Judi was editor of the Weston Mercury for 25 years until she retired in 2014. She became involved with the hospice when Jill Dando, a former reporter on the paper, became patron. Judi became a trustee in 2009 and took over the chair in 2015. A position she held until May 2023.
She helped launch one of the hospice’s biggest annual fundraisers — the Mercury Mendip Walk — and positioned the paper behind the hospice for many appeals and events including initiating the Ground Force production of Jill’s Garden and inviting Sir Cliff Richard and a host of celebrities to a fundraising evening in the Winter Gardens. She is married, with a son, two step-daughters and six grandchildren.
Judi became a Patron in May 2023 immediately after handing over the reins of Chair of Trustees to Dr Peter Smith.