Our Board

I graduated from London’s Mountview Theatre School in 1985. Following a successful career in London’s West End, I co-founded Macintyres of Edinburgh, Scotland’s premier wholesale jeweller, in 1994. Specialising in high quality diamond jewellery and using unique marketing methods, Macintyres has grown to become one of the largest companies in its sector. Along with my husband Steve, I was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007. I consider be very lucky to live in the beautiful city of Edinburgh with my husband and three sons. My daughter Nicole was stillborn in May 1999 and this is the reason for my connection to Held In Our Hearts.

I am a consultant obstetrician at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Edinburgh University Medical School. Originally from Edinburgh, I did my undergraduate medical degree at Edinburgh University and then postgraduate training in Yorkshire and the South East of Scotland. I have been a consultant in Edinburgh since 2001 during which time I was labour ward lead for 10 years. My main area of interests are labour ward, high risk antenatal care and preterm labour especially with regard to cervical weakness. I am also interested in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and support of trainees and students. I live in Edinburgh with my husband and our three sons.

My son died aged two days old in 1991 and I have been a constant supporter of the charity following the help that was provided to me and my family. I was elected Chair in 2015 and live in Edinburgh with my wife Debbie. I have three other children, Matthew, Edward and Nathan. My background is in financial services, property and banking and this extensive experience and strategic planning capabilities help me ensure the organisation continues to achieve its core objectives.

“My little girl Eve was stillborn on 24th December 2007. Eve was my fourth baby and I never considered she wouldn’t survive. The first time I heard about Held In Our Hearts was through a lovely lady that lives in my village. After I lost Eve, she’d written me a lovely letter saying she’d lost two babies herself. She’d heard what had happened to me and told me how helpful she’d found Held In Our Hearts. She had offered to come with me to some meetings and she was a great support to me. The first meeting I went to, I just sat in the corner crying and listening to other people talking. No-one made me feel I had to speak until I was ready. I went to the meetings in Edinburgh for a good few months. I have since done my peer supporter training, and I hope my support helps other families at such a painful time.”

Throughout her career, care of bereaved families has been an important part of France's work and she has seen many changes since first qualifying as a midwife in 1986.

Frances worked as a midwife in Lothian starting in Bangour in 1987 and then St John's Hospital in Livingston when it opened and held various senior roles within NHS Lothian. She was the Clinical Manager at St John's Hospital when she met Nicola and worked collaboratively with her to improve the care for bereaved families at St John's. Frances was appointed Chief Midwife in 2015 and continued to work with Nicola and HIOH with a dedicated team of midwives, passionate about bereavement care, Frances made positive changes to the care of bereaved families in the Maternity unit of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.  She says; "It is so important for maternity services to listen to and work with charities such as Held in Our Hearts if care for bereaved parents is to improve and meet the needs of all bereaved families”. 

Although she retired in September 2020 Frances hopes that with her background knowledge of maternity services in Lothian she can contribute to the amazing work that Held In Our Hearts does on a daily basis.