Patrons
Susan Lousada, DL
Susan was born and educated in Bedfordshire and has lived all but four years of her life in the county. She is married to Simon, has two children and two grandchildren and enjoys local history, gardening, skiing, walking and spinning classes.
Susan has a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Leeds University and a PGC in Translational Medicine from Cranfield University. She has over 20 years’ experience of running a family business prior to its sale in 2007.
She is a non-legal member in the First Tier Tax Tribunal and serves on a Research Ethics Committee based in Oxford where she has held both the Chair and Vice-Chair positions.
Susan is privileged to serve as Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire as His Majesty the King’s representative in the county. Other voluntary positions held include school governor at Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School with particular responsibility for safeguarding and is Chair of the Curriculum Committee and has mentored pupils in a Bedfordshire upper school. She is Vice President of Bedfordshire NSPCC, a member of the County Priory Group (St John’s Ambulance), a member of the charity School readers Senior Management Team, serves on the Bedfordshire Committee of the East Anglian Air Ambulance and is a Trustee of Level Trust.
Susan was very honoured to serve as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 2020/2021 where during lockdown she was instrumental in distributing almost 1800 laptops to children with no access to a digital device across Bedfordshire.
Lionel Stewart, MBE
Lionel Stewart is a retired Police Officer with over 60 years experience both serving and retired. He is Chairman of Beds Retired Police Officers Association NARPO. As Crimebeat coordinator he worked closely with the late Ann Hadfield in the early days of Fun for Young People.
Trustees
Helen Orssich and Esme Watkinson are the daughters of Ann Hadfield MBE. They formed the charity inspired by their mother's vision following her mother's death in 2018. Helen runs an advertising film production company in London and Esme is a General Practitioner in Birmingham.
Alexis Orssich works in technology for a startup. Despite living in London he loves the countryside and believes all children should have the opportunity to appreciate and love nature.
Helen Watkinson is Ann Hadfield's granddaughter. She is a secondary school English teacher in London.
Margaret Campbell is a qualified accountant. She is company secretary for the charity and handles the financial record keeping and preparation of accounts.
Caroline Heaton lives in Bedfordshire and very much enjoys rural life. She feels it is important for young people to have the opportunity to experience time in the countryside and develop skills and knowledge while in an area surrounded by plants, trees and wildlife.
Claire Innes Claire Innes is a HR and interim management recruitment specialist at the Association of Colleges, the membership body for the Further Education sector in England. Passionate about education and the opportunities it provides to transform lives, Claire supports Country Days with the recruitment of excellent teaching staff to inspire young people.
Frank McMahon was headteacher of Robert Bruce School and greatly appreciated the Fun 4 Young People summer school initiative which enriched the school holiday experiences of so many pupils. He believes Country Days, its ambitious successor, builds on those achievements and significantly develops the range of activities provided.
Caroline Waterfall is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 7. She believes being outside in the countryside broadens the lives and learning of the young.
Committee
Rita Di Carlo is the Charity Secretary and leads the admin team. She has just retired as office manager at Kempston Academy after dedicating a quarter of a century to the schools of Kempston in Bedfordshire.
Victoria Hayward is the Head of Curriculum. Victoria is the Education Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Lead, School Improvement Team, Bedford Borough Council. She has over 15 years of experience working in education as a former Deputy Headteacher with the focus of driving forward practice and improving outcomes for children.
Lynni Gingell is the health & safety officer and fire marshall. Lynni is the Safeguarding officer at
Kempston Academy.
Site maintenance
Roy Horner is farm estate manager in Bromham and has managed the Leys nature reserve since 1994.