Trustees

I spent my professional career in Human Resources ending up as HR Director in a number of blue chip companies. I live in South Wales on a smallholding with chickens, horses and a small collection of dogs. I’m a keen environmentalist, walker and gardener. I have three children, the eldest Daniel is in supported living with the Trust. My wife and I helped set up the charity Headlines which supports children and young adults with Craniofacial conditions.
I have been involved with the Trust since 2008.

Robert is Lydbrook born and bred and has pretty well lived in Lydbrook all his life. For 40 years he was MD of a successful electrical contracting company in the village before retiring.
His main passion and hobby is Lydbrook Band where he has been a member for over 65 years and secretary for 42 years. He is married to Barbara (also a member of Lydbrook Band) and has three children Neil, Ian and Sally, and has five grandchildren. Robert has been involved with the Trust since 2008.
He was awarded an M.B.E. in 2012 for services to brass band music.
Robert has enjoyed his time with Orchard Trust and hopes to continue for a few years yet.

Previously I was a banker and Futures-Broker and ran one of the world’s largest Futures Brokerages for a while.

I mentored George Gordon-Smith, founder of The Orchard Trust for a number of years and when he retired I joined the board of the Trust in 2006 so that my knowledge would not go to waste. I have been a chairman of an extremely good board which hosts a very solid range of skills.

I was born in the Dilke Hospital and as a child lived in Lydbrook.
I was a teacher of children with special educational needs and have been a governor both of the British School in Tokyo and Lydbrook Primary School. I have worked for Samaritan based organisations in both France and Japan.
Over many years I have come to admire The Orchard Trust and I am honoured to be a Trustee. I hope the Trust continues flourishing and achieves more for our service users. I have been involved with the Trust since 2008.

Born in the West Midlands, trained as a metallurgist before moving into the chemical industry. I was M.D. of the UK operations of a larger German based company and eventually a Midland based business of which I had principle ownership.

Moved to the Forest of Dean in the early 90's and bred rare breed sheep. Have been involved with the Orchard Trust Since then through our son's activity at the Learning Centre.

Live on a smallholding with my wife, Anna and have two boys James and Matthew. Matthew lives in the FoD with his family, and James is at Kimberley Drive Supported Living centre.

Enjoy the countryside, music, arts and reading. Enjoy playing guitar and drawing. I try to keep away from politics. We enjoy travel and have seen many parts of the world. I like to keep active, physically and mentally, enjoying a regular swim and solving (attempting to) complex crosswords.

Born in Vulcan Canada at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains I started life as a classical guitar teacher before entering Local Government.

I first encountered the Orchard Trust when I moved to Lydbrook over 20 years ago and became head of social care commissioning for Gloucestershire County Council. The Orchard Trust has always stood out as a truly special place. Now, as Director of Group Procurement for Sanctuary Housing, I am so proud to be able to support this unique local charity and have been on the Board of the Orchard Trust since 2017.

I love animals, running, reading, music and travelling, and enjoy spending time in our wonderful Forest of Dean.

Chris was born in rural Cheshire. After school, he attended Liverpool University qualifying as Veterinary Surgeon in 1978. After working in Scotland, Cheshire and Lancashire/Yorkshire, Chris came to Ross-on-Wye becoming a partner at a local veterinary practice and subsequently retired from full time work in 2014. He now works part time as a locum vet. Presently working mostly at Vale Wildlife Hospital near Tewkesbury. Chris started attending the animals as a vet at the Orchard Trust in 1989 after an invitation by George Gordon-Smith, founder of the Orchard Trust.

Chris enjoys the outdoors, gardening, walking and water sports. Chris cycled from John O’Groats to Lands’ End with his partner Sue in autumn 2016. Chris and Sue walked Offa’s Dyke Path in autumn 2022.

Chris realised over the years that the Orchard Trust provides a very valuable service to the community and its service users. He joined the board in 2019 and is now the Board Treasurer. He is also the Buddy trustee for The Day Services, Swim Gym and The Smallholding. Chris is thoroughly enjoying his involvement with the Orchard Trust.

Liz first joined the Orchard Trust as a smallholding volunteer in order to spend more time working outdoors. She enjoyed it so much that in 2022 she became a Trustee!

Her professional background is in media and communications. She began her career as a wildlife television development producer at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, after completing a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Science Communication. She spent a year living in Australia, before returning to the UK in 2014 and setting up her own business as a freelance copywriter and editor, specialising in the public and non-profit sectors.

Since moving to the Forest of Dean in 2020, she has worked as a producer for various community arts organisations, as well as performing and publishing poetry and other writing on themes including neurodiversity, ageing and dementia. She has a keen interest in projects, ideas and organisations that connect people and communities through art and/or nature.