GXCA Committee/Trustees

Ann Hall nee Creighton

Background:My grandfather grew up at the Bull Hotel, and my father lived in this area, working as a GP, throughout the war until he retired. Both my parents were involved in the founding of the Memorial centre. I was educated at St Mary’s school, Cheltenham, and Guy’s Hospital, married Desmond Hall (an ex-president of GXCA. ) and we both worked as GPs in the area until retirement.

Why me? I have known the building as a vicarage and a Memorial centre, have instigated, assisted at, and attended many, many events, courses, club meetings etc. I have watched with dismay the change from community hub to the business orientated venture it has become.

Ideas: Try to make the local people of all ages truly proud of their community centre again. Increase membership, more members only events, and finding ways to give members benefits. Retain and increase the clubs that meet here, maybe by increasing publicity. Make the cafe/bar a friendly thriving place. Appoint a cheerful, helpful caretaker and office manager to complement the hard-working office staff we are so fortunate to have.

Mrs Celia Stuart-Lee

Daughter of Prof Cyril and Dr Audrey Hogarth. My parents were heavily involved in the Memorial Centre and I therefore have a good understanding of its history and its ethos. They initiated the building of the squash courts, started up many clubs and also founded the annual Summer School which is still running after 40 years.

Background: I grew up in GX and spent many happy hours at the Memorial Centre. My husband is a retired vicar and I retired five years ago from teaching at St. Mary's School.

Why me? I care passionately about the future of the Memorial Centre and have been concerned about recent developments. Were I to be elected on to the Executive Committee, one of my priorities would be to make the Memorial Centre better known locally and to have a membership recruitment drive. As a GX Town Councillor, I would forge a closer relationship (currently virtually non-existent) between the GXCA and the GXTC.

Ideas:

• Bring back a caretaker

• Bring back in-house running of the café and bar

• Encourage more clubs and give them a better deal than has been the case recently (Bridge classes and Slimming World have moved to other locations after a hike in room rent)

• Fundraising and looking for sponsorship/grants

• Create incentives for residents to become members of GXCA eg. discount for events/room rental, free parking....

Chris Edgerton

Background: I have lived in Gerrards Cross all my life. My father was a founder member here in 1946. Over the years I have participated regularly at Summer Fairs, fireworks, barbecues, jumble sales, creches and making endless of cups of tea!

Why me?: I have loved the Memorial Centre since I was 14 years old. I want to ensure that the Memorial Centre serves the community whilst paying its way

Ideas: Continue to support traditional events, increase membership of GXCA, expand youth facilities.

Christopher Robert Rowe, married, son, daughter and six grandchildren

Background: Born in Willesden London moved to Gerrards Cross twenty-five years ago.

Why Me?: Fifty years business experience in retail and hospitality. I ran a chain of retail food shops for many years producing weekly profit and loss accounts, including gross profits.

Managed Bekonscot Model Village turning the souvenir railway carriage into a large shop. Increasing the turnover and profit by 400%.

I also took charge of the cafe. Changing the menus and obtaining an alcohol licence this increased the turnover and profit by 100%.

I have been a member of Gerrards Cross Bowls Club for twenty three years. Managed the bar, Fixtures Secretary, and Club Captain for a number of years. I am now Head Coach and run open days to increase membership which has gone from seventy to two hundred over six years.

I am the Chairman of Marsham Lodge and keep a list of trusted local tradesman for the residents.

I played squash and bowls at county level for twenty years.

Christine Elizabeth Bishop, known as Chris

Background: Educated at the Universities of Reading and Brunel. Local College lecturer in Teaching, Learning and Business for the last 45 years specialising in adult and further education. Retired after working at the College of Policing in Bramshill for ten years. Led a team to develop the course ‘Tackling International Organised Crime’ for the Foreign and Home Offices.

Why me?: In 2010 I joined GXCA to help with events, marketing, the Executive Committee and the HR portfolio, for 5 years. Past Parish Councillor for Cookham Dean West Ward and Governor of Cookham Dean Primary School for 4 years.

Ideas: Increase funding applications for general maintenance and a new building for the nursery and youth centre.. Restore the caretaker post and recruit an Office Manager to help our existing, fantastic staff. Support in-house catering and help to Increase membership of GXCA.

Guy Hearn BDS LDS RCS.

Background: Educated at The Beacon, Chesham Bois and then at Merchant Taylors School. I then went to a crammers to get O level Physics and Chemistry and I was accepted at Guy's Hospital where I qualified to practice dentistry.

I married in 1966 and moved to High Beeches on the Dukes Wood Estate where I started to make social connections with Gerrards Cross. At that time I was working with a partner in Holloway as an NHS dentist but when he retired I started my own NHS practice at the top of Broken gate lane in Denham.

