State Board Members

   Jessica was born in London but moved as a young child to the North of England, where she grew up in Lytham St Annes, a seaside town on the coast of the Irish Sea. After studying Psychology at Bristol University, she emigrated to the US in 1980 and attended Tulane University in New Orleans, receiving a Master’s degree in Social Work. She specialized in Child and Family Psychotherapy and, following a move to Denver in 1986, opened a private practice which she ran for many years. In 2004 she changed careers and opened the House of Commons Tea Room in the Commons Park area of Denver. In 2019 she sold this business and is now a successful realtor at PorchLight Real Estate group where she enjoys helping others with their real estate needs. Jessica has two adult children and a dog named Theo, and especially enjoys spending time with them. She has many hobbies including reading, gardening, cooking, golf, and attending movies and theater; but she most appreciates being able to spend time in the mountains where she enjoys hiking and snowshoeing. Jessica joined the Commonwealth Rose chapter in 2020 and for a number of years was also a previous member of the Royal Daffodil chapter.

 I came to America in 1988 as a nurse during one of the nursing shortages and was hired in London to a hospital in Los Angeles. 

It was not until I came to Denver in 2001 that I found DBE.

I have been a member since then and have been State President, 1st VP, Organizer and Regent of the Sandhurst Chapter.

I grew up in Wiltshire in the shade of the Westbury White Horse. Lovely rural country and worked on a farm as a teenager, loving the outdoor life. Moved to London to train as a nurse at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead and loved living in the city as well. I would walk miles around the town and biked miles over the bridges and around (not sure I would want to do that today with the increase in traffic!). I would go to the theatre in the West End basically every week and get the cheap five pound last minute tickets. Saw many a great British Actor there, I also made sure I walked to the Mall to see the Trooping of the Color, and so had to fly home to see the Platinum Jubilee trooping of the Color in 2023.

Being in DBE lets me remain associated with many lovely British and Commonwealth ladies, and I like not always having to explain the things I say when I slip into ‘British’ jargon.

Lee was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. She worked for a local law firm specializing in conveyancing, i.e., writing up deeds of sale and mortgages. In 1977 Lee married Henri, a civil engineer.

Lee, Henri and their two children emigrated to the United States in October 1994 and settled in Denver. She was a stay-at-home mom until she joined Nordstrom in 1998. Since her retirement in 2013 she has traveled extensively locally and overseas. Her interests include cooking, reading, gardening, travel, and spending time with her two granddaughters.

Lee has been a member of the DBE for 10-years and has held the following positions in the organization, the Colorado State Organizer, Regent of the Commonwealth Rose Chapter, Interim Regent of the Mary Wollstonecraft Chapter and now the Colorado Sate 2nd Vice President.

Originally hailing from Truro, Cornwall, I now live in the wide open spaces of Elizabeth, Colorado, a far cry from the cobbled streets of Truro, and the extremely narrow and winding roads of Southern England. Growing up in Cornwall was truly magical. No matter where in the County you reside it is never very far from the glorious Cornish coastline. The thing I remember most was the long hot, yes hot summers spent at the seaside as a child. Something which I made a point of repeating for my own children who also grew up in Cornwall, in fact we could see the sea from our garden. 1996 saw the Colby family relocating to the United States due to a job opportunity for husband Phil, who was born in Moreton on the Wirral, and still secretly supports Liverpool Football Club. Also making the journey across the “pond” with us was daughter Amber, while our sons Ian and Neil remain in England, living in Church Crookham and Aldershot in Hampshire. I have been a member of the DBE since 2005, but did take a break to travel to distant shores as my husband was working in China, Australia and New Zealand. I have held a position on the State Board in one capacity or another since joining. State Recording Secretary was my first Board position. It was little more than a year later that it was determined there was a need for a DBE Chapter in the areas of Elizabeth, Kiowa and Parker, and so I left Royal Daffodil to set forth to form the Elizabethan Tudors Chapter of which I became the Regent. I remained the Regent of the Elizabethan Tudors until March of 2008, when I was elected as State President.

Continuing a theme that seems to run rampant in the Colby family, I have a great passion for reading, especially historical fiction, with Jane Austen being my favorite author. In fact I am such a huge Austen fan and became a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America.

  Liz was born in the old West Riding of Yorkshire, about 7 miles from the Market town of Selby. After she graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and a brief career as a singer with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, she settled in London working for the BBC in their classical music radio department. It was in London that she met her American born husband, Arlin,  and was married in 1978. Later that year, they moved to Boulder, where she became the stepmother to 2 boys. They lived in Boulder for 26 years before they moved to Denver when they retired in 2004. They then travelled extensively for the next few year. Liz joined DBE in Colorado in 2017 and is a member of the Commonwealth Rose Chapter.

