Meet Our Team

Richard is a retired engineer who developed power stations across the UK. During his career he managed many large generation companies. He is a Christian and an active church member and previously served on the Board of Trustees of Alabaré some years ago. In April 2019, Richard was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Phil Davis joined us in 2015. He has worked at senior levels within Further Education and private training providers for 30 years, the last 18 years as a Director and joint owner of a National training company with responsibility for strategy, sales, business development and contracting. He is also involved with a number of other businesses that enable him to work with them to develop income generation, new business and sales strategy to meet the contracts.  He is involved in other charities that help young people and a housing charity based in London that operates in London and the West Midlands. 

Don is a past resident of Andrew House in Clevedon. He is from Bristol where his wife and two teenage children live. He speaks Arabic and worked for 15 years in Lebanon and a year in the Sudan. His last job was as Operations Manager of Aspire in Bristol, where he experienced the challenges and the joys of exploring social enterprise as a way to help men and women struggling to get back into employment. He believes that work is key to an individual's self-esteem.

Malcolm Cassells joined us in 2008. He has worked for the NHS for 31 years, the last 22 years as a Board Director with responsibility for IT, Procurement, Information, Contracting. He is a qualified accountant and has an MBA. He has been involved in many capital developments including the rationalisation of local multi-site hospital services onto one site. He has also acted as Chief Executive for extended periods of time.

Air Vice-Marshal Martin Clark joined us in 2015. He has served for over 37 years in the Royal Air Force as an engineer officer, where he has enjoyed working in a wide range of front-line and HQ jobs associated with large aircraft and fast jets, becoming the technical air safety regulator for Defence in 2012. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, is President of the RAF Ice Hockey Association, a governor of Wiltshire College and a volunteer welfare case worker for the Royal Air Forces Association.  He has been fortunate to operate at or around Board level over his last few appointments and was made a CB in the New Years Honours List 2016 for services to the Armed Forces.

David Durston joined Alabaré in 2002. After National Service as a navigator in the RAF and a degree in economics at Cambridge, he was ordained as a priest in the Church of England. He served in parishes in Wolverhampton and West Bromwich before becoming Chancellor of Salisbury Cathedral. He has since retired. He is now Chair of the Council of the Grubb Institute of Behavioural Studies.

David Lawes joined us again in 2007, having served as a trustee previously in the 1990s. He is a qualified Project Manager and has an MBA. He is particularly interested in business analysis, the development of management processes and team dynamics. His background is in management consulting and marketing. He has worked with major multinational companies.

Alicia is a member of the Alabaré Christian Community who with her husband John founded the charity Alabaré Christian Care and Support. She has four grown-up sons and four delightful grandchildren, and she is a qualified teacher who runs a group of nursery schools in Wiltshire.

" I am so proud to have played a small part in the incredible story of Alabaré, and am truly inspired by the wonderful team who share their lives and talents, recognising our need of one another."

Christine is a qualified social worker and has ten years experience working as a senior manager in local authorities and the voluntary sector, working with children and families. She also has a specialist knowledge of learning disability, safeguarding and preventative services, and commitment to safety of children and vulnerable adults. Her ability to combine knowledge of both the statutory and voluntary sector will help inform her role as Trustee. 

John Hunter joined the Alabaré Board in 2017 having been a member of the Governance and Finance & Resources Committees since 2015. He is the chairman of the Governance and Quality Committee. John served for 29 years in the Army as an artillery officer, during which time he served in Europe, Canada, USA, Zimbabwe and Indonesia. Latterly he was, for 10 years, a director and sometime Chief Executive, of a medium size charity offering soldiers opportunities to achieve vocational and educational qualifications to enhance their military career prospects and prepare them for their next career. John is also a volunteer with the Harnham Water Meadows Trust.

