09/02/2026
Good morning Carol.
Local legends, and a very special afternoon.
By day I sit with clients as a therapist, listening carefully to the layers beneath what is being said. By evening I am booking events, creating content and championing talent. Last week, those two worlds met in the most beautiful way.
I was invited to spend the afternoon at the home of Carol Grimes.
Tea, conversation, laughter, and stories that could fill a book. I was there with Katie Bradley, award-winning blues vocalist and lead singer of Katie B and the Snooks. Both women have stood on the stage at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, which tells you everything about the level of artistry in that room.
But what struck me most about Carol was not just where she has performed. It was who she is.
She first emerged on the music scene in the late 1960s, released her solo album Warm Blood in the 1970s, and has continued to evolve ever since. She has toured internationally, taught, written her memoir, founded choirs and remained creatively active across decades. That kind of longevity comes from depth and determination.
At one point she said that people often see her age before they see her. As a therapist, I understand how quietly damaging that can be. When assumptions are made before someone has even opened their mouth.
Yet sitting opposite her, all I could see was energy. Quick wit. Fierce intelligence. A creative spark that has not dimmed.
Carol is not living in her past. She is still curious. Still expressive. Still very much here. Spunky, yes. A fighter, absolutely. But also thoughtful, layered and generous with her experience.
Age is not the issue. A limited mindset is.
Spending time with her reminded me why I do what I do in both of my worlds. Championing people. Seeing beyond surface labels. Creating spaces where depth and talent are recognised.
Carol does not need defending. She stands tall on her own.
But she certainly deserves celebrating.