The Team

I've worked in the Adult Social Care sector for 15 years and worked with people suffering from severe mental illness, at very difficult times in their lives.

Throughout my professional career I was committed to working with people with mental health needs and their families in order to help them make meaningful change in their lives. For many years I was a Relate Counsellor.

Since retiring, I have worked with Charitable Trusts and Community Interest Companies such as Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind as a volunteer Trustee and/or Director.

I am also a committed member of the Anglican Church, and take my Christian faith very seriously. 

I've been married for 52 years, have four adult married sons, and seven grandchildren. My hobbies include gardening, reading, studying classical literature and social history and spending time in the countryside when time allows. Challenging trips abroad get fitted in as well!

Becoming a Trustee of Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind was an opportunity to be involved in something a little different, to try to use my knowledge and experience for the benefit of others and thereby ‘give something back’.

To date I'm fortunate enough to have very little personal experience of mental health problems and at the time of joining had little knowledge of the implications of mental health issues and the impact they have. I'm now aware how wide ranging these problems are and of the value of providing support to those directly and indirectly affected.

During my time as a Trustee I've seen Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind grow significantly to become a large and well respected organisation and it's satisfying to witness the fantastic support the staff and volunteers provide to the local community.

I've lived in Redcar all my life and have been a Boro season ticket holder for most of that time. I also enjoy most other sports and travelling with my wife Chris mostly to France and Spain. 

I joined the Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind trading company in October 2010, and then the board of trustees of the Charity in October 2011.

My interest in mental health stems from some personal experience of how the tragedy of suicide affects family and friends. From working in the NHS for most of my career, I know how poor mental health and mental illness affects so many people and has an impact on so many aspects of their lives.

I like being out on my bike, walking the dog and gardening despite keeping hens. I enjoy dressmaking, free machine sewing and textiles, and cryptic crosswords. Recently I have started and really enjoy painting in water colours.

I have been a trustee of Middlesbrough & Stockton Mind since November 2014 and come from a background of working in the public health and voluntary sector at a senior level.

My interest in getting involved with Middlesbrough & Stockton Mind comes from personal experience of a family suicide and the impact that had. I was therefore keen to support the work of Mind by becoming a trustee.

Being from the North-East, my interests obviously include football and in my case that involves following the fortunes of Sunderland AFC. I also enjoy horseracing and travelling.

I joined the board of trustees as a member in 2016 and have personal experiences of the way in which mental health problems can impact on the lives of people and those around them.

I feel Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind is focused on operating for its service users, adapting to meet the increasing and varied needs of the community it serves. I'm very privileged to support the charity.

I am currently training a personal assistance dog and renovating a house, but in my spare time I enjoy board games, archery and sewing crafts.

I have been a trustee of Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind since January 2011. I have had limited personal experience of mental health issues but have always felt that mental health and well-being were insufficiently recognised or supported. I am therefore keen to support the worthwhile work of Mind.

I have worked in senior marketing roles since 2000. I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and achieved Chartered Marketer status in July 2011.

Since coming to the North East in 2002 and meeting my wife, I now class myself as an honorary Northerner. I enjoy spending time with my family but now and again indulge in my own hobbies including running, surfing, playing piano, guitar and drums and even a bit of plastering.

I have been a trustee of Middlesbrough & Stockton Mind since November 2014 and come from a background of working in the public health and voluntary sector at a senior level.

My interest in getting involved with Middlesbrough & Stockton Mind comes from personal experience of a family suicide and the impact that had.

I currently see the impact mental health has on our local communtiy through my work as a midwife at the local hospital and understand how much the work and support Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind provides is needed.

I feel fortunate to be part of a team that makes such a difference to the local community and am continually inspired by the work of the organisation and its commitment to making sure everyone can enjoy good mental health.