Mark is a qualified solicitor with experience in criminal litigation and all property affairs. He has worked with all aspects of residential and commercial property and has experience in quality and compliance.  Mark, whose parents’ founded Alabaré Christian Care and Support, has been involved since he was a teenager and it is a joy for him to re join the Board of Trustees and add his experience to the ongoing support of vulnerable people

Dr Timothy Chambers was appointed to Bristol Children’s Hospital as a consultant physician and kidney specialist in 1979. He was Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Bristol before retiring in 2010. He spent 26 years in the reserve of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He retired as Lt. Colonel, a rank he also held as Medical Officer for Somerset Cadet Battalion (The Rifles) ACF. He was High Sheriff for the County and City of Bristol between 2009 and 2010 and became Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 2012. He currently sits on the Bristol magistrates’ bench.

Andrew has lived in Bristol since 1980 and has enjoyed a successful career as an enviromental consultant and international waste management specialist. In recent years he has become heavily involved in charity work and social enterprise initiatives within Bristol.

He has set up and chairs FareShare South West, the chair of Bristol Together (helping ex-offenders back in to the workplace) and also of Crisis Centres Ministries, the leading homelessness charity in Bristol and Feeding Bristol, an initative working to alleviate food poverty in the city.

Richard Lord has retired from a naval career and the defence industry. His last two appointments in the Service were as the Chief Staff Officer Support in Gibraltar and the Director of the Naval Base, Clyde. In the defence industry he was a Director of Marketing and Sales.

Mark Allen is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Mark Allen Group. He established the company in 1985. He focuses on strategy, conferences, new launches, acquisitions and the Wiltshire arm of the business.

Lady Ruth Hawley is a member of the Diplomatic Service and had postings to Vietnam, Egypt, Nigeria, Durham, Iraq, Oman and Malaysia. She has been involved in local government, health, magistracy, sport and in charities. She has been a regional representative for Wiltshire St. John Ambulance, a trustee of Medical Support in Romania and a patron of the Well Woman Clinic. She is a Governor of Godolphin School. She was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 1999 and was High Sheriff between 1998 and 1999.

Sara Jones is the widow of Lt. Col H Jones VC. Following his death in 1982, she became involved in charities concerned with the welfare of retired and wounded Service men and women and their families, including; The Royal British Legion Poppy Factory, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne, the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and the Falkland Families Association.

Sir Francis Richards had an army career and when that ended entered the Diplomatic Service serving in New Delhi and Namibia and holding a number of senior posts at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  He was director of GCHQ form 1998 to 2003.  He went on to be Chairman of the Trustees of Bletchley Park form 2006 to 2011 and Chairman of the Imperial War Museum from December 2011.  He currently stands on the board of Governors at Rendcomb College.

Jamie Miller was educated at Hawtreys and Gordonstoun, and has spent the majority of his career at sea, mostly in operational theatres. He was appointed Aide de Camp to Her Majesty the Queen in 2001. He then exercised command from both HMS ARK ROYAL and HNLMS ROTTERDAM, controlling the Royal Navy's Mediterranean deployment. He was awarded the Legion of Merit (Officer) by the President of the USA and received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service. He has since been appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Alan Taylor went to school in Manchester followed much later by an MBA at Southampton University.

Formerly an Army Officer he has recently retired as MD of a Management Consulting company based in Salisbury and specialising in Business and People Development.

He's been a Foundation Governor of Bishop Wordsworth School, and the Chairman of South Wiltshire Economic Partnership (SWEP).

Elizabeth is a highly experienced partner at local solicitors Trethowans. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and a keen desire to help the local community.

Gay has been involved with voluntary work since her late twenties, including a number of charities on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire, predominately as a trustee. She has also spent many years working on a voluntary basis in prisons, being on the Parole Board for England and Wales and on the Board of Hampshire Probation. Gay was High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight for the year 2009/10 and has lived in Wilton since August 2017, having retired as a garden designer.

Sophy Gardner lives in Salisbury and is currently studying full time for a PhD in history.  She is researching the political fight for the Royal Air Force in the early inter-war years.  She served for 20 years in the Royal Air Force including in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Sophy retired as a Wing Commander in 2011 and worked with military charities before commencing her studies. 

