Our group members
Louise Bowdery
I am a qualified audiologist. I am a mum to two girls. I am profoundly deaf and recently fitted with a cochlear implant. I have progressive hearing loss. I have lived with hearing loss all my life, both personally and professionally. I would like to better understand hearing loss and how to improve life for those who are deaf/hearing impaired. I did my MSc on cochlear implants at the University of Southampton about 12 years ago. I never thought I would end up with one!
Fatima Farhan
I was born with profound hearing loss and currently wear a cochlear implant and hearing aid. I graduated with a first-class honours Biomedical Sciences degree. I am currently a trainee Audiologist in the NHS scientist training programme. I am incredibly interested in the work behind cochlear implants and want to help contribute to making the experience better for others. Despite my hearing loss, I have learnt to speak fluently in two different languages.
Clive Molyneux
I have CHARGE Syndrome and wear a Cochlear BAHA 5 Super Power hearing aid. I am also being assessed for a cochlear implant. I joined the group to benefit from information and experience exchange. I am a member of local civic and Equality and Diversity groups. I sing (badly) in a choir. I am an amateur genealogist and a founding UK member of the International Molyneux Family Association.
Eva Newberry
I am a senior manager/consultant specialising in quality and improvement, committed to delivering inclusive service provision. I am experienced in training, development, mentoring and public speaking. I have been married for 38 years and have one daughter. I acquired chronic permanent tinnitus and deafness at 20. I received my first cochlear implant in 2005 and became bi-lateral in 2008. A proficient lipreader, I didn’t hear my daughter until my first switch on when she was three and a half years old. Our family’s journey back to sound motivates me to help further research. I am a mentor with the Advanced Bionics Community. Helping people during their own unique journeys is fundamental to why I volunteer. I talk to people, groups and conferences about my own experience. I am the co-inventor and maker of the ChoobToob, a garment designed for children with a central line. It was originally created for my great niece who had neuroblastoma at 3 months old. I am a non-executive Director for Tiny Teas Trust, set up to help other children receiving treatment. We have made over 200 garments to order.
Dr Christopher John Satchwell
I am a widowed father of two and grandfather of four. My career spans selling airliners in South America, teaching aerodynamics to BA pilots, wind energy research at the University of Southampton, the financial markets and authoring a book ‘Pattern Recognition and Trading Decisions’. I grew up with a deaf brother and grew deaf myself with age. I have an appreciation of some of the technologies underlying cochlear implants. This experience will help to articulate the problems deaf people face to those able to mitigate them. Before my hearing became poor, I used to fly a light aircraft (PA38) in the French Maritime Alps.
Sarah Smith
I have not been involved in any PPIE work but have always enjoyed working in a team. Having more people involved translates to a much richer viewpoint. I was a lay supporter for a research submission. I have participated in experiments at AIS and MRC in Cambridge. I am fascinated by learning more about auditory processing and brain health. I have used my lived experience of hearing music through a cochlear implant as a speaker at conferences. I enjoy using experience to support possible candidates and users of cochlear implants. A friend and I prepared the ‘Chalk Stream Challenge’ as a lockdown project. It was rewarding and many people have taken it up since!
Sandra Wilson
I am late deafened and had my cochlear implant surgery in 2017. I work full time and have a full social life thanks to my amazing cochlear implant. I had to be re-implanted due to migration and am the subject of an USAIS research study. I wanted to contribute to other research topics in the hope that I will help others. I completed a charity knitting challenge and knitted every day for 30 days.
Sue Boswell
I spent 30 years working in HR and IT. Now I enjoy volunteering at Hillier Gardens and Bursledon Brickworks. I lost my hearing over a period of 20 years due to a genetic condition and am now classed as profoundly deaf. For the last few years, I relied on lip reading to get by. In June 2022 I had a life-changing cochlear implant. I can hear so much more now, both speech and environmental sounds. The Auditory Implant Services and NHS gave me amazing support and I want to give something back. I understand the issues that people face when dealing with hearing loss and deafness and hope that my experiences can help. As a group, I hope that we can collectively raise awareness of hearing issues, deafness and cochlear implants within our communities.
Neil Johnston
I am 72 years old and retired, after serving as a Royal Air Force navigator and air traffic controller. I live with my wife, Margaret, in our home in Salisbury. We have two sons and three beautiful grandchildren. I have had hearing problems for over 40 years after being exposed to loud jet engine noise for much of my early career. Over time, my hearing became much worse. By my sixties, I was profoundly deaf in both ears. I was fortunate to be selected to have a cochlear implant operation in June 2022, which has greatly improved my hearing in many areas. My implant is on the left and I wear a hearing aid on the right. The care and support from the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service has been amazing. Everyone is so kind and understanding.
