Trustees

Lorraine Fox - Chair

Lorraine has been a teacher for approximately 20 years, working with a range of ages, subjects and abilities. She has significant experience working with disabled children, and children with emotional and behavioural disorders. Lorraine is currently Head of one of the Health and Social Care departments at Bristol City College. She also has particular interest in psychology and is pursuing a Masters in Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy.

Lorraine is a founder member of Thomley Hall Centre. Her interest in developing such a project arose from having a son with autism and complex needs. She and other families originally visited Thames Valley Adventure Playground, but collectively felt that a more local centre was needed.

Pam Rose - Treasurer

Pam became a Trustee in 2003. She has a background in secondary education and has also worked as a volunteer within an Occupational Therapy department. She now owns and runs a large dairy farm local to Thomley. Pam very much enjoys the contrasting roles of her daily work and being part of Thomley Hall Centre.

Wendi Coles - Secretary

Wendi is a founding Trustee. Her interest in developing Thomley stemmed from the limited provision she found available for her son, who is now in his twenties and has autism and severe epilepsy.  Prior to working at Thomley, Wendi had 10 years experience working with a charity providing activities and holidays for disabled children and their families. In 2000, Wendi also set up ‘Network 2000′, a support group for parents of children and young adults with learning disabilities. “I am absolutely thrilled to see how much the centre has grown over the years and to see that it has offered so much joy and support to children and families”.

Lisa Shoesmith - Finance Trustee

Lisa was officially nominated as Finance Trustee in 2009, having already proferred her professional support to Thomley for the previous 4 years. Qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Lisa brings valuable experience from the commercial sector where she works as General Manager of the Really Good card company. She also has a background in financial management and controls, having worked as the Finance Manager of the University of Warwick.

In the capacity of Finance Trustee, Lisa will play an advisory role, helping Thomley to make prudent financial decisions and remain compliant to legal regulations. “Having been involved with Thomley since 2005 and visited for a day every few months, I’ve seen how the Centre has grown and matured into the facility it is today and I was delighted and honoured when I was approached about becoming a Trustee”.

John Lubbock - Trustee

John is one of the founding Trustees of Thomley and has a teenage son with autism. Together with his musician wife Christine Cairns, he started the charity ‘Music for Autism’ to bring professional music making to autistic children and their families. John is also the founder and conductor of the Orchestra of St John’s.

Sheila Coates - Trustee

Since the early 70’s Sheila has worked with children and families in Oxfordshire, focusing on Autism and the Autistic Spectrum, mainly in the education field. Sheila has taken great interest in raising awareness about autism and providing practical support to families. She is also a Trustee of ‘Children in Touch’, which supports the therapeutic education and development of autistic children and supports families affected by autism in Oxfordshire.

Together with other founding Trustees, Sheila sought a suitable venue for Thomley and has played an active role in setting up the centre, promoting its development and supporting its valuable ethos. “I am committed to the concept of providing equal access for children and young people to experience adventure, opportunity, freedom and managed risk”.

Mary Stiles - Trustee

Mary retired in 2007 from a career in education. Although she still works part-time for the Thame Partnership of Schools as the Extended Schools Co-ordinator, she is really pleased to have become a Thomley trustee in 2008. As Head of Community Education in Thame in the 1990s, she worked very closely with a group of adults with learning disabilities and also with a group of parents of disabled children. She became only too aware of the need for a safe place for disabled children to play and take part in fun activities and was delighted when Thomley opened.

Maurice Pullen - Trustee

Maurice became a Trustee of Thomley in 2008 but has been heavily involved in his own community for many years as a local Councillor. He brings a knowledge of risk management  which, with the likely expansion of activities in the Centre, is likely to present increasing challenges over the next few years. “After being persuaded to visit the Centre a year or so back, I was amazed by the atmosphere and what was being done there and it didn’t take much persuasion for me to get involved!”.