Before changing career and working in education as a Headteacher, Yvonne worked for the NSPCC both raising awareness of child abuse and as a key fundraiser.  Now retired, Yvonne is specializing in the setting up of brand new schools. 

“After working with vulnerable children, I fully understand the challenges that people face in life and it is a pleasure to be able to continue to contribute to those lives as they move into adulthood.  I hope to draw upon my previous skills and help in many different ways the amazing work carried out by Alabaré in making a difference to people’s lives”.

David Bartlett taught politics and economics at Merchant Taylors School for four years after leaving Oxford University before reading for the bar and practising as a barrister on the Western Circuit for forty years.  During that period he was Standing Counsel to HMRC for fifteen years and a part time judge for twenty five years before retiring in 2017.

Rory Carter qualified in Yacht Design, before starting AirWave Gliders Ltd which made Hang Gliders and Paragliders. The company earned a distinguished International reputation and were sold across the globe. Currently Rory is the Chairman of the Czech company CompoTech Plus Spol. s r.o. who make Carbon Fibre components for the Machine Building, Military, Marine and Aerospace sectors.

Alister is a third generation Old Bristolian and was commissioned in to the Royal Corps of Transport in 1986 and retired at the end of 2011 after commanding in every rank to Brigadier and taking his headquarters to Afghanistan.  He is passionate about supporting veterans and has helped a number of charities including Scope.

Colonel (Retd) Ian Harris was commissioned in the Gloucestershire regiment in 1980. He has a particular interest in veterans and has been involved in raising funds and awareness for Alabaré since 2011, and is Chairman of the Gloucestershire Ambassadors group.

Robert Bernays takes an active interest in various community projects in Bristol and Gloucestershire. He was awarded an OBE in 2010 for his work in this area. His career has been in farming and rural estate management. He is currently Chairman of the Trustees of the Berkeley Estate, and has been a keen supporter of Alabaré for several years. Robert was Master of the Merchant Venturers in Bristol and Chairman of the St. Monica Trust for 10 years. The Trust has achieved an international reputation for its innovative care for people with dementia. He has a keen interest in education and has been a Governor of several schools. He was formerly High Sheriff of Avon, and is currently the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.

Councillor Neil Hampson is Mayor of Gloucester.

Jane Jennings has worked in Social Services Departments and the Voluntary Sector. She has also worked in Adult Education and Child Care.

Tony Raybone is a retired Gloucestershire Farmer, Biologist and Agronomist. He has a keen interest in all things Gloucestershire and is a founding member of the Honourable society of Gloucestershire. He is President and Trustee of the Rosie Wood Trust. He also promotes local cricket and is Chairman of Selsley Cricket club. He is a keen supporter of the military charity Combat Stress and a supporter of Oxfam and NSPCC. He is married to Amanda Raybone, also a Gloucestershire Ambassador.

Charles Malet comes from a military background, where charitable work has always been a theme. Following a degree and some time spent working in Africa and Ukraine, he joined the Coldstream Guards in 2005 and was wounded on an operational tour of Afghanistan in 2007. On his return from his final post in Nairobi, he took an MBA at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He also worked in mining exploration for a short time. He is now establishing a small business in the Cirencester area, with the intention of training and employing a small local workforce.

Amanda Raybone is a Parish Councillor, and has also served on the Standards Board of UK. She currently serves as a Justice of the Peace sitting on the Bristol Bench. She has a background as a commercial legal advisor in the UK and the Far East, and is now heavily involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation. She sits on the panel of the UK Drugs Court pilot scheme as well as in the Adult court. She is a Trustee of the Nelson Trust: a Gloucestershire based Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, and has recently introduced Combat Stress to the Nelson Trust for an exchange of views and possible help with veterans suffering drug and alcohol problems. She also advises the Bristol based Knowle West Health Authority and is a Trustee of the Rosie Wood Trust. She is married to Tony Raybone, who is also a Gloucestershire Ambassador.