Anne Cato
I am retired nurse/midwife. I volunteer at the Priory Road Luncheon Club and St Denys Activity Group. I joined the group after Kate Hough came to the Priory Road Luncheon Club to talk about hearing conditions and the available support. I knew several people in our community with hearing loss and I wanted to raise awareness. The group is very welcoming, and I always feel included. I have bought two people with hearing loss to the group. I hope they will learn and take appropriate action. The University is keen to engage with the members of public and their contributions are welcome.
Joan Pawson
I am an 84-year-old great grandmother of four. I was born in London and remember the second World War, air raid shelters and gas masks. After travelling to Italy in 1957, I got the travel bug. I have been to most of Europe, Barbados, USA, Bahamas and Jamaica. I have lived near the New Forest for the past 54 years. I worked for Nursing Studies then the School of Nursing for 12 years. I try to spread the word for all people with hearing loss. I am part of a support group for people with hearing loss. This is where I met Kate, who invited me to join the group.
Marcia Elizabeth Hudson
I retired in 2023 after being a registered Nurse/Midwife, Educator, Health Regulator (nationally and internationally), with over 38 years’ experience. In 2021, I became involved in community engagement. In 2022, I volunteered as the Chair, Priory Road Community Group, an over 50’s Club. The group’s theme is wellbeing, physical activity and nutrition. In 2024, I stepped down as Club Chair and became the club’s voluntary community engagement person for their group’s activities which included their involvement in when required public initiatives. ALL_EARS, was one such initiative which means a lot to me as I have a family history of hearing loss related issues. I recognised the implications this condition could have on not only individual but their work and the family. So, when approached by the UoS ALL_EARS Research Team Lead to identify a group willing to participate in the research, I invited the team to share the research with the Club. The community members engaged well and some expressed a willingness to be involved through public involvement by sharing their lived experience and knowledge insight, and when required and as able, will participate in sharing the ALL_EARS group community focused message.
Mrs Lydia Hudson
Prior to retiring some 30 years ago, I was a healthcare assistant nurse. For many years I cared for my late-husband who was a very likeable person, even when diagnosed with Parkinson and Diabetes. Noel, my husband had hearing loss in one ear and wore a hearing aid which served him well. However, I noticed that although he had regular clinic visits, his hearing issues where only ever resolved with new hearing aid batteries and occasionally at the local hearing clinic and with the GP nurse, a ear wax clean. Since, the Covid Pandemic, I suffered with issues such as balance and I was advised after a few checks that it is time for me to wear a hearing aid. I had many times refused because of many reasons not least not wishing to wear a hearing aid which would be visible, I do not like the way they look or how they blend in with my skin colour. For some time, I have been awaiting a hearing loss appointment for my hearing aid fitting. ALL_EARS has not only given me the confidence to wear a hearing aid, but being involved with the group enables me to be a better advocate to my friends and family on highlighting the benefits of the impact of improved hearing.
Dr Dalia Tsimpida
I am a lecturer in Gerontology at the Centre for Research on Ageing and a scientific advisor in the World Hearing Forum of the World Health Organization. I am passionate about research to improve health care, reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for the growing number of people living with hearing loss. Inspired by two family members who faced significant barriers due to hearing loss, I am dedicated to finding solutions. Patient and public involvement are central to my work. I am proud to be part of the group, which strives to make a real difference in people’s lives.
Laura Gray
I’ve always enjoyed singing but have experienced considerable hearing loss. After being fitted with hearing aids, I found the courage to join a small choir. To my horror, my brain no longer knew if the sounds coming out of my mouth bore any resemblance to the music. A friend in the choir suggested contacting All Ears. This group has helped me regain confidence by sharing experiences, views and learning with clinicians, researchers, and others with lived experience.
Ms. Norma Rodgers
I have been a community public member of ALL_EARS for the past couple of years and have been extremely interested in my community involvement. As a retired Registered Nurse/Midwife and Health Visitor, continual development has always been a valued aspect of my personal growth. One of the most valued aspects of sharing my lived experiences with ALL_EARS, is being able to introduce aspects of the hearing loss learning curves such as my insight into cochlear implant and also being able to share subjects for instance the value of the hearing loop with my fellow community family. Another area of enormous relevance is discussions we have had on how hearing loss, particularly undiagnosed hearing loss, can negatively impact the community in areas such as loneliness, refusal to be involved in community conversation. Although my lived experiences benefit ALL-EARS, participating with the group enables me to use hearing loss related knowledge, in supporting my community.
Barbara Hudson Owen
I am a retired Mental Health Nurse. During my years working as a nurse I worked with patients, young and old, with hearing difficulties. However I learnt the most from a young girl when I worked as a School Nurse. This young girl was deaf and she refused to wear her hearing aid so she spent the school day lip reading. She was a remarkable young lady.
My father also developed hearing loss in his latter years. I have been diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease which has affected my hearing. Joining and participating in All_EARS has helped me, increased my knowledge and enabled me to be a benefit to my community.