Patrons & Ambassadors

Ken Bruce - Patron

“I became involved with Thomley as a result of my son being diagnosed as autistic. The great enjoyment he gets out of the facilities and the caring attitude of the staff at Thomley persuaded me that I ought to become more involved. I hope, as a patron, to bring the wonderful work being done here to a wider public and help Thomley continue to develop as a first class resource”

Ken has presented Pick of the Week and Breakaway on Radio 4 and hosted his own weekly music programme on the BBC World Service. His broadcasts have also covered the 1986 Commonwealth Games, Seoul Olympics, National Music Day, Voice of Musical Theatre 2000, and every Eurovision Song Contest since 1988.

Ken, born a Glaswegian, has been working for Radio 2 since the early 1980s and has hosted the Saturday Late Show, The What If Show and Friday Night is Music Night. He is best known as presenter of his own mid-morning show on Radio 2, which is characterized by a mix of music, the legendary Popmaster Quiz, and what the Observer described as his ‘droll, whimsical, tongue-in-cheek presentation.’

Jeremy Irons - Patron

Jeremy Irons officially opened Thomley Activity Centre on July 14th 2002.

Jeremy is one of today’s most respected actors, and has been honoured for his work on stage, screen and television. Amongst Jeremy’s accolades, he has won an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, an Emmy, a Screen Actors Guild Award and various BAFTA nominations.

Aside from his many film, stage and TV appearances, Jeremy’s work for children has included appearances in Playaway. He also lent his distinctive voice to the role of the villainous Scar in the animated hit ‘The Lion King’.

Bryan Steel - Sports Ambassador

“When I visited Thomley to open their cycle track, I was so inspired with the work that is being done there. Thomley gives young people with disabilities and their families a chance to relax and to have fun. Even when the centre is full, everyone is an individual and all needs are catered for”

Bryan Steel is an English former professional racing cyclist. He represented Great Britain at four Summer Olympics. Bryan has been one of Britain’s top track riders for over a decade achieving four World Championship silvers, a World Championship bronze, a Commonwealth Games Silver and an Olympic Bronze. Riding in his fourth Olympics in Athens in 2004, Bryan improved on the Bronze medal from Sydney to win silver in the Team Pursuit.

In his youth Bryan was classed as a disaffected child, not attending school for various reasons and eventually getting into trouble at school, with his family and the police. When he started secondary school Bryan was overweight and bullied and it was later discovered that he was dyslexic. Through his brother, Bryan found cycling. This was something that he was good at and helped focus his life, bringing it back on track and changing it for the better. Within 4 years Bryan was selected for the National Cycling team of which he remained a member until he retired in 2004. He now works for several Charities and Associations, including the role of Sports Ambassador to Thomley Activity Centre.