Patricia was born in London England. She grew up in Aden now a part of Yemen. At sixteen she moved to Perth Western Australia to finish school and attend university. Following graduation she first worked as a psychologist at a center for people with cerebral palsy, and later became a lecturer teaching Habilitation studies and Human Development at Claremont College. In 1988, she and her husband moved to the USA with two of their children. Since moving to America she has lived in Hersey, Houston TX, Hamden CT and Denver CO. She has worked in the not for profit and university systems while living in the USA. Her daughters live in Newcastle Australia, Los Angeles CA and Denver CO. She has four grandchildren: two in Denver and two in L.A. Her interests include travel, reading, knitting, movies, animals and of course spending time with her grandchildren and all of their friends. She officially joined the DBE Commonwealth Rose Chapter in January 2019.

Suzanne was born in Paddington, England. While serving in the Women’s Royal Air Force, she met her husband, Guy, and moved to the United States in June of 1969. She has three children and six grandchildren. Suzanne has lived in several different countries over the years including, Italy, Singapore, Japan, England, and the United States. She enjoys knitting, gardening, and traveling around the United States with her husband and two dogs in their little vintage Airstream. Suzanne is a retired Clinical Nurse Specialist who specialized in oncology. She joined the Commonwealth Rose Chapter in July 2019. 

I was born and raised in the Kwa Zulu Natal region of South Africa. We lived on a sugar plantation and I was brought up experiencing a colonial lifestyle. My mother was a superb homemaker, gardener, cook, baker and judge at cooking shows. We often entertained, and hosting afternoon teas for neighbors was a favorite pastime. I learnt so much from her and share her interests as well as having a passion for cooking, gardening, design and decorating!

I met my husband to be when I was 18 and married at almost 21. During that time I attended Silwood Kitchen Cordon Bleu School in Cape Town and earned my Grande Diploma. Shortly thereafter we were transferred to the USA by my husband’s employer. Erie, Pa was the start of an adventure as we were transferred from there to Saudi Arabia, to Denver, back to South Africa, and finally Denver. Our two sons were born in Erie and Saudi.

My parents would visit us in the States and naturally, I took my mother to a Victorian tea one year and that was my introduction to DBE in the late 90’s. When we finally settled back in Colorado I became a member of the Commonwealth Rose chapter in 2010. I have served as Regent and Vice Regent for my chapter and Corresponding Secretary on the State Board.

Meeting several times a month with ladies of British and Commonwealth hereditary allows me to continue traditions and enjoy delicious tea and food! Volunteering on behalf of charities which we support is meaningful and I love the camaraderie that we all share.

I was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. My father was an American serviceman (Air Force), and met my mother while stationed in England. (My Mum was born in Cambridge). While growing up and moving with my parents, I lived in Bangor, Maine; Hunstanton, England; San Antonio, Texas; Luton, England; Lakenheath, England; Kincheloe, Michigan; and again in San Antonio, Texas when my father retired from the Air Force. It was there that I met my (future) husband, Mark. He also served in the Air Force. Our first assignment was Lowry AFB, Colorado. We also lived in Austin Texas; Ipswich, England, and Aurora, Colorado. Our two daughters were born and raised in Aurora, Co. I worked for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) on Lowry AFB, from 1979 until retirement in 2010 as a Financial Systems Specialist. In 1998, we moved to Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Sadly, our youngest daughter passed away in 2007. We have three Granddaughters one Grandson and two (twins) Great-Grandsons.

I enjoy crochet, cross-stitching, gardening and collecting anything “cats”! My husband and I try to spend a lot of time traveling in our 5th wheel trailer, mostly visiting family and friends, and cruising to interesting destinations.

After attending two or three DBE CO Victorian Teas, I decided to join the Commonwealth Rose Chapter in July 2019, along with my long-time friend, Suzanne Russell. In June of 2022, I was elected to become the State Board Communications Secretary. I have found this to be a very rewarding experience.

Pam was born in Nottingham, England, and was raised in the city. After graduating Teachers College at the Univ. of Manchester, she taught elementary school children for four years. With two teacher friends she decided to work for a year in the U.S., settling in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. After that time the friends decided to work their way around the U.S., and then return to England. Having covered the east coast down to Key West the friends headed for Colorado. While working at the Broadmoor Hotel she met a fellow employee and future husband, Michael. This year they celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary. Before retiring in 2010, Pam taught in Denver Public Schools, developed family literacy programs statewide on Gov. Romer’s staff. Pam spent her last 12 working years at The Colorado Department of Education, managing Colorado’s literacy programs for the State. Pam joined DBE in 2013 and is a member of the Commonwealth Rose Chapter.

 I was born on in Nottingham, and brought up in Hillingdon, Middlesex. Immigrated to California in early 1970s and immediately joined the Princess Royal Chapter in Sierra Madre and served as Correspondence Secretary. Joined Grosvenor Square Chapter in 2008 until 2016 and served as Regent for seven years; also served on the State Board as 2nd Vice President for 6 years. Moved in 2016 with husband Ross to Colorado to be with our only son Michael, daughter-in-law, Cassandra, and grandchildren, Alexandra and Savanah. I transferred to Chatsworth Chapter in 2016, serving as Recording Secretary and 2nd VP on the State Board. I am currently Co-Regent of the Chatsworth Chapter.