Trustees and governance

Bob Bracey - Chairman

Originally from the Midlands Bob is a qualified Environmental Health Officer and joined Waveney District Council in 1974. Currently Chairman, he has been a Trustee for over 10 years, although his association with the work of St Johns goes back to the days of the original “night shelter”! Before retiring in 2000 he was Director of Housing and Environmental Services for Waveney District Council and a member of the Council’s Management Team. He is also Vice Chairman of North Suffolk Victim Support and a Trustee of Waveney Community Forum.

Jean Maguire - Vice Chair

During the mid Eighties I became associated with SJHT by invitation, to advise on staff related matters and workstudy. I became a trustee shortly afterwards, Have served as vice chair to Bernard Segrave-Daly followed by 3 yrs chairman and am now again vice chair. My work career has been with the Norwich Health Authority retiring from the post of Contracts and Hotel Services Manager for the Mental Handicap and Psychiatric Division with membership to Management, Site, and Health & Safety committees. Since retiring I have walked the Camino Frances, taken keen interest in gardening and environmental wildlife and played an active role in raising funds for research into arthritis.

David Ellis

Honorary Treasurer David has been honorary Treasurer of the Trust since April 1989. A qualified CIPFA Accountant, specialising in Public Finance, David has worked in the public sector all his working life, his full time job being Chief Accountant at Waveney District Council, where he has worked for 25 years. Outside of work, David spends much of his spare time riding Roller Coasters and Thrill Rides all over the world, and is a longsuffering supporter of Leeds United Football Club.

Kate Francis

Kate became a Trustee of St Johns in 2005, bringing a background in Human Resources Management and Corporate Development from the public sector. She currently works for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (CEFAS) in Lowestoft as a Contracts and Business Manager, and has been a Non-Executive Director of the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust since 2004. Kate is currently studying for a postgraduate management qualification and is also a governor at the primary school her daughter attends.

Norma McNorton

I am a retired Local Government Officer and I have been a Trustee with St Johns Housing Trust for about 6 years, following in the footsteps of my late husband who was a Trustee for many years. I have three children and six grandchildren. I am also a volunteer at the James Paget Hospital. In my spare time my hobbies include sewing, knitting, reading, gardening, walking (mainly with the dog) and holidays with my family and friends.

Stephen Javes MBA, BSc (Hons), DMS, FCIH, MIEH is Chief Executive of Orwell Housing Association, which he joined in 1991. Since his arrival the Association has trebled its housing stock and now owns nearly 3,000 low cost homes for people in housing need, as well as sheltered and very sheltered homes for retired people, special needs schemes, hostels and refuges. The Association has also diversified into direct care provision. Stephen is also a trustee of St John’s Housing Trust; a member of the management committee of Waveney Women’s Aid; Chairman of the Supported Housing Providers Panel for Suffolk and a member of the Suffolk Supported Housing Strategy Group. He also lectures on management techniques at the Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford.

Wendy Evans-Hendrick BA (Hons) DipDM DMS originally trained as a Town Planner, but after a short time in the profession joined a Housing Association and moved into the development field. She has been Director of Development and Property Services for Orwell Housing Association for the past 13 years and also acts as the Director of Development for the e2 Development Consortium which represents 3 other associations in Norfolk and Suffolk. She is a member of the Care & Grants Committee for The Seckford Foundation and Joint Chair of Friends of Wilby School.

Dr Sam Revill

I was born in Norfolk but have lived in many other places around the UK. I like learning new things; languages and literature at college, a food science degree in Lincolnshire; a PhD at the Medical School of University of Newcastle upon Tyne. My previous work experience has included teaching in secondary schools; nursing in the armed forces; academic research; analytical chemistry and currently primary care health improvement. Other things I enjoy? Family, cooking and anything outdoors.

Tony Walmsley

Tony is now retired having spent 39 years in local government as a solicitor and Senior Manager. He spent his school years in Southend and gained his BA at Nottingham University. He worked for London Borough of Newham, Derbyshire County Council and Waveney District Council. For 22 years, Tony was a Trustee of St Mary’s Day Centre for the Elderly up to its hand over to Age Concern. Tony lives in Lowestoft with his wife Pat and they have a grown up son who lives and works in Leeds.

Peter Little

I am a registered Manager employed by SCC Children and Young Peoples Services, Accommodation Services. I have a Social Work Qualification, DipSW, a BA in Social Work and an NVQ 4 Registered Managers award. I started work in the social field in the early 1990’s joining St Johns Housing Trust’s project at 46 Kirkley Cliff (now Phoenix House). I feel I owe a lot to St Johns as they gave me the opportunity and support to change career late in life and obtain the necessary start qualifications.

Linda Blackett

Recently joined as a Trustee, became involved in purchasing and contracting by accident and has stayed in that field for many years, beginning in telecommunications, then NHS and UNICEF. her work has taken her all over the world, living in Geneva, New York, Bangkok and Copenhagen and providing anything from dressmaking pins to drill rigs to development programmes for children and women. Linda now runs her own consultancy providing services in information technology, project management and contracting. In her spare time Linda sings barbershop in two choruses and a quartet. She is a certified barbershop music judge.

Trish Aydin

Trish, although interested in Law, achieved a BA (Hons) in Psychology, a Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming and a certificate in psychotherapeutic counselling. She has a keen interest in human rights and equality. Trish has worked in both the statutory and voluntary and community sectors as a manager in a wide range of services from community care, mental health, supported housing, therapeutic work with abused women and within child abuse.  She also worked in the homelessness field and was previously a manager with St Johns Housing Trust at its homeless families’ project. She is currently Chief Executive of a Community Anchor Organisation.