Her parents were Diana Mary Erica (born Wilson) and Maurice Bridgeman who had married four years before.

Her father worked for an oil company until the war started when he became a civil servant.

[1] She continued her education and she took a sociology degree at the Polytechnic of Central London after she had gained three A levels by correspondence.

She went on to work with charities including a long association with St Michael's Fellowship.

[2] In 1989 she was involved with the creation of the Association of Charitable Foundations[1] which garnered a lot of interest but a major concern was whether it would be helpful.