Biography
Brought up in a practising Jewish family, Michele Guinness worked for many years as a presenter, researcher and writer for national TV and radio, regularly contributing to Pause For Thought on BBC Radio 2. For two years she presented her own three-hour, daily lunchtime programme on BBC local radio in Coventry.
But a move to Lancashire proved the opportunity for a career change, and she became the communications manager for the Derian House Children’s Hospice appeal. Once it was up and running, a ‘chance encounter’ took her into the NHS as the first press officer at the Royal Preston Hospital. She went on to become communications manager for the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Trust for six years.
And then, in 2002, was appointed Head of Communications for the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority, supporting communications managers in 23 NHS trusts. She gave it up four years later to concentrate on writing, training and speaking.
Michele contributes to a number of magazines, including Families First, Woman Alive, (where she had a cookery column for two years), Christianity and The Church of England Newspaper.
She has also written eleven books, most from her uniquely Jewish perspective, including The Heavenly Party: Recover the Fun - Life-Changing Celebrations for Home and Community, published by Monarch, a guide to her much-loved celebration - at home or in the community. Chosen is a complete re-write and update of her best-selling autobiography, Child of the Covenant, first published 25 years ago. Autumn Leave - A Season in France tells the story of how she and her husband came to buy a house in France and their dream of living there one day.
She has also written a biography of the Guinness family, Genius of Guinness telling the story of her husband’s famous brewing, banking and missionary ancestors. The Word of the Wives is her latest book, a collection of 26 monologues, written mainly by her daughter, Abby, who is a professional actress, tells the stories of the great heroes of the Bible, from the perspective of the women who had to put up with them.
Michele has spoken at New Wine, Greenbelt, Spring Harvest, Detling and ECG as well as for the WI, Rotary, and Inner Wheel. She has even appeared at luncheons for flower arrangers - without ever having arranged a flower.
She is married to Peter, now Vicar of St Marks’, Gillingham, and they have a grown up son and daughter, and two gorgeous grandchildren.
You can also download a short biography for publication or print.
