I went to Friends School, Lisburn (’78-’83) and loved it, especially playing hockey and doing Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards. I did a BSc in Biochemistry at QUB (’83-’88); I was a volunteer in a drug rehab in Andover, Hants.; I trained and worked as a Biomedical Scientist in Basingstoke, Hants.; and I worked as a cook and then as the housekeeper at an outdoor pursuits centre in Snowdonia. I worked in the new Antrim Area Hospital in Haematology & Blood Bank (’94-’98); did an MSc in Biomedical Sciences at UUC; got married; had three children one after the other and became a full-time mum.

 

In between school runs I did a Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy (2006 – 2009) and worked as a volunteer counsellor for four years; I ran my own childminding business for the next eight years (2010 – 2018) and following that, worked as a Nanny for two further years up until October 2020. I trained as a Humanist Funeral Celebrant in 2017, as a Wedding Celebrant in 2018 and finally as a Naming Celebrant in 2019. At the start of 2023, I took up a role in the health service again to run along side my celebrant work.

I am happiest outside at the beach, in a forest or half-way up a mountain feeling the wind and the sun on my face, and I have a little dog called Hendrix (the guitarist, not the gin!) I am a bit of a poet, a wannabe ballet dancer, and an adventurer. I love cooking for family and friends, drinking good wine and listening to loud music… and preferably all three at the same time!