I was born near London Bridge, and some of my earliest memories are of playing on the cannons at the Tower of London – now a World Heritage Site – or running up and down the stairs at the Monument (to the Great Fire of London) in the years before mass tourism. Despite much of my working life taking place overseas, I remain fascinated by this vibrant world city and how it has developed into what we see today. It’s this fascination, combined with my love of history and the arts, that makes my job as a Westminster guide such fun, allowing me to pass on my experiences to visitors.
I was lucky enough to graduate with a Humanities Degree from Greenwich University at its premises at the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich – another World Heritage Site and birthplace of Henry VIII – before going on to work at a third World Heritage Site, the Palace of Westminster, also known as the Mother of Parliaments. My work for a member of the House of Lords gave me insights into the workings of political Westminster and its institutions. I’ve also worked as an assistant to a member of the European Parliament and on my tours I like to draw comparisons between London and other European cities, pointing out how they influenced and continue to influence each other.
I speak French and German fluently, and have a good level of Italian.