Since retiring from Marlborough Stirling in 2005 Mr Ryland has devoted his time to a variety of roles that he is passionate about. These include The Havengore, Stroud High School, The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and TCP LifeSystems.

Lt Gen Sir John Kiszely served in the Army for forty years.  He is now a military historian and a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucester.

Nick is a serving Army officer who having joined 1^st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards in 1998 has since served in a wide range of appointments and operational theatres.  He is a strong supporter of Veteran associated agencies and charities.

Andrew Tabor was born into a military family, spending much of his childhood abroad and gaining a lifetime love of travelling.  After a 20 year career in the Army, serving with 15^th/19^th The Kings Royal Hussars and the Light Dragoons, he left to pursue a career in farming and is now managing a predominantly arable farm in the North Cotswolds.  He is a Magistrate on the Gloucestershire Bench, Chairman of his local British Legion Branch, serves on the County Committee of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and is a member of the Development Board of Gloucestershire Young Carers. He is also on the Council of The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire.  He is currently High Sheriff of Gloucestershire. 

Chris Thorpe joined the Royal Navy in 1966 and had a distinguished career within the service. He undertook the Naval Engineering Degree at RNEC Manadon between 1973 and 1976 and uniquely did not undertake training at BRNC Dartmouth but proceeded directly to Fleet Training before Weapon Engineering Application courses at Manadon and HMS Collingwood in 1977. He then served as DWEO in HMS Apollo and then HMS Diomede where he was promoted to Lieutenant before joining Director General Ships in Bath as an Assistant Design Engineer. Although he was not trained at BRNC he was also not going to miss out as in 1983 he was appointed to the staff where he served as an ADO and then as the University Planning Officer.

On promotion to Lieutenant Commander he was appointed WEO of HMS Active and saw service in the Arabian Gulf. This was followed by a foreign accompanied loan appointment to the Royal New Zealand Navy serving in Devonport, Auckland as the Fleet WE Technical Officer. On his homecoming in 1990 he returned to RNEC Manadon becoming the Head of Weapon Engineering engaged in application training and post-graduate education.

When he became a Commander in 1993, he undertook the RN Staff Course at RNC Greenwich returning to sea on completion as Squadron Weapon Engineer for the Batch 2 Type 22 frigates. He took up his last appointment as the Deputy to Captain Base Personnel at HMS Drake in 1999 and retired from active service three years later.

Commander Crichton served as an Officer on the Active List of the Royal Navy for 37 years. During service he spent time on 15 of Her Majesty’s Ships. He also spent a number of shore appointments in London, Brussels, Portsmouth and Plymouth. He is engaged in a number of Veteran associated projects; including the Federation of Plymouth and District Ex-Services Associations and the Devonport Field Gun Association.

Brigadier Lunn was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Royal Artillery. His early career saw him complete service in the UK, Germany and Northern Ireland. He spent 2 years in Gibraltar as the Military Assistant to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, after which he commanded 49th Field Regiment in Lippstadt, Germany. His later appointments included; Deputy Commander of UK Forces in Bosnia, Special Adviser to the Chief of Defence of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic in Prague, and finally Director of Housing in the Ministry of Defence. He retired from the Army in 2005 and spent 6 years working with the local authorities in Cornwall. He is the Devon County Chairman of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the vice-chairman of the Yealm Branch of the Royal British Legion and a non-executive director of a Plymouth-based housing association.

Brigadier Simon Young is the Honorary Colonel of Devon Army Cadet Force. He was Commissioned into the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, and undertook many roles and appointments within the battalion and staff before commanding it between 1992 and 1994. He was appointed to command the 8th Infantry Brigade, for which he was later awarded a CBE. He became Deputy Commander SFOR, prior to his final appointment as Defence Attaché in Ottowa. He also holds the military appointment of Rifles Colonel for Devon.

Colonel Chamberlain is a practising Land Agent, who manages rural properties. He has served in the TA – Royal Yeomanry, Royal Wessex Yeomanry, as Deputy Commander of the 43 Wessex Brigade, and is now Chairman of Wessex RFCA. He is Trustee of several benevolent funds associated with the Yeomanry; and is also a member of the Cordwainers (Shoemakers) livery company.

