Fiona Hall (née Cutts) was born on 15th July 1955, in Swinton, Manchester. She has lived in Whittingham, Northumberland since 1981 and has two grown up daughters. Fiona was educated at Worsley Wardley Grammar School in Swinton and Eccles College. She graduated in Modern Languages at Oxford University (St Hugh’s College) and then gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Oxford Polytechnic. After leaving University, Fiona taught in a squatter settlement in Botswana for two years. On her return to England, she worked in Northumberland as a play group leader and part-time supply teacher.