Our Team

Trustees

A photo of Jane Roberts

Jane Roberts

Trustee & Chair, Ross CDT

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Jane chairs the trustee board of the Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust. She was a university lecturer until her retirement from the Open University in 2018. Her family moved to Ross in 2000 but has lived in the Wye Valley for nearly 35 years. She was first elected to the Town Council in 2007 and served as Mayor 2019-20, working with others to set up Ross Good Neighbours in order to combat loneliness in the town.

A photo of Dr Simon Lennane

Dr Simon Lennane

Trustee Ross CDT, GP and PCN Clinical Director for South & West Herefordshire

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Dr Simon Lennane is a GP at Alton Street Surgery, Ross-on-Wye and a trustee of Ross CDT. Simon is Clinical Director of the local Primary Care Network and Mental Health GP lead for the CCG. He helped set up Ross-on-Wye Parkrun, and has an interest in social prescribing and community health

A photo of Geoff Balsom

Geoff Balsom

Trustee Ross CDT and IT Lead

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Trustee Ross CDT and IT Lead

A photo of Ed O'Driscoll

Ed O’Driscoll

Trustee Ross CDT, Fundraising Lead and Ross-on-Wye Town Councillor

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A town councillor with more than 20 years’ experience as an arts/community charity CEO. He was a founding Director of Create Gloucestershire that oversaw the development of a framework for incorporating arts and culture into health and wellbeing services, and is a current Director of the NRTF (National Rural Touring Forum) developing a national strategic response to the impact of COVID on the arts in rural communities

A photo of Jane Mainey

Jane Mainey

Trustee Ross CDT and PR/Communications Lead

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Jane moved to Ross-on-Wye 17 years ago and has over 25 years’ PR, marketing and events experience, working with the arts, corporates and local authorities. She joined the Ross Good Neighbours scheme at the start of the pandemic as a volunteer with the shopping team and is now PR lead for the Ross Community Development Trust, as well as a trustee.

A photo of Caroline Utting

Caroline Utting

Trustee of Ross CDT, Ross Children’s Projects and The Friends of St Mary’s. Chair of the Ross-on-Wye Tourism Association.

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Trustee of Ross CDT, Ross Children’s Projects and The Friends of St Mary’s. Chair of the Ross-on-Wye Tourism Association.

A Photo of Chris Barron

Bev Pope

Trustee Ross CDT

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Bev Pope spent most of her professional life as an assistant film editor and researcher with the BBC. Her whole family, including her Mother, moved to Ross in 1998. While her son was growing up, she worked as a freelance gardener and garden designer. Subsequently, she has worked at Gloucester Land Registry. Bev is a Town Councillor and currently Deputy Mayor.

Ross Good Neighbours Steering Group

A photo of Melvin Reynolds

Melvin Reynolds

Ross Good Neighbours Helpline Coordinator

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Melvin came across the concept of the Community Development Trust while holidaying on Lindisfarne, where their umbrella Trust has raised millions for everything from new homes to archaeology. He raised the idea with the Ross Neighbourhood Development Plan steering group which embraced the idea, which was in turn supported by the Town Council. His vision as a founding trustee was, and is, that the Ross CDT be fertile ground in which a host of flowers can co-exist, flourish and bloom in mutual support of community betterment initiatives in the town.

A photo of Paul Cummings

Paul Cummings

Member Ross CDT Steering Group & DBS Team Lead

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Following Officer Training, Paul was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Transport in 1971. During his 34 years’ service, he completed numerous appointments including Transport, Logistics, Officer Recruiting and Selection, Operations and Personnel Management. Following retirement in 2005 he was appointed Director of Grants and Welfare for the Army Benevolent Fund, managing a £7m budget which provided support to Service Charities and individuals in need. Paul retired in 2014 and held a number of Service Charity Trustee appointments including Chair of Veterans Aid and Chair of Queen Mary Roehampton Trust. He moved to Ross in December 2019.

A photo of Elspeth Keeling

Elspeth Keeling

Member Ross CDT Steering Group and Shopping Team Lead

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A member of Ross CDT Steering Group and Shopping Team Leader.

Finance and Project Management

A photo of Sally Hoddell

Sally Hoddell

Finance Officer, Ross CDT

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Sally joined the Ross CDT as Finance and Administration Officer in May 2020 and is central to the smooth running of the trust and its activities. She has a keen interest in photography and holds an honours degree in Creative Digital Media. In her spare time, Sally also likes to keep fit – not only is she a competitive rower, coach and cox for Ross-on-Wye Rowing Club, she has achieved a 3rd degree dan black belt in Tai Kwon Do. Sally holds a variety of volunteering roles including Trustee of the Ross Children’s Projects, Treasurer and Co-ordinator for Ross NCT and she also works part time as Finance Officer for The Atlas Foundation.

A photo of Alison Clarke

Ali Park

Project Officer, Ross CDT

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Ali Park is a passionate individual with a diverse background. From being a former assistant at Vinetree Vets to being the lead singer in the local band, Amaretto Lounge, Ali is no stranger to the world of music and animal care. In addition, Ali selflessly volunteered as a shopping team member during the pandemic with the RCDT. With a strong work ethic and a love for helping others, Ali is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.