Cheryl grew up in the early years of her life in the small village of Leigh-on-Sea, approximately 40 miles east of London near South-End-On-Sea, she and her family emigrated from England in 1955. At the age of ten she, and her family, started their new life in the US in Dobbs Ferry, New York, a short distance from White Plains.

Subsequently, they relocated again in 1957. This time to Southern California, eventually settling in the North Hollywood area where she would attend high school and start her collegiate journey at LA Valley College.

Her dad had been a very successful working actor in England and was trying to translate that success in the US, first in New York then in LA (Hollywood). He came from a show biz background naturally. His father was a songwriter/entertainer well established in stages in the US and England, and, as a songwriter his “Oh, You beautiful doll” and “If you were the only girl in the world” became world standards in the late 1910s. Her siblings, Jane and Simon also had long careers in the entertainment industry.

Cheryl, on the other hand,embraced a life-long career in education, working in the Los Angeles Unified School District and dedicated to working with ‘Special Needs’ students.

LAVC Homecoming Queen poster photo. November 1963

Almost all of her professional time in education was served in the South Central and San Pedro areas of Los Angeles.

For her efforts she was recognized by the city of Los Angeles as a “Teacher of the Year” in the 1983-84 academic year.

A Photo Reminiscence