The Trustees are a group of like-minded people who are concerned for the future of the Phoenix Stroke Club. The original idea was that the Trustees should include, from the local community, as a minimum a doctor, a solicitor, and a speech therapist. 

The Trustees elect a Chairman (or lady) from their midst. The Trustees meet on a regular basis.

The Trustees are the following:

Mr Don Burstow (Chairman)

Dr Richard Bailey

Mrs Celia Williams

Mrs Joan Mallard

Ms Lesley Niven

Mr Nigel Haverson

Mrs Jessie W. Davies

The Trustees have provided an outline profile below.

DON BURSTOW (Chairman)

In 1979 when the Phoenix Club was formed, I was asked by Kay Comley to assist with legal issues on creating the club and registering it as a charity.I became a Trustee in 1979 and have remained one ever since.

I have been a solicitor in practice in Horsham for over thirty years. At the time the clubhouse at Forest School was originally built, I was a member of Horsham Round Table and helped, with other service clubs in Horsham, with the building of the clubhouse.

I believe the Phoenix Club has provided a lot of support and happiness to a lot of people over the last 25 years and I do hope that during my period of chairmanship I can help the club continue to develop and meet the needs of those who have been unfortunate enough to suffer strokes or similar problems, as the club goes into the 21^st Century.

RICHARD BAILEY

I have been a trustee since 1986, soon after the Phoenix club opened.

I am a hospital doctor who trained at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, and I have worked in Crawley and Horsham Hospitals since 1980. I have been involved with the new stroke rehabilitation ward at Crawley Hospital since September 2004.

I worked at Horsham Hospital with Kay Comley, the speech therapist who conceived the idea of Phoenix and made it into a reality with the support of local benefactors.

My role continues to be to liaise with the Health Service and introduce members to the club.

CELIA WILLIAMS

I joined the Club quite soon after Cliff Michelmore opened the Clubhouse.
I had two young children and wanted to do some Voluntary work in the Community and take the children along with me so that they grew up with a caring and understanding of disability from an early age. This obviously worked, one is a nurse and the other a teacher!

My early duties at the Club included collecting the subscriptions and other general help. I then was invited to become a Trustee in 1986 and this led to me taking over the Chairman's role when, sadly, Jenny Filby lost her battle against cancer in 1987. I remained Chairman for many years and only stepped down recently due to the pressure of full-time work and additional family commitments with my grandchildren.

I still remain a Trustee and continue to help with day to day management of the Club and it's finances.

LESLEY NIVEN

I was invited to become a Trustee in 1994 at a time when I was a member of Horsham District Council and had some experience of working for disabled people through my involvement in the West Sussex Association for Disabled People. Many Phoenix Club members have enjoyed the WSAD holidays which I have helped to organise.

I have been an occasional helper and driver at the club and although now living in Scotland, I continue to enjoy my involvement as a trustee. I have recently helped to put together the club’s policies and procedures and will be continuing to help with fundraising.

JOAN MALLARD

My involvement with the Phoenix Stroke Club started in January 2005 when my husband Eric became a member.  I was quite happy to help out at the Club but did not want to become a volunteer as I did not think this would be beneficial to either Eric or myself.

However, I did take on responsibility for the printing of the Flyer Newsletter, which with a change in format has now become the magazine - The Phoenix Flyer.

I became a Trustee of the Club at the Annual General Meeting in July 2005. My specific areas of responsibility are the day to day petty cash for the Club and raising awareness in the community.

NIGEL HAVERSON

  I was invited to become a trustee in 2005.  I am the Head of Public Health and Licensing for Horsham District Council and act as the Council’s Health Adviser.  I have lived in Horsham for over 20 years now.

  I have been a beneficiary of the club’s facilities having suffered a stroke in 1995.  I consider myself lucky that my remaining disabilities are limited and I try l to lead as normal a life as possible and being a Trustee allows me to put something back having received myself.  I recently “fell off” Ben Nevis whilst raising funds for the club (the family have now banned me from the mountains!!)

  My responsibility includes health and safety and building issues.

JESSIE W. DAVIES

I was invited to join the club as a Trustee in 2006 when the Chairman visited our Rotary Club of Horsham of which I am a member.

In recognition of the valuable service of the club to poeple around Horsham I was happy to be part of a team that gives its time to a very deserving charity.

My responsibilities in the club is to assist with preparation of the financial records.

I am a Partner at Seaford Hearing Care Centre, a hearing aid company, in charge of the finance, and also work for Sevenoaks Hearing Care Centre and the Chichester Hearing Hearing Centre as their financial manager.

My husband and two sonshave lived in Manings Heath for 10 years after relocating from Surrey where I had relocated from Kenya.

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Last modified: February 26, 2008