I worked as an NHS dentist from 1964 until I retired in 2000. Apart from work I played rugby for OMTFC until I was 49, I was Captain of 2nd XV from 1970-1973, I was also Captain of OMT Golf Society in 2013.

At GXCA I have been involved with the Jumble Sale, the Classic Car Show and the BBQ at the fireworks, please bring back Guy Fawkes!

I was Treasurer of GXNADFAS from 2016-2021 and am currently Membership Secretary of Probus.

I miss there not being a full-time Caretaker and am not happy about the café and the balance of commercial and community units.

Jaswinder Kudhail, known as Jas

Background: Educated at North London University. I retired in 2020 due to illness after spending nearly 40 years working in financial organizations in the City of London, specializing in change be it strategic, organizational or business through a project/program or otherwise. Since retirement, I have volunteered for Thames Valley Police in Investigation Management and more recently have been supporting the GXCA Admin team with the selection and replacement of the room booking/invoicing system.

Why me?: I joined the GXCA Executive last year to help where I could with my varied change background. Since then I have helped with recruitment, cost/utilization analysis of rooms, selection of room booking & invoicing solution and supported the admin team.

Ideas: Introduce and roll-out customer self-booking capability on the Lemon room booking system. Help with refining the membership process. Improve admin processes that are currently in place so that GXCA back office runs efficiently as possible.

Professor Marcia Bell, grand-daughter and daughter of doctors (Norman Creighton, Desmond and Ann Hall) / married to doctor (Gary Bell)

Background: Brought up in GX with many happy hours spent at Memorial Centre. Educated at Maltman’s Green and on Board of Governors 1991- 2011. Spent 35 years in NHS (Consultant in cancer medicine at Wexham/Mount Vernon).

Why me?: NHS roles obviously included lots of teamworking, including leading Research and Development at Mount Vernon for 8 years. Also chair of Trustees of local cancer charity, CTRT (https://www.cancertreatment.org.uk) and responsible for updating it to CIO, introducing small part-time fund-raising/publicity team. My academic role at Brunel involved multiple grant applications.

Ideas: Improve community versus commercial balance at Memorial Centre. Restore full-time caretaker post and in-house catering. Increase membership and promote charitable nature of GXCA. Introduce wider range of activities/events eg: repair café, children’s holiday clubs, hop growing, puppy/dog agility classes.

Sarah Williams. I’ve lived in Gerrards Cross for over twenty years and have an allotment at GXCA.

Background: My background is marketing and publishing, having launched, run and re-invigorated many large-scale events & magazines serving a wide range of industries. I’m self-employed and work within a variety of sectors including charity, media, technology, law, and education.

I am an active volunteer, working with Guide Dogs’ for over 8 years and Cinnamon Trust since 2020.

Why me? I’d like to join GXCA Exec Board to help it to become a thriving, community-focused centre at the heart of the Gerrards Cross with an improved and wider public profile. I’d like to see it forge relationships with other local organisations, charities, groups and individuals to increase funds, membership and the range of services it offers to the community.

I strongly object to the padel tennis court plans.

Ideas

Encourage clubs and lapsed members to return
Fundraising and sponsorship - seek specialist funding for new community activities
Attract more/younger volunteers & members with better PR & engagement.
Have a clear vision for GXCA’s role in the community and communicate it.

Widen the marketing reach so people know what’s happening.

Sonja Brisbane Klaus

Background: Have worked in film and television industry for last 35 years. Moved to GX 8 years ago and enjoyed visiting the Memorial Centre.

Why me?: Working in the entertainment industry (www.sonjaklausdesign.com) has given me an insight into the importance of Community. I currently sit on three work related committees specialising in nurturing and confidence building with a focus on community and inclusion- expecially for younger people.

Ideas: Reaching out to the Community to promote a more charity orientated environment. Expanding the range of events and activities at GXCA, especially for the youth of GX.

Val Hearn

Background: I have lived in the area for over 50 years and in that time have been involved with the Memorial Centre.

I have done the Jumble Sale for about 30 years, also involved with the Classic Car Rally, the Dog Show and the Fireworks Night (on the BBQ Team). I am a member of the Horticultural Society, was Programme Secretary for 17 years and am now Chairman.

I am on the Committee of the Amersham Dog Training Club, I was a very active member of "The Riding for the Disabled" in Fulmer for 17 years and was on the Committee of the local Pony Club for 10 years and personally ran several PC annual Dressage and Show Jumping Competitions.

Why me? I care about the Centre !!

Ideas: I would like a good balance between Commercial and Charity status for the Centre because recently it has completely lost its way. We also need to reinstate a Caretaker and take back control of the Café.