Organisational details
REAP's Board of Directors and Staff collectively demonstrate an extensive array of professional careers and backgrounds, offering extensive knowledge on local issues, the business sector, environmental practices and knowledge of grassroots organisations. They all live and / or work within the area, where local community life, user involvement and a passionate interest in the environment and education is shared by all, ensuring that our work is based upon the needs and interests of local communities. Being 'local' affords our Directors and Staff the opportunity to spread the word about our activities, and those of other organisations we work with, and equally, in enabling them to report back to the board with ideas and information, that keeps our work and activities current and relevant to all.
REAP Directors Biographies
Leo Goodman LL.B (Chair) - is a Barrister at Law and formerly Director of Social Services for the London Borough of Wandsworth. He has acted as advisor to Touche Ross, Management Accountants on local government and social services. A former visiting fellow of Loughborough University he has undertaken with colleagues a number of studies for the European Commission on drugs and crime. He is a local Parish Councillor, school governor and chairs the Staffordshire Moorlands Community Education Council. He also, since inception, has been the chair of the Staffordshire Moorlands 'Sure Start' Board.
John Reavy (Treasurer & Vice Chair) - retired at the end of 2001 and moved to the Peak District. During his working life, John was Human Resources Director and responsible for over 3000 people. A small part of that role was to have contact with Arts and Business where I helped and advised the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with some of their HR practices. He has have known the locality for a long time and whilst having moved away for some 16years, kept very much in touch during that period. In retirement, John has take an active part in village life, being Churchwarden. I enjoy fishing, gardening and bridge as well as walking. He also has an interest in supporting people to grow and develop along their chosen path.
Lucilla Marsden (Director) - has lived in the Peak District for nearly 30 years. During this time she has been a registered hill farmer, a school governor, served on the Bakewell Adult Youth and Community Education Council, acted as a Trustee of a local education charity and run a holiday accommodation unit. Lucilla also worked in publicity for Buxton Opera House. Actively interested in the Arts, Art History and Landscape Archaeology. She graduated in English from the University of East Anglia, after which she taught at Friundervisnigen in Bergen, Norway and Westminster College, London.
Robert (Bob) Foster (Director) – has lived in the National Park for 22 years and now has a small holding on the Roaches mainly for horses. Graduated in Chemistry from Manchester University and worked for ICI Pharmaceuticals and it's subsequent transformations initially in drug research and Plant Management and latterly in Supply Chain and Logistics. Bob was a member of the Institute of Operations Management for 15 years and served on it's Council and Management Committees. Used to run a Post Office and a Youth Club in the village of Rainow near Macclesfield. Now retired and Chair of Leekfrith Parish Council and webmaster for a number of websites, especially www.roaches.org.uk.
Ian Royle (Director) – was born in Derby and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant whilst working with Rolls Royce. Ian held senior financial positions in a number of companies particularly in the food and transport sectors. After a period as a partner in a textile manufacturing company he finished his business career as Finance Director and then Managing Director of the Coaches Division of National Express PLC. Ian moved to the village of Wetton in the Peak District in 2005 where he runs a holiday cottage business with wife Christine. A keen walker and sportsman, he is also actively involved in local affairs as Clerk to Wetton Parish Council, a member of Wetton & Alstonefield Community First Responders and local walking,art and history groups.
Brendan Blewett (Director) – prior to establishing a successful training company in 1996, 'Vision Development Consultants', Brendan spent two years working in New York and six months in Spain with three acclaimed European artists at the same time as exhibiting his own art, which resulted in him bringing his artist's way of seeing to all aspects of the business. His later experience running a successful Art College department underlined his interest in extending individual enterprise and excellence. He oversees the financial direction of the company, and still acts as project manager, tutor and consultant. He's a committed sports enthusiast, reads military history - don't get him started on Napoleon - and if you need to organise an art exhibition, he's your man.
Lizzie Nicholls (Director) - trained as a dancer at The Bush Davies College before being chosen by Arlene Philips to play Pearl in Starlight Express, as well as to appear in many of her pop videos. Lizzie went on to choreograph a few of her own too for George Harrison, Wax & Jethro Tull. Some TV/film/commercial credits include The Benny Hill Show, Alas Smith & Jones, Carrot Confidential, Lenny Henry Live, Tina Turner's Christmas Special, Joy to the World, Anna Ballerina, Comeback, Oil of Ulay and Comfort Fabric Conditioner etc... Gillian Lynne later chose Lizzie to appear on a tribute to Cameron McKintosh at the Royal Variety Show before giving her the role of Demeter in Cats in the West End. Bill Kenwright subsequently chose her to play Maid Marian in a new musical version of Robin Hood at the Piccadilly theatre. Other theatre credits include, Pickwick with Harry Secombe, Cinderella with Lionel Blair and the lovely Roy Castle and Aladdin with Danny La rue and Vicki Michelle. Since moving to the Peak District and starting a family Lizzie has been involved in putting on productions locally with Longnor Players and was presented with an award from the Staffordshire Moorlands for her contribution to the arts. Lizzie also gained her City & Guilds in Creative Embroidery and began the Peakland Embroidery Group (PEG) who hope to exhibit later in the year. Lizzie presently works with musical theatre students at Leek School of Dance, The 'Instep' Dance Group at Butterton, Alstonefield Dance Group and runs special workshops for pre-school children in the local area and the 'The Happy Days' children.
