The Brickfield Trust

Our members are essentially the 'shareholders' of the Trust and meet twice a year to review the impact of the work of trustees on standards and performance and financial management. They also review and agree any amendments to the Articles of Association.

I am a Founding Member of The Brickfields Trust and the founder and Managing Director of Practical HR Ltd, a local company providing a range of HR services to SMEs (small to medium sized enterprises).

I have worked in Human Resource Management for over 30 years. I have held senior HR management positions within corporate organisations and in 1997 completed a Law Degree (LLB Hons), graduating with a 1st class honours. I have also gained a Master Degree (LL.M) in Employment Law and Employee Relations and have lectured in employment law at Anglia Ruskin University on the CIPD course (Certified Institute of Personnel & Development).

I joined Great Wakering Primary School as a governor in October 2015. I am a Founding Member and now Chair of the Board of Trustees (formerly Vice Chair) of The Brickfields Trust.

I am a Great Wakering resident, having moved to the village from Southend in 2011 and I am really passionate about ensuring the schools within our Trust provide the best education possible to the children of the communities in which we operate.

I am from a financial services background. I've worked in banking for over 14 years and have held a number of roles, from working in high street branches through to my current role in the commercial banking space managing a portfolio of clients in the Essex area.

I was appointed as a member of the trust in January 2019 and previously served as a parent governor of Great Wakering Primary from 2012-17.

I am married with two children and have lived in Great Wakering for the last 15 years. I retired from my role as an Inspector for Essex Police in 2016 after 30 years of service; having acquired skills and experience in finance, safeguarding and management.

I'm pleased to support the trust's schools in helping local children to achieve their full potential.

I was born in Colchester and brought up in the village of Layer De La Haye, which remains my family home. I completed my education in Colchester, studying Residential care and Social work. On completion of my studies I worked in Severalls hospital with adults and children with mental illness.

I moved to Walton on the Naze in the 1980’s and became a Senior Care Officer in a residential care home for the elderly and absolutely loved this work. It was while I was working in the home that I came to faith. My family were not ‘religious’ so church played no part in my upbringing, obviously it is now my life.

I met and married John in 1988, we have three children and two grandchildren. We lived in Kirby Le Soken and it was while we were living there that I began the process of discernment into ordained ministry - a journey of ten years. I completed my BA Hons in Contextual Theology and did a 3yr Curacy in Takely with Little Canfield after which I came to Great Wakering. I have been here for over four years now and really enjoy working within the local community.