Meet the BCS team

Originally I came ‘from away’, having been born in the East End of London, but I have lived in this part of the world for most of my adult life. My first career started 1975 as a nurse in the A&E department of Lowestoft hospital and later I became part of the first clinical team that moved into the brand new James Paget theatre suite, caring for patients on a 1-1 basis until they were sufficiently recovered to be safely returned to their ward.

Later in the 1980s I began teaching Health & Social Care subjects in Sixth Form and Further Education colleges, which included experiences such as setting up NVQ partnerships with third party providers, taking on management responsibilities, founding an International school within a college to receive students from overseas, and as an Ofsted inspector.

Retiring to Bungay in 2010 I joined the Town Council in 2015 and worked with others to bring about the change that enabled the Council to have permanent offices within the town and a fulltime town clerk. In addition I helped to establish a community role and responsibility in caring for Bungay Old Cemetery and took an active part in creating Annis Hill Green as an open natural space for all the town to enjoy. I am proud that as a founding member and deputy chair of the Neighbourhood Development Plan group, we achieved statutory approval in 2022.

At the time of the pandemic I was Town Mayor and was overwhelmed by the amazing response of local people to quickly unite to create Bungay Emergency Community Support. As we all know BCS is the permanent legacy of that time. The kindness, generosity of spirit and willingness to pull together that enabled us to care for one and other continues today, with residents from all walks of life happy to share their skills, experience and their time for the benefit of others.

As trustees our mission is to steer BCS so that the charity remains a central part of the community it serves and continues to adapt and respond to the changing needs of those who live in and around the town of Bungay.

Having been born & brought up on the East London/Essex border, I have a varied employment background initially being employed at the BBC External Services, firstly in HR and then as a Production Secretary, before becoming Assistant to Finance Managers in a major London Corporate Bank.

Leaving to raise our family, I started working with the local branch of MENCAP. I am a strong believer in looking at a person’s ability, not disadvantage, and in finding ways to help them achieve their potential.

In 1984 in East London my husband started his own supported employment charity to enable people with disabilities, enter the world of work. This has grown significantly & is still going strong. My role was dealing with finances and contracts, negotiating and securing Service Level Agreements & major contracts with Local Authorities & Government and European funding.

During this time, I was also Parent Governor at my children’s school for a total of 16 years, 10 of those being as Chair.

We bought our house in Ditchingham Dam in 2011 to “ease into retirement”. Whilst renovating the house, we were travelling to work at our charity during the week. Despite this part-time occupation, within 3-months we knew more people in Bungay than we did in the London street where we had lived for 17-years. Therefore, when the call went out from BECS during the Covid shutdown for people to help, I began making face-masks as a way of showing our appreciation of being part of the community. I then made the mistake of saying that with my background, was there any other way I could help………???

I am really pleased to be part of such a dynamic team of people – Trustees, volunteers and staff – all of whom go “over and above” levels of dedication to ensure the development of Bungay Community Support and its wide range of services to members of our community. A lot of this work goes unseen, and as such is thought not to be needed, but is vital to those people in our community who receive it.

I spent 33 years working for IBM UK in a number of roles including customer service engineer, instructor and software designer and developer in the UK, USA and Belgium. I then spent 12 years as a publican before retiring to Bungay. I am a member of the Royal British Legion and am former Chairman of Bungay Branch. My wife and I are Poppy Appeal Organisers for the Bungay area.

I served on the Bungay Neighbourhood Development Plan steering group and was active in the early days of Bungay Emergency Community Support. I was told to shield, heard about BECS and, with Eddie Rosier, help set up the systems which we are still using for deliveries. I am now a trustee of BCS and am still a Driver Coordinator and organise the deliveries rota. I became a Town Councillor in 2020 and was elected Mayor in 2022.

I was a trustee of the Falcon Meadow Community Trust when it was first set up and Chair of East Suffolk Country Markets. I have IT skills including website development, office systems and networking. I am also a keen photographer and videographer.

Having been born and brought up locally, I moved away for a career in the health sector. I returned with a family, drawn by my love of East Anglia and its one football team. I believe we have a shared responsibility towards our town.

Where possible we should commit to keeping Bungay vibrant, healthy and welcoming to all. I am committed to family, organic gardening and keeping active. I am a volunteer shopper and Trustee with responsibilities towards safeguarding.

Upon completing my studies at the Kyiv International University, Ukraine, where I obtained a degree in Electronics Engineering for Environmental, Scientific, and Analytical Systems, I had the opportunity to build my career, progressing from manager to deputy director at a “Security Systems Company” (2001-2007) in Kiev, Ukraine. During this period, I also graduated from the Kyiv University of Management, specialising in Audit and Accounting.

Subsequently, I was appointed as Project Director at an “International Investment and Building Holding” based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

From 2010 to 2022, I successfully balanced raising my children with managing my own business.

My introduction to life in the United Kingdom began in 2022, when my children and I relocated to Suffolk, to the charming village “Blythburgh”. There is an incredibly friendly, close-knit, culturally oriented community where mutual support is prevalent, which deeply resonated with me. From a young age, I have always had a strong inclination to assist others, whether people, animals, or even plants, and to contribute to their well-being.

In 2023, we had to move again, and fortunately it was Bungay, a quaint, peaceful, and indescribably beautiful town filled with kindness and smiling, hospitable people. The welcoming atmosphere inspired in me a strong desire to contribute to the local community.

Not long after, I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful team at BCS and became a volunteer. 

Today, I am honoured to be able to contribute my energy and diverse work experience to such an important and noble charitable mission, which is carried out by the entire BCS team, in my role as Supervisor of the Food Hall.