Profile updated 14/10/26
Southern England
English, French, BSL, German
07770 933117
I have been a guide for 42 years - 15 years as a European Tour Manager, escorting tourists by coach and on river cruises throughout Northern Europe, and then 26 years as a Blue Badge guide (qualified in 2001). I live near Henley and spend my time guiding in the Thames, Chilterns and Oxfordshire Cotswolds.
I'm trilingual in English/French/German and am qualified up to Level 3.2 in British Sign Language (BSL). I also speak (but don't guide in) Italian, Dutch and Spanish.
I am cheerful, caring and sympathetic, and love making my passengers' experience memorable and fun. I like a bit of banter and to get to know my clients and am especially happy when I see them laughing.
I am the co-author of the book 'Windsor, A History And Celebration' (published by Ottakar/Frith), am licensed to guide inside Windsor Castle and have written the scripts of and performed many open-air costumed light-hearted guided tours and ghost walks in Windsor and Henley over the years.
I am a devotee of the TV series "Midsomer Murders" (known as "Barnaby" overseas), "Inspector Morse", "Marlow Murder Club" and "Downton Abbey" and enjoy guiding guests around the real towns and villages where these were filmed. If you like set-jetting, visit my website!
I am also a volunteer speaker for the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and if I meet clients using BSL I am especially happy to banter.
| Midsomer Murders |
| Windsor & Castle |
| British Sign Language |
| Oxford & Colleges |
| Inspector Barnaby |
| Henley-on-Thames |
| Thames and Chilterns |
| Downton Abbey |
| Marlow |
| Lace-making and other crafts |
| Inspector Morse |
| The Oxfordshire Cotswolds |
| Marlow Murder Club |
| Ghosts, Murders & Mysteries | Many years of enjoyment of the TV drama "Midsomer Murders" has led me to devise themed tours around the filming venues in the Thames and Chilterns. Being an avid fan of Inspector Morse, I have put together a walking tour in Oxford around the book and TV filming locations. I have also prepared a lovely guided walk in Marlow based on the "Marlow Murder Club" books. |
| Folklore & Traditions | How traditions developed, costumes and music, food and pageantry. Order of the Garter is a favourite. I also make bobbin lace and give tours of the lace-making town of Marlow followed by a lace-making lesson. |
| Churches & Cathedrals | Design, symbolism, the lives of saints and other significant characters. I like to look at the people who commissioned, designed and constructed the buildings, in addition to the architecture. |
| Walking Tours | Windsor and its castle, Eton, Henley, Marlow, Dorchester-on-Thames and Oxford. Also, the fictional villages where Midsomer Murders and Downton Abbey were filmed. |
| Conferences & Incentives | Walks and coach tours in the Thames Valley - themed, costumed, humorous. Boat trip commentaries on the Thames at Henley. Midsomer Murders themed tours in the Thames and Chilterns. Light-hearted treasure hunts for team-building. Murder/mystery games: play the detective. |
| Interpreting & Translating | I am fluent in French and German, and proficient in Dutch, Italian and Spanish. I am currently studying BSL Level 3. |
| Decorative Arts/Arts & Crafts | I give walks in the Chilterns lace-making villages, followed by a lesson in lace-making where clients can take the lace they make home. |
Windsor Castle, 2012 Venues
NVQ Level 4 Blue Badge
No
Regional Qualifications: Heart of England, City of Oxford Green Badge
Language(s): English
Regional Qualifications: City of Winchester Green Badge
Language(s): English
Regional Qualifications: Heart of England, City of Oxford Green Badge
Language(s): English