IF Jenny Paddock were not "an unfailing optimist" she might think times could never be better.

But with another year to go as Bewdley Festival director and with the year 2000 to look forward to as West Midland education manager for the Millennium Experience, the future looks rosy as far as she can see.

Jenny moved to the Bewdley area with her insurance broker husband, Geoff, in 1976 and into the town three years ago.

"We were living in the country but we wanted to get to know people and get involved. I love the town. I always feel I am being welcomed home when I come over the bridge," she said.

With her sunny personality, endless energy and professional organising talents she was snapped up.

She was elected director of the festival for a three-year stint from last year and played a major part with the committee in its huge success.

She said getting the programme together could be nerve-wracking because of not knowing how ideas will be received. She need not have worried. There was widespread approval of events she was instrumental in arranging, not least the evening with nationally famous female comic Jo Brand.

The other big buzz in her "organising things" life is her work for the Millennium Experience. She spends much time driving from Shropshire to Staffordshire and Warwickshire sparking ideas with an educational flavour for marking the millennium and encouraging schools and community groups in their projects.

A landmark came this week on Wednesday with 100 days to go before the opening of the Millennium Dome at Greenwich. "I see my job to bring the excitement of the dome into the regions and to encourage people to mark the millennium in a special way.

"The pace is really hotting up. It's a great time and looks like the year 2000 will be even better," she said.

Before the Millennium Experience, Jenny was a schools' curriculum advisor employed by the local authority so she was well used to a life jumping from one school to another. "I loved the variety, going to different schools and meeting different teachers," she said.

There is not much time now for leisure and sports.

But Jenny and Geoff are keen skiers and she describes herself as an "expert windsurfing beginner" on summer holidays.

But there is time for planning. Jenny has two dreams, one to see an arts "venue" established Bewdley and the other to create a "sculpture trail" around the town.