Horsell Common Preservation Society
Company limited by Guarantee – registered in England and Wales Company Number 6460936
Charity No 1123473
Copyright © 2024 Horsell Common Preservation Society
Horsell Common Preservation Society
Company limited by Guarantee – registered in England and Wales Company Number 6460936
Charity No 1123473
Copyright © 2024 Horsell Common Preservation Society
I lived on Horsell Common for over 23 years, adjacent to Heather Farm. I am lucky to have enjoyed the beauty of the Common first hand and appreciate the significant achievements of the Trustees over the years. I am a qualified Chartered Accountant and have supported the Society since my election as a Trustee. I believe I can continue that work and help meet the challenges that the larger enterprise now represents. I have managed a variety of companies in the role of either Chairman or Director and believe that experience can benefit the Society.
I have been Chairman of the Estates Management subcommittee since 2008 but have been involved with the Common over a much longer period, beginning with participation in winter conservation working parties during the 1970s. Before retirement, I was the Principal Entomologist with the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley Garden. I continue to be active as an entomologist and have done insect surveys on various parts of the HCPS estate, including Pyrford Common and Heather Farm. Knowledge of the fauna and flora that occur on our various land holdings, from rare to abundant species, helps to emphasise the value of the various habitats found within the Society’s approximately 1000 acre estate and assists management decisions.
I have been a Trustee of the Horsell Common Preservation Society since June 2018 with a specific role working in Public Relations and producing the HCPS newsletter, The Common. My particular interest lies in the environmental issues of the Common, the volunteering work and co ordinating with Thames Basin Heaths Partnership and their Education programme. I learnt about education and the environment during the ten years that I worked as a volunteer at Nower Wood, the Surrey Wildlife Education Centre near Leatherhead once I had retired from my teaching career. I enjoy the regular Tuesday volunteering working parties, removing scrub from the common and thereby improving the habitat for Nightjars, woodlarks, Dartford warblers and the insects and reptiles. There is a great sense of satisfaction at the end of each working party, when you turn around and see a landscape of heather instead of a mix of pine and silver birch and heather hidden amongst. But the work on the common has a far greater impact. I have learnt so much whilst working and of course, it means so much more to you when you have invested your time and energy.
I have been a regular user of the common seven days a week for 24 years as both a runner and dog owner and on occasions both simultaneously. I became a trustee due to my burning desire to contribute to and give something back to a such fabulous outdoor space that I love so much. I am a passionate lover of fauna, bird & wildlife of which Horsell common has all in abundance. I am also a keen fly fisherman and member of various wild trout and fishing conservation societies, all of which focus on the improvement and preservation of cleaner rivers, river course management, invertebrate and fauna analysis. I have worked in the insurance industry for 38 year based in the City of London, with a focus on Sales, Marketing, Risk Management/Mitigation and Health & Safety. The Common & its immediately surrounding area have undergone amazing changes over recent years. In addition to the redevelopment of Heather Farm, I am especially passionate about the work being done to restore the common to its original Heathland state. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to continue to work with & support the amazing HCPS team in continuing this improvement for years to come.
I grew up in rural West Berkshire. I trained and graduated as a veterinary surgeon, and in 1984 moved to work in SW London. We moved to Horsell in 1987 to start our family. After a spell part time I returned to full time veterinary life, eventually buying my practice in New Malden and running it with a colleague until retirement in 2017. The choice of Horsell as a place to settle was very influenced by Horsell Common, and I have spent many hours there, initially with dogs and children, latterly volunteering, walking and birdwatching. As a trustee my particular field of interest is the bird life of the common, obviously the schedule 1 heathland birds, but also the many other species to be found on the common, many of them on the red or amber lists of birds of conservation concern. I am keen to engage with others who have knowledge and expertise, and also to help local residents appreciate what the common has to offer and why it needs protecting.
I am a partner at Moore Barlow LLP, specialising in rural property law matters and based in the firm's Woking office. I grew up in Woking and have lived in Horsell since 2009, now living close to HCPS' new lakes by Wheatsheaf Common, my family enjoy walking our dog on Horsell Common, whether that's a quick turn around the lakes or a longer walk over to the Muslim Peace Garden and McLaren or Heather Farm. Having enjoyed the benefits of living on the doorstep of the Common for so many years, I am proud to become a trustee of HCPS in 2024 and to bring my legal expertise to support the dedicated Trustee and Estate management teams.
I have used the skills gained during my working and political life to work with neighbouring authorities, partner organisations and developers guiding the outcomes towards greener and more inclusive outcomes, whilst at the same time, working with boroughs and districts across the region, overcoming political differences and challenges to deliver outcomes for residents. My skills include listening and communicating, my natural enthusiasm is infectious, and my leadership style is inclusive, and I take people with me towards a mutually agreed goal. I have always worked towards being an effective board member/non-executive director of any organisation I have been involved with. Setting outcomes and targets that meet the organisations vision and put in place interim goals. Also, over time scrutinising KPI’s and financial reports questioning areas where there seems to be underlying issues and working with teams to look for solutions to get these projects or areas back on track.
I moved to the Woking area with my wife in 2016, after many years living and working in London. Having moved onto the Anthonys, I immediately found a community of neighbours to get to know and build relationships with, having not known anyone in the area when we moved. This also gave me a wonderful opportunity to get to know the common, spend time outside walking, gaining all the benefits that come with being outside in nature and taking time to enjoy the immediate surroundings. Having public access to such fantastic resource is something I am passionate about, and I joined as a Trustee, to help ensure this continues for future generations. My professional background is in accounting and tax, having worked with large multinational accounting firms for 15 years, I now work in financial advice.