Hullo!

Thanks for dropping by! In case you’re wondering who I am, what I’ve been up to, I thought I’d better introduce myself!

I’m retired now, but, like us all, every job I’ve had, task I’ve done, hobby I’ve had (oh and relationships and friendships – wife….golden anniversary in 2023…eek….mum, granny, mum in law, mum out of law, sister, sister in law) informs who I am now! It’s a weird and wonderful mix!

2000-2020…the voice of travel on the BBC Radio Solent Breakfast Show….alongside that, December 2002/2007 producer/presenter early morning show! Oh, and 2007/2009 co producer of the afternoon show. I’ve “jacked” (organised) all sorts of slots, popped out through Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, to meet wonderful folk to record bits to air later. I’ve lurked overnight in Winchester Leisure Centre for election counts. For five years, I sent a fact sheet to over 12,000 people with IT tips!

That’s because my broadcast career began whilst I was running my IT training Centre and popped in on Friday afternoons to be with the wonderful Richard Cartridge to chat all things IT. I talked software and Vic from Solent University, talked hardware. His producer at the time was now award winning author Ali Sparkes,I blame it all on her!

One of the extraordinary things about sitting in a cupboard wittering on about the traffic, is that people invite you to open fetes, turn on Christmas lights, host events (particularly wonderful was hosting the Southampton Schools Music events at the Nuffield and Mayflower theatres) and meet all sorts of inspirational people.

When I turned 60 I made 93 cushions (it was meant to be 60!) for 93 charities…making over £10,000 pounds!

A few years later I abseiled down the https://www.spinnakertower.co.uk for https://www.rowanshospice.co.uk. I thought I’d find my inner dare devil….but turns out I’m just a woss!

The boring bits (in case you’re interested!):

2000-2020. Working for BBC Radio Solent in a variety of roles.

1995 to 2003 ran ABC Computing, my IT training company, and also did database development in Microsoft Access for local small businesses.

1992-1997 Lecturer in Computing and business studies and Assistant Manager, Services to Business Unit king Alfred’s College, now Winchester. Also founded the successful IT Club there.

1992 part time Personnel Manager, The White Horse, Romsey. Part of the Heritage Group of Hotels in the Forte Empire. Gosh, I loved this job! But when it was felt the roles (all part time) were very successful and they made them full time (three hotels each) it wasn’t for me so very sadly took redundancy (although it had only been a few months so no redundancy pay!).

1983-92 various roles at Eastleigh College. Another wonderful time, which started as a student on a tailoring course with the fabulous Toni Betts, and led to lecturing roles, Assistant Head of the Adult Education Centre to cover maternity leave and lecturing on BTec courses in the main College.

1976-1978 Assistant Personnel Manager, Warner Lambert, Eastleigh

1974-76 Assistant Personnel Officer, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester. Have to admit that after IBM, which in the 70s was bringing a more relaxed and equal mindset to the workplace, the rigid structure was an unpleasant shock! One of the interesting thing about covid was hospital wards, so much later, working as teams!

1972-74 Secretary, Personnel Department! IBM Havant

1972 secretary, Butterick and Vogue, Havant

Qualifications:

2000 Authorised instructor for MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Access

1999 Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) Master

1994 BSC in Information Systems (gained on a part time course from Southampton Solent)

1996 City and Guilds Adult Trainers Certificate, 730, stages 1 and 2

1978 Graduate of Institute of Personnel and Development

1972 wide range of secretarial qualifications, Chichester College

1971. One year English and Drama course, Chichester College of Further Education

1969 seven o levels including Maths and English