Chairperson

Chairperson – Philippa Groves M.B.E.  F.R.S.A

Philippa trained as a ceramist in the 1970s, setting up and running her own pottery supplying local galleries and promotional work for companies such as International Spinners and The Gallaher Group.  She moved into the fabrics trade in the 1980s, designing and setting up major exhibitions at Earls Court and Olympia. Philippa later set up an equestrian business in Yorkshire, manufacturing and supplying goods to organisations such as The Metropolitan Police and Burberry where she advised and supplied all the goods for the launch of Burberry’s first Equestrian line. She worked closely with the International League for the Protection of Horses and the World Farriers Association coordinating sending goods abroad to alleviate the suffering of working animals in many countries

Mother of three sons, a doting grandmother and passionate about donkeys, Philippa moved to Cumbria in 2000 and became actively involved in the community volunteering with the Northern Fells Group, eventually being becoming one of the first village agents.  

A founder member of the Community First Responders team, she started her own charity, the Eden Lifeline Project which was set up to raise funds for defibrillators in schools and village halls and to educate and train people about defibrillators.  Philippa is the vice chairperson of the Castle Sowerby Parish Council.  She was awarded an M.B.E. in 2021 for Services to Cumbria. She is trustee for the Northern Fells Group community charity. 

Vice Chairperson – Simon Hewitt

The majority of Simon’s career was spent in the Civil Service where he worked for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), he’s focus has been on operational delivery.

Having successfully created and established a GB wide Centre for International Trade, Simon played a key role in modernising and reshaping the operational structure of the Agency and established four other GB wide specialist service centres delivering work on behalf of the Scottish, Welsh and English Governments.  As Operational Director for APHA, Simon played a leading role in the Agency’s International Trade related preparations for Brexit, including working closely with Trade Unions to change existing working practices at a national level, and to implement new border control inspection regimes aimed at preventing the incursion of exotic disease. 

Prior to joining the Civil Service, Simon set up and established successful retail businesses. 

Now retired, Simon lives with his wife and three dogs in the home they have shared in Castle Sowerby for over 35 years. He has been part of the local community since his early days in Caldbeck Young Farmers Club.

In his spare time, Simon is a mentor for young adults as part of the Prince’s Trust organisation and supports a local Red Squirrel Charity by playing an active role in conserving our native Red Squirrels.   

Vice Chairperson

Treasurer – Martin Woodham

Martin’s early career was in the British Army where he attained the rank of Captain before retiring from the armed forces. 

His main career was as a management consultant at IBM, where he advised large businesses on transformational programmes of work, usually related to technical implementations or outsources in areas such as: retail, aerospace, engineering, distribution, government, chemicals & finance industries.

A former GP practice manager, Martin ran one of the top 4, highest-rated GP practices in England, rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission.

Having recently retired, Martin currently does some part-time consultancy work for the local out-of-hours GP service, helping to run six daytime GP practices and focusing on improving Primary Care.

In his spare time Martin has his hands full with teenage children but manages to get out in the Cumbrian fells with the dog from time to time!

Treasurer

Marketing and Design

Marketing and design – Helena Davies

Cumbrian by birth, Helena is a graphic design and marketing professional with experience in brand creation and development.   Artistic by nature, her passion for being creative was channelled into her first work experience as a chef running a successful local restaurant in a family business.   

Helena has a first class degree in Graphic Design, which enabled her to pursue her passion for design in several pivotal roles before securing her current role as the Marketing Manager for CAfS (Cumbria Action for Sustainability).

Helena lives in Millhouse, just a mile away from the village shop, with her husband, 3 children and dog. She enjoys growing vegetables, walking in the countryside and being an active part of the community. 

Community Liaison and Operational Support – Martin Nicholson

Coming from a farming background, Martin trained at Askham Bryan Agricultural College before returning to the family farm from where he established a well-known herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle.  

Having achieved the appropriate technical and animal welfare related authorisations to transport livestock, alongside running the farm, Martin established and ran a successful bloodstock haulage business transporting animals across many countries.  

Regularly facilitating the complex procedures involved with the export of sport horses to America, Martin managed the associated challenges of coordinating the veterinary health certification, customs declarations and airport clearances.

Prior to retiring in 2019, Martin established and ran a successful farm animal feedstuffs business at the local market before relocating to Cumbria. 

Relocating to Cumbria just prior to the Covid pandemic, Martin quickly became involved with the Northern Fells Group as a Lend a Hand volunteer and found his way around the area by delivering lunches and afternoon teas from local hostelries and deliveries of papers and groceries from the Hesket Newmarket shop. 

In his spare time, Martin helps several older residents with heavier gardening and handyman odd jobs. Martin is on the Patient Participation Group for the Caldbeck Doctors Surgery.

Community Liaison and Operational Support

Professional advice and Guidance

Professional advice and Guidance – John Brown BSc (Hons), CPA (Retired), EPA

John moved to Hesket Newmarket in 1996 and subsequently retired in 2006. He shows a great interest in the local community and has actively supported several community based initiatives. 

He is the past President (twice) of the Chartered Institute of Patent attorneys, past Honorary Treasurer of Society of Chemical Industry, past Company Secretary of Hesket Newmarket Brewery Limited (Co-Operative), past and present trustee of a number of charities including present chairman of the Executive Committee of Allerdale Disability Association.  

John enjoys travelling, in the UK, continental Europe and, when he has a good excuse, anywhere in the world. John is passionate about the welfare of racehorses and ex-jockeys. He presently owns two racehorses and a half share in another and, whenever he can, he goes to see them race. He also has a brood mare and youngstock

IT Consultant to the Management Committee – Izzy Garnsey

Isabel Garnsey, better known as Izzy, is fairly new to the village. She is a data scientist and software developer for a UK not-for-profit organisation that works to measure and improve the carbon footprints of farmers and supply chains. 

Izzy has a Masters in Statistics from the University of Strathclyde, and worked previously for the Scottish Government compiling the annual Agricultural Census of livestock and crops across Scotland. 

She is an active a member of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, and in her free time she loves to explore the amazing hills and crags of the Lake District.

IT Consultant to the Management Committee