The early years
I was raised in a Nottinghamshire mining village and enjoyed a happy, tomboyish childhood, during which the value of hard work and the determination to never give up were firmly implanted into my being. I credit my straightforward and unpretentious approach to life to my no-nonsense parents and grandparents, who taught me to treat people with honesty, fairness, and respect.
I was lucky to have loving parents and two sets of grandparents, who were very involved in my upbringing. My grandparents have been dead many years now, but I still miss them.
My husband, Kevin, and I have been together since 1976 and were married in 1980. We have one son, Colin. We are a very tight-knit family. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we do have our disagreements – what family doesn’t? – but we all get along very well. If we didn’t, our Just For Tummies family business would not be as successful as it is. You can’t run a family business if the family is not completely together.
We all have a strong work ethic with high standards, customer service being particularly important to us.
How it all began
My passion for natural medicine was sparked by my grandfather, a master herbalist, who restored his health using homemade tinctures, ointments, and liniments. After being shot in the mouth during the Gallipoli campaign and later sent to fight in the trenches of the Somme, he returned home from the First World War both physically and mentally broken – but natural medicine healed him.
Some of my earliest memories are of visiting my grandparents and stepping into their kitchen, where the scent of drying herbs filled the air. I can still picture it: wildflowers, nettles, and dock leaves hanging from the ceiling, a saucepan of nettles bubbling on the stove, and herbs simmering over the coal fire. My grandfather, seated by the hearth, would carefully mix his herbal concoctions, always swearing by the power of nettles as a blood cleanser. He drank a mugful every day and taught me the importance of picking young nettle shoots for their natural iron content.
One of my greatest treasures is his well-worn Culpeper herbal book, which now sits alongside his campaign medals and photographs – precious reminders of his resilience and wisdom.
My career path
My career in natural medicine began in 1992, and over the years, I’ve gained a range of qualifications across various natural health disciplines, including remedial massage, therapeutic ultrasound, acupuncture, naturopathic nutrition, and colon hydrotherapy. From the moment I began my training in colon hydrotherapy, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. It was a therapy that would not only transform my own life but also the lives of thousands of others.
In 2005, I founded what soon became one of the UK’s most successful clinics for digestive and gut health, carrying out over 100,000 consultations and treatments. Colon hydrotherapy has always been my greatest passion in holistic health.
When my husband, Kevin, and I had to close the clinic in March 2020 due to Covid restrictions, we took the opportunity to reassess our work-life balance. With Just For Tummies expanding rapidly and demanding more of our time, we made the difficult decision not to reopen the clinic. Our granddaughter, Jessica, had been born just a month before the first lockdown, and our son and daughter-in-law needed our support. Something had to give, and while closing the clinic was a tough choice – especially for our loyal clients – we were able to refer them to highly qualified practitioners in the area.
Skills and expertise that shape my work
I am one of the few Mayr medicine-trained therapists in the UK, having studied at the world-renowned Viva Mayr Clinic in Austria under Dr. Harald Stossier, now retired, but who was one of the top five digestive health doctors in the world.
As a registered practitioner, I am regulated by The Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the government-backed complementary health regulator, in the categories of Naturopath and Colon Hydrotherapist. I am also a member of The General Naturopathic Council.
Since 2005, I have been a member of the UK’s oldest and largest colon hydrotherapy association, The Association of Registered Colon Hydrotherapists (ARCH), where I served on the Committee for six years – three as Vice Chair – playing a key role in organising the AGM and annual conference.
Additionally, I spent three years on the Advisory Board of The IBS Network, the UK’s IBS charity, deepening my understanding of digestive health and the profound impact gut disorders can have on daily life.
The many hats I wear
In addition to running Just For Tummies and providing tailored advice to customers on their digestive and gut health, I’m also the Founder of Tummy Talk, a thriving online support community that connects people with highly experienced natural health practitioners.
Together, we provide expert guidance and practical tips for people seeking natural ways to manage their health. Request to join here.
I’m deeply passionate about educating and empowering people on digestive and gut health, women’s health, and complementary therapies – but I don’t just share textbook advice. My writing is packed with real-life experiences, hard-earned wisdom, and a good dose of humour (because let’s face it, gut health isn’t always glamorous!). Whether I’m breaking down the latest research, debunking health myths, or sharing my own wellness wins and woes, I keep it relatable, practical, and refreshingly honest. Check out my blog here, and vlog here.
“It’s my belief that everyone struggling with a chronic health problem – whether it be IBS, constipation, other common digestive health issues and gut-related disorders, or UTIs and menopause issues – can be helped. It’s just accessing the expertise, treatments, protocols and supplements that work.”
