About Me

I’m a dual citizen of the USA & UK. I arrived in the UK from France at the end of 1999. I found out about handbell ringing while living in Paris in 1997. At that time I was singing in the American Church choir and during one of the services heard a handbell choir ringing. They made the most beautiful music I had ever heard. I was immediately drawn to the instrument.

Happily I was able to spend the next year and a half learning how to play them from distinguished handbell ringer/composer/conductor, Fred Gramann who was my American Church choir conductor. After moving to Chester I immediately made contact with a local team and they took me to my first regional handbell rally in Bury. A few months later I was given some bells that were stored in the attic of my local church and the Waverton Handbell Ringers were born.

I spent twelve wonderful years buying more bells and training new ringers and learning how to be a conductor. In 2010 we won first place in the Large Ensemble division on the Chester Competitive Music Festival. A proud moment for us all.

Somewhere around the later 2000s I joined the Northern Bell Orchestra as a ringer. In 2016 I became co-conductor for two years working with Tim Willetts before taking over as Music Director in 2018. It was a dream come true.

I have a university degree in Music Education and taught music in two primary schools (600 students twice a week) for 4 years before changing my career. Music is the red thread throughout my life. I can’t live without it. I have played the piano, clarinet, saxophone, & guitar just for fun. Singing was what I loved most and I have been privileged to have sung with some really great conductors, including Sir Mark Elder when I was in the Hallé Choir. A the moment I am singing with the Chester Bach Singers under the direction of Martin Bussey.

Photography is a recent hobby of mine which takes me to some very beautiful places in the world; Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Wales and the USA. Future plans include Scotland where I can further indulge my passion for landscape photography. I’m learning how to use Lightroom & Photoshop so that I can express my creativity in a different way.

I have two very wonderful children and two even more wonderful granddaughters who live in the USA. I try to spend as much time as I can with them.

Bio Coming Soon

About Me

I live in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, married to Carl since 1992, I have a daughter, son-in-law and two grand-daughters who live in Birmingham.  I work at Rotherham College, I taught ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) for 25 years but now I look after the community classes.

How long have you been playing handbells?

I started handbell ringing when I was in junior school.  I then left in my teens but returned some 40 years later.

Do you play for any other groups and if so, what are they?

I play with the Ecclesfield Handbell team and the East Midlands Regional Team.  There's also a small Rotherham team that I ring with sometimes, they rehearse on Saturdays so I can't always be there.

Do you play any other instruments?

I play piano, have done ever since I can remember really.  My mum was a piano teacher and I did some teaching myself for a time.  

What is your favourite piece/s to conduct or play?

My favourite piece to play is Gabriels Oboe.  My favourite piece to conduct at the moment is Plink, Plank, Plunk.

Do you have any other hobbies?

I like reading psychological thriller books, enjoy visiting vintage railways and love spending time with my grand-daughters, I knit, and also occasionally foster support dogs who are in training.

What region of HRGB are you a member of?

The North East Region, currently Regional Secretary and Newletter Editor.

What instrument can you NOT play that you would like to?

After hearing/watching a guest team at our Sleaford concert last year, I'd really like to be able to play the steel drums.  I've not yet been able to find a local team though.