Anita Oakhill (Director) – is a marketing specialist with extensive UK experience gained at a senior management level, Anita began her career at Boots the Chemists PLC where she undertook a number of roles developing strong marketing and customer focussed skills. These were later exploited when she took up the role of Head of Marketing for United Norwest Co-operatives leading the marketing team in redefining the business and marketing strategy.
In 2001 Anita set up her own company and has worked with a number of high profile organisations including Sainsbury's, Great Universal Stores, Jeld-Wen UK Ltd as well as a number of smaller organisations in developing and implementing customer focussed marketing strategies designed to raise awareness and drive business growth.
More recently Anita has worked with organisations in a variety of sectors – SMEs, regeneration, the Public Sector and, FE and training. A CIM qualified Chartered Marketer, with a wealth of senior level brand and consumer experience Anita supports organisations and develops marketing led propositions across a variety of industry sectors.
Martin Hofman (Director) - after 47 years living in North-West London, Martin and Deborah escaped to the Peak District in spring 2007. They live just outside the village of Earl Sterndale where, together with their dog Oz, they own and manage 8 Holiday Cottages. In Martins previous urban life, he worked independently, advising and supporting owners, directors and managers of a wide range of small and medium sized organisations. Prior to this, he had been the managing director of his family business for over 17 years. He trained and worked as an accredited facilitator for Parent Network (now ParentlinePlus), a national organisation dedicated to parenting education. More recently, Martin qualified as a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Jamie Perry (Director) – is the Communications Manager at 'Audiences Central' and is a highly motivated and dedicated professional with extensive experience in Marketing, Public Relations, Audience Development, Customer Relationship Management, Online / Web Development, Strategic Planning and Event Management. Jamie is versatile with proven project management skills and a track record of exceeding expectations and goals. He possesses a passion for identifying areas of business improvement and efficiency, research, planning, monitored implementation and project evaluation. He is resourceful with extensive business and media contacts across all sectors.
REAP Staff Biographies
Tina Ball (Projects Director) - trained as a Visual Artist and an Arts Projects Manager, with extensive professional experience in both aspects of her career. She studied Fine Art in Virginia, USA attained a first class honours in Fine Art Printmaking at Loughborough College of Arts in Leicestershire in 1998 and completed a Masters degree in 'Art as Environment' in Manchester in 2003. She has worked predominantly across the North West of England, Derbyshire and North Wales, working for numerous arts organisations in the creation, facilitation and management of creatively diverse projects. She joined REAP in 2004 as a Freelance Project Manager for the 'Rural Crafts Revival' project and is now in post as Projects Director, overseeing all current activities, organisational development and fundraising.
Lynda Conway (Finance & Events Manager) - has lived in the Peak District for much of her life and brings with her many years of experience in finance having been previously employed at the Inland Revenue. She joined REAP over back in 2002 when the first paid staff posts were introduced. She is interested in arts and education and possesses qualifications in HNC Business & Finance, Sage Line 50 accounts and IBT2. She now combines her skills in her role as Events & Finance Manager. Lynda is also the Company Secretary for REAP.
Susan Grantham (Administration Assistant) - has lived in the Peak District for all of her adult life but between 1975 and 2006 her career was based in the heart of Manchester City Centre, for the City Council. Along the way up the promotion ladder she has gained experience in the operation of abattoirs, and markets, liaised with traders, and worked alongside land valuers and regeneration experts. Although having no formal qualifications she has managed budgets of considerable size, sat on management teams and led on certain strategic issues. She brings to REAP a wealth of administrative experience and IT expertise but most of all boundless enthusiasm and adaptability. She now lives only a ten minute walk from Longnor and is thoroughly enjoying working alongside her new colleagues. She also manages to continue to fit in voluntary work for Blythe House Hospice shop.
Annual report
You can download our Annual Report 2007 here »
(Adobe PDF format, 659kb)
