Jennifer was born and brought up in Manchester, and went to University in London and then Cambridge where she didn't quite meet Iain. Instead, they met serendipitously in the car park of their local church, St. Mary's, Cheadle, on their way to Evensong duting an Easter vacation.

They married in 1964, and moved  from Manchester to Aldham in 1967 but Jennifer still regards herself as an exile from the North! Jennifer taught mainly history at New Hall School, Boreham, Chelmsford from 1973 to 2003 where she also had the distinction of being the first non-Catholic to teach RE at the school.

They have a daughter Fiona who has given them grandsons Thomas and James, and a son Robert who has produced a granddaughter Marla.

Like Iain, Jennifer became a Christian in her teens through the ministry of Crusaders (now called Urban Saints). She still has a passion for young people's work in the church.

Jennifer is very active in Colchester U3A.