We're grateful to Julia Somerville for agreeing to become one of our patrons. She had a brain tumour in 1993 and had to undergo neurosurgery, but has recovered well.

Julia is co-presenter of ITN's Lunchtime News and also deputises as presenter of News at Ten. In addition she presents 3D, a weekly ITV current affairs programme.

Julia joined ITN in 1987 from the BBC where she had been a senior presenter of the Nine O'Clock News. During her time at ITN she has presented all the main weekday and weekend programmes.

After graduating from Sussex University Julia joined IPC, working on Homes and Gardens and Women's Journal and then joined the PR section of Women's Own. Before joining the BBC she spent two years as editor of a computer group's house magazine.

She lives in north London with her two children.