Our Trustees

Trustees are unpaid volunteers who exercise ‘stewardship’ of the Trust. Their main responsibilities include ensuring that the Trust finances are properly administered, appointing senior staff and overall strategy of how the Trust is run and developed for the future.

All charity trustees have legal duties and responsibilities. The most important of these are summarised in the Charity Commission’s leaflet Responsibilities of Charity Trustees (CC3).

The Board of Trustees currently consists of ten Trustees with a Chair voted for on an annual basis. Our current Board members are:

Ruth Slinn – Chair Ruth formerly worked in the NHS, with subsequent experience of running a small privately owned company. This is currently engaged in manufacturing a medical device for vitreo retinal surgery, having obtained FDA approval in 1996. She has worked in the voluntary sector during the last 14 years with special interest in stroke support and Christian counselling. One daughter works as a Consultant Psychiatrist and another as a Superintendent Physiotherapist at a London hospital.  She was Director of Southmead Community Care Trust.
Bryan Beckett Bryan worked as a Chief Officer in local government and advisor to the Local Authority Association for many years with experience in management, personnel, policies and Trading Standards and was awarded an OBE for his work in the latter. Later on Bryan became the Director of a company specialising in mediation, retiring to look after his wife who had Parkinson’s and Dementia.
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Neil Garrard Neil formerly worked as a Director of McKinsey & Company. Since his retirement he has been active in non-executive roles with the Royal Academy of Arts, the British Standards Institute and other organisations. He is Senior Partner of Neil Garrard & Associates, Chairman of Hawthorn Properties (UK) and an active campaigner on environmental issues.
Doug Knapp Doug formerly worked for Rolls Royce in Bristol and prior to his retirement was a Trustee of the Rolls Royce Pension Fund for 8½ years. He has been a member of the Hortham and Brentry League of Friends and has been Vice Chairman of Avon County League of Friends. With his wife, he was a carer with a daughter who had learning disabilities.
Elizabeth Jolly Elizabeth has some 35 years experience in the public sector, working as a civil servant in London and elsewhere. Prior to taking early retirement in 2000, she worked for the Ministry of Defence in Bristol and has lived in the area since 1997. Since retiring, she has undertaken various jobs in the voluntary sector including the role of General Secretary and Trustee of a charity in Bath.
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Robin Nash Robin was a Bank Manager for 40 years, 30 of which were spent at Barclays Bank. He was also Treasurer and then Chairman of the Abbeyfield Bristol Society for over 30 years. Abbeyfield provides supported sheltered housing and registered care for older people. He has served on a number of national Abbeyfield committees and working parties. He was a leader in the Scout Movement for over 40 years in Bristol and Avon and was an Assistant County Commissioner for 30 years. He is currently the Treasurer of The Care Forum and a Director of Bristol Care and Repair together with chairing the Bristol Festival of Music, Speech and Drama.
Margaret Shovelton Margaret has served as a Bristol City Councillor for 4 years and has lived in St George for 30 years. She is married with 2 children and 4 grandchildren and is an active member of her local community.
Lydia Henderson Lydia was born and educated in Scotland before moving to Bristol, where she has lived for over 20 years. She worked as a Research Biochemist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol, where she was a member of University Senate and University Court and the SRC Wine Steward. She is current Chairman of the EU club at Bristol. At present she works as a free-lance consultant and in addition is studying, part-time for a MBA at Warwick University. In her spare time she enjoys gardening and an allotment, skiing, trekking, photography and her MG Midget motorcar.
Ruth Weaver Ruth has experience in Personnel and was Secretary to a Consulate General overseas. She was a member of the Community Health Council for 8 years, and chaired a Working Party on services for the Older People with Mental Illness. Following this she was a Director of Southmead Community Care Trust.

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Honorary Trustees

We also have two honorary Trustees who have both been lynch pins of the Trust throughout its development. Both have now retired but are welcomed at Board meetings and other events at the Trust for their respected knowledge, insight and experience.

David Large David joined the Trust in 1987 and helped with the amalgamation of the Frenchay and Southmead Community Care Trusts. David also served as Chair in the early years. David is a retired University teacher. He has experience of public service as a Bristol City Councillor, member of Southmead Health Authority, mental health guardian and Chairman of Southmead Community Care Trust.

Barrie Davis Barrie joined the Frenchay Community Care Trust in 1988 and acted as chair of the Trust for 4 years between 1995 and 1999. Barrie also has strong links with Mencap. Barrie is Managing Director of a group of engineering companies. His professional qualifications are in business studies and production engineering. He has served on Avon’s guardians’ committee and was the national Treasurer of MENCAP.

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