She formed her own band in 1938 and won a contract, against great competition, in 1942, to provide a 12-piece girls' band at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, which was converted into dance-hall for British and American service personnel during World War II.
[1] She was also featured in regular radio broadcasts, including Saturday night at the Palais, Ocean Revue of 1946 and the Sandown Summer Show (1947).
After this she led the resident band in Beach Ballroom Aberdeen, between 1948 and 1950 with John Hanson, a popular guest singer.
Given the honorary rank of major in the US Army,[1] she and the band were housed in the infamous "Wannsee Villa" for a time.
In later life, she appeared in several films, including The World of Barry McKenzie, and she was frequently recognised as the "old lady at a bus stop" in Four Weddings & A Funeral.