Angela Frances Rawson was born in Yorkshire on June 3rd,1950. The second child, she became the “eldest” to her younger siblingsfollowing the death of her older sister. From an early age, Angela showed acreative flair for art and cooking and from as young as four she was preparingmeals and cooking biscuits and cakes.  The only help she needed waslifting things in and out of the oven in her grandparents’ kitchen.

She was dyslexic, though the term hadn’t really been invented when she wasyoung, so she left school with no qualifications, but went on to college whereshe studied and excelled in home economics. Money left to her by a relative wasused to realise her dream of learning to fly.  She went solo, getting herwings, on her eighth and final lesson.  There was no money left to pay foranymore.  She really wanted to join the Royal Air Force but was encouragedinstead to join the WRNS where she eventually met her lifelong partner NikkiRowan Kedge.

After leaving the service, they started an outside catering company which ledto the opening of “The Loaves & Fishes Restaurant” in Royal WoottonBassett, Wiltshire.  They moved to a disused Chapel in Rockley and after ashort break, when they opened a cookery school in nearby Marlborough, therestaurant opened again in new premises in Burbage. After running this renownedrestaurant for 25 years, they were challenged with finding a new direction, sothey branched out to pursue another love – music, literature and teaching!

Together they developed musical Shakespeare productions setting some of the bigplays to original music written by Nikki.  They loved teaching thechildren the music and plays, helping them to develop an awareness ofliterature, music and theatre.  

Angela was an amazing, talented and extremely gentle lady.  She was alsoan exceptional artist, teacher of cookery and art, a pictorial cartographer,glass engraver and designer of stained glass. She was always interested ineveryone she met and her enthusiasm to see others succeed made her such ashining light in everyone's life.

When Nikki died in February 2013, a small donation was made to Future Talent tohelp young people develop their musical talent.  Angela wrote her own willthat same year and made further provision for young musicians in the event ofher own death.

Angela died on 28th May 2018 after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia just three weeks earlier. The Angela Rawson Scholarship is her legacy to young people who may otherwise not have the opportunity to develop a natural talent and be inspired by their love of music and performing.