Throughout the years, many have left their mark on the community through creativity, passion, and the ability to inspire those around them. Today, we share the story of Fiona Pickford—a devoted lover of the arts who spent her life nurturing young dancers, traveling the world as a flight attendant, and forming meaningful connections wherever she went. Now a beloved family member (resident) at Sundial Care Home near Sidmouth, Fiona’s story is one of a woman’s creativity, exploration, and a life lived with passion and purpose.
On the 12th of August, 1948, Fiona Pickford was born in Yeovil, Somerset. Where she lived with her mother, father and younger sister. Her father worked at the local paper following his return from the war, eventually becoming a Director at Haynes Publishing. Her mother worked as a school teacher and it was said she taught cricket legend, Ian Botham, how to catch! At just four years old, Fiona discovered her love for ballet, a passion that would remain a defining part of her life. She attended St Gilda’s Catholic School in Yeovil, and continued her education until she left at age 15.
In 1968, Fiona earned her certification to teach classical ballet, qualifying as an associate at the elementary syllabus level. Passionate about sharing her love for ballet, she devoted herself to teaching children in Yeovil, many of whom were stepping into the world of dance for the very first time.
Fiona's talents extended beyond ballet. At around 20 years old, she was crowned Yeovil’s Deputy Carnival Queen, a title that reflected her grace and strong presence within the community. Her love for the stage continued to shine a few years later when she embraced amateur dramatics, performing at the Swan and Octagon Theatre’s, also in Yeovil.
Following this and eager to broaden her horizons, Fiona moved to the city of Bristol, with her first husband, Alan, who worked as a Police Officer. There, she found work as a fitness instructor, stepping into the role with confidence and style- her uniform consisting of a leotard, fishnet tights, and a pair
of heels! Throughout her twenties, she also went on to a job working at the Job Centre in Bristol and took on various waitressing roles.
On a new venture, Fiona trained to be an Air Hostess with British Caledonian and embraced the excitement of life in the skies. However, when Fiona later married her second husband, John, who was a Merchant Navy Captain, she unfortunately had to give up this career, as regulations at the time prohibited married women from working as air hostesses.
Though her career in the skies had come to an end, that didn’t stop Fiona from travelling, as she and John decided to see the world for themselves. The couple visited many places around the globe, Africa being one of Fiona’s favourite places she had visited. She joked that every place she visited turned into a warzone afterward! Fiona looks back fondly of this time, and ever stylish, she maintained her impeccable sense of fashion throughout her travels. Her daughter, Tamsyn, mentioned “I’ve only ever seen ONE photo of my mum wearing trousers, she travelled the world in skirts!”.
After their ventures, the couple settled in Yeovil, Somerset, and welcomed their daughter Tamsyn, in August of 1979. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she too pursued a love for dance at a young age. “I love dancing and did ballet, I achieved honours in Grade 5 that was awarded by Darcey Bussell.”
However, Tamsyn discovered she loved playing football more than dancing, so she began training with Yeovil Town Football Club instead. “I don’t think mum was too happy about this!” Tamsyn laughed. Looking back on her fond memories of her dancing days with her mum, she recalls “My mum’s ballet teacher, Val, her first husband was one of THE Liz Taylor’s husbands! She would always love telling me this.”
During her time living in Yeovil, Fiona took on a job for WTCS where she worked as an administrator, supporting the unemployed to find work. “I remember mum really enjoying this job, she loved meeting and greeting clients” Tamsyn shared. Later, Fiona met her third husband, John, the “love of her life”. They married and were together for 5 years, until he sadly passed away. This left Fiona heartbroken and a widower in her early 40’s.
Fiona later moved to Sidmouth, Devon, where she lived for 24 years in the town centre, and enjoyed spending her time with friends and being out in the community. To this day, Fiona is fondly remembered within the Sidmouth community, “she was part of the furniture in Sidmouth, she used to carry her cards in red and white with her name and telephone number, I know her from the theatre, here, there and everywhere”, recalled a local resident.
Now in her retirement, Fiona lives at Sundial Care Home, close to her old home in Sidmouth. Where she is supported to lead a continuation of life, surrounded by companionship and a strong sense of community. Fiona actively embraces the home's wide range of activities, always engaging with enthusiasm and enjoying the opportunity to socialise. A good friend of hers, Vicki, voluntarily comes into the home once a month to sing, she is so proud her friend performs and entertains everyone.
Fiona also chooses to have her hair dyed pink by the home’s mobile hairdresser, Carly, as she was known in Sidmouth as “the lady with pink hair,” the home supports her in keeping this part of her identity. Fiona also enjoys regular visits from her daughter Tamsyn, and her grand-pup Jeep, who live in Exeter.
Fiona’s story is one of passion, adventure, and resilience. From the ballet studios and being crowned Deputy Carnival Queen, to the skies and corners of the world, from supporting others in their careers to building a life in Sidmouth, she has left a lasting impact on the people and places she’s influenced. Her journey serves as a reflection of a life lived with zest, connection, and the memories we create along the way.
To learn more about Sundial Care Home, visit https://www.sundialcare.com/sundial-life-captured/
