingham, Rutland in the 'fifties, and lived there until I was 13.  My father was Headmaster of Uppingham School and we were fortunate enough to enjoy its facilities in holiday time. We moved  to Gt Missenden, Bucks and then to Pitchcombe, Nr Stroud in Gloucestershire.    I wanted to read  Theology at university but instead read a Combined Degree of History, History of Art and Italian at Bristol University from 1970-73. I  worked in publishing for the Oxford University Press and then the Cambridge University Press in Oxford and then London.

In 1976 I married Richard and moved to Kent where he was a Farm Manager of  3 farms -  dairy,  fruit  and arable for 14 years. Our children, Sarah and James, were born there and I was involved in Yalding church as PCC member, Deanery Synod rep. and Sunday School organiser.   In August 1990 we moved to the Wakefield Estate, Potterspury where Richard manages 3,000 acres of arable, soft fruit, Aberdeen Angus cattle, fallow deer, Christmas Trees and Trout lakes and recently 4 buffalo! 

I have done temporary work in various offices in Tonbridge, Maidstone, Milton Keynes and Northampton to fit in with looking after our children, and on the farm running the Pick Your Own in June and July.  For the last six years I have worked for the Peterborough Diocesan Office for Adult Education Northampton. This has been the most rewarding work and given me a wider knowledge of the Church.  I decided in July last year to give up this work in order to focus on my studies for the last year of training.

My faith journey is a long one beginning in early childhood.  I was fortunate enough to go to a Woodard Prep School in Yorkshire which taught me the discipline of morning and evening prayer and provided wonderful wide open spaces to play in our free time. Being out in the open enjoying God’s creation is still very important to me.  I tried to turn my back on God in my ‘thirties, but He persisted and did not let me go. Coming to Potterspury I vowed I would avoid the PCC and such involvement but to my surprise I became a church warden at St. Nicholas Potterspury in 1994 and began Reader Training in 1996.  I was licensed as a Reader in 2000 to Potterspury, Yardley Gobion, Cosgrove, and more recently Wicken and selected for Ordination Training in July 2005.  I have been studying with the Eastern Region Ministerial Course for the last three years.  From the time of my selection I felt very drawn to Towcester and I am very blessed to have had Father Tony as my supervisor during my training and Neil as the model curate!

Sarah, is now married and is a vet in Devon, and James is a Chartered Surveyor in London.

I love - in no particular order - being outside, marvelling at God's creation, cycling, tennis, walking, encouraging people in their faith, and praying with others.

I hope and pray I'll get to know you better as I step into this new role, and I am very grateful for those who quietly encourage me.

I am getting increasingly excited about my ordination as deacon in Peterborough Cathedral on Sunday 6th July, and even more to serving in the Tove Benefice as Assistant Curate! Please note you are all welcome to share in the celebration by attending either the service, the afternoon at Home Farm, or the evening Eucharist at St. Lawrence.