Trivia

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1993 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to music.

She is one of the world's top percussionists despite being profoundly deaf, which was caused by a neurological disorder.

She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2007 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to music.

She received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland (2002).

She was awarded the CH (Member of the Order of the Companion of Honour) in the 2017 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to Music in Cambridgeshire, England.

Ambassador of the Royal National Children's Foundation which helps support vulnerable, disadvantaged young people at state and independent boarding school through the United Kingdom.

She has been the Patron of the London School of Samba since 1993.

Inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. (noviembre de 2008)