Fenella spent her early years growing up in Cape Town, South Africa before moving to Kingston as a teenager and attending a local school. She then trained as a cartographer, mapping countries around the world, however, once this became mostly automated she changed career and studied estate management before working for the MoD. Family life then took over and Fenella spent many happy years raising her children. During some of this time she also worked as a part-time receptionist for an optician.

Fenella loves travelling as well as sports particularly cycling, skiing and walking. She also enjoys the theatre.