Huw Williams is a trained solicitor and the Vice Chairman and partner at Geldards LLP Partnership. He has been the Trustee of the National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru) since 2010 and is an independent member of the Audit Committee for the National Museum of Wales. He is also a member of the Planning and Environment Law Committee, The Law Society, Legal Services industry and the Company Secretary of Wales Millennium Centre.

Robert’s family comes originally from Carmarthenshire, and he is a third generation Welsh Guards officer, having followed his father and grandfather into the Regiment in 1982. His 35 years of military service included tours of Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, together with several tours of Northern Ireland. In the latter part of his career he served in a range of planning and equipment procurement roles, retiring as Director Land Equipment in the MOD’s procurement organisation. He now works part time as a non executive director and conference chair. 

As an ambassador for Alabaré Homes for Veterans, Robert is aiming to help coordinate the charity’s work in Wales, and in particular to help build links with communities and local businesses, in order to develop our support network for veterans in Wales.

David Harrison was an Army Education Officer for 33 years in Malaya, Hong Kong, Nepal and Germany and since retiring has become a Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire and a magistrate. A former County Chairman of ABF David is a Trustee of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Military Fund  which helps ex Hampshire soldiers and their families. In 2013 he was appointed as County President of the Royal British Legion. Chaired the “To Honour a Promise Project” which culminated in 2014 with the unveiling of a memorial in the Castle Yard in Winchester in memory of the 2 million men who passed through the camps on Morn Hill during the First World War.

David lives near Winchester with his wife Christine - they have two sons, one of whom lives in Australia.

Charles Ackroyd was born and bred in the New Forest. He joined the Royal Marines Reserve in 1971 at age 17 and served continuously as a part time soldier until retirement at age 60.  He first commanded the RMR detachment at RM Poole before leading T Company Group in 3 Commando Brigade for two years and later being appointed second in command of RMR Bristol on promotion to Major. At various times he has qualified as a parachute instructor and as an assault engineer and attended both the US Marine Corps Staff College in Quantico, Virginia and the TA Command and Staff course at Camberley. In 1996 he transferred to the Parachute Regiment (V) and two years later commanded Southampton University Officers Training Corps. On promotion to Colonel he has held appointments as Deputy Commander of 43 (Wessex) Brigade and Assistant Director Land Warfare (Reserves) at the Directorate of Doctrine & Development. He has also deployed to both Bosnia and Iraq on operations. His final posting was to the Specialist Support Wing of MoD A Block, London. He retired from the Army Reserve in May 2014.

He is currently Vice Chairman (Hampshire) of the South East Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. In addition he is a trustee of the Connaught Trust, chairman of The 43^rd Wessex Heritage Trust and a member of the Hampshire Priory Group of St John Ambulance.

In his civilian career Charles qualified as a solicitor in 1978 and for many years was a partner in his family firm in Southampton and Lymington before being appointed a District Judge in 1998. He sits in Portsmouth where he hears civil and family cases.

In 2013 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire and lives in Southsea. 

Mike Matthews served for 36 years in the Royal Navy before retiring as a Captain in 1995.  He has enjoyed working in the voluntary sector ever since.  For 6 years he was the Naval Adviser to a Millennium Project in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard - now open to the public and called ‘Action Stations’.  Whilst living just south of Winchester he was the project leader for the millennial rejuvenation of Shawford Parish Hall and subsequently chaired the charity which manages it (The Compton & Shawford Community Association) for 4 years.  He and his wife Delphine then moved to Brockenhurst in the New Forest but he finds this no impediment to his current involvement with Winchester-based Homelessness Charity Emmaus Hampshire both as a Trustee and as the PR and Media Co-ordinator. More recently he has become Secretary of the Brockenhurst Branch of The Royal British Legion and, as such, is currently involved with the village World War 100 project.  His is also leading the fund-raising for the Church Hall Development Project – only £330,000 needed! The latest addition to his portfolio is his appointment as President of the HMS BELFAST Association.

Recreationally he enjoys Choral singing, walking in the New Forest and local memberships of a Literary Appreciation Group, a Music Society and the New Forest Decorative and Fine Arts Society.

Revered John Proctor is the Founder of Alabaré Christian Care and Support, and has been appointed Permanent Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church.

John was privileged to receive an OBE from HRH The Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace on 11th October 2016, in recognition of his contribution to the care of vulnerable, homeless and disadvantaged people over the last 25 years.

John worked in financial services for 31 years and held a senior management position for 20 years. He is a also a trustee of Salisbury Street Pastors and a member of Wiltshire Early Years Reference Group and Schools Forum.  John's wife Alicia joined Alabaré's Board of Trustees in 2016 before he stepped down from the board in April 2019.

Declan Lang Bishop Lang is originally from Cowes on the Isle of Wight. He went to Allen Hall, St Edmund’s College, Ware to train for the priesthood in September 1968 and while he was there he also went to Royal Holloway College University of London, where he gained a BA in history. He was ordained a priest in 1975. Bishop Lang is Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department of International Affairs and sits on the Mixed Commission of the Conference of Religious. He is a member of the Bishops’ Conference Department of Christian Responsibility and Citizenship, is one of the Vice Chairs of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission and is also the Chair of Missio – the Pontifical Missionary Societies.

The Rt. Revd Stephen Conway was installed as the 69th Bishop of Ely in March 2011. He was ordained as a priest in 1987 and spent his entire parochial ministry in the Diocese of Durham. He was appointed as Diocesan Director of Ordinands and later as the Bishop of Durham’s Senior Chaplain and Diocesan Communications Officer, during his time in the North East. He became Archdeacon of Durham and Canon Treasurer of the Cathedral in 2002. Following his consecration in June 2006, he served in the Diocese of Salisbury as Bishop of Ramsbury.

Nicholas Holtam became the Bishop of Salisbury in 2011. He grew up in North London. Between reading Geography at university and training for ordination, he worked for a year with homeless young ex-offenders in Leeds. As a parish priest in East London and as the Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the priorities of his work were housing and homelessness. The Connection at St Martin’s is Britain’s oldest and largest Day Centre for homeless people.

The Lord King of Bridgwater served as MP for Bridgwater for thirty years and joined the House of Lords in 2001. He has served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. He was the founding Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee.
He takes a close interest in defence matters, and welfare issues.

General The Lord Dannatt is a retired British Army officer and the incumbent Constable of the Tower of London. In 1971, he was commissioned into the Green Howards. His first tour of duty was in Belfast as a platoon commander. He was awarded the Military Cross, during his second tour of duty. He served as a defence advisor to David Cameron between 2009 and 2010, prior to the Conservative Party election win. He is involved with a number of charities and organisations related to the armed forces, and is married with four children.

Brigadier Firth was educated at Stowe and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1959 he began his military service, when he was commissioned in the Gloucestershire Regiment. During his career he served in Germany, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, and Canada. After leaving the forces Simon was appointed as the Chief Executive of the Royal Bath and West of England Society at Shepton Mallet, he served in this role for 10 years, before retiring in 2001. In his retirement, Simon has dedicated his time to his family and charity work. For his service during tours in Northern Ireland, Simon was awarded a Mention in Despatches, and MBE and an OBE. He received a CBE for Service during the First Gulf War. During his time with Alabaré, Simon has served as an energetic Chairman on the Board of Trustees, Chairman of our Bristol Ambassadors, and most recently as the Chairman of Gloucestershire Ambassadors.

John Hunter (Chair), Susan Pendrey, David Durston , Lee Proctor, Martin Clark, David Lewis, Christine Robinson, Mark Stevens, Stella Smith

Malcolm Cassells (Chair), John Proctor, Michael Barrett, John Hunter, Phil Price and Andrew Quicke.