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Trustees Contacts

Name: Chris Crabtree Title: Trustee, Member of the Retail Advisory Group Department: Board Member Location: North England

Chris Crabtree's career started as an articled clerk in a Chartered Accountants office, however the theoretical life not being for him, in order to gain industrial experience he joined a small family business, which printed and manufactured metal paint cans. Excited by the potential he stayed becoming instrumental in increasing its capacity by 400% in five years, then also diversifying the business into other forms of packaging.With the increasing onset of plastic cans and not having the necessary investment capital, he sold the metal can business investing in a packaging wholesaling company, and other ventures. A small group of companies resulted, comprising six diversified businesses with collective sales of £15 million. Chris simultaneously had interests in a number of other companies in the healthcare, engineering, packaging and transport industries.At 60 years of age with a heart attack behind him, Chris reduced his business interests, divesting himself of most of the companies whilst retaining some interests. However, he is currently on a three or 4 days a week basis is attempting to rescue and re-vitalise a business.Ever a keen sportsman playing most ballgames but "majoring" in cricket and playing for many years in the local Bradford leagues, Chris is a wicket keeper batsman of varying and variable quality!Chris became aware of CID from The Yorkshire Post feature on the work in Romania. St Christopher's, the financial problems at CID, its very worthwhile projects, attracted Chris and his main company started to support the charity. Since then he has become involved with the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal, is West Riding co-coordinator, and a Trustee. He is closely involved with the Chief Executive's fundraising initiatives and hopes to bring his entrepreneurial experience to fundraising, improving, and expanding the charities retail shops. He is involved with other charity work, his former cricket club, and loves being taken for walks by his Labrador.

Name: Robin Dunn Title: Trustee and Member of the Advisory Group Department: Board of Trustees - Advisory Group Location: Inkpen, Berkshire

Dr Robin Dunn qualified and trained Cambridge and St Bart’s Hospital, London followed by a challenging and interesting appointment as Medical Officer in the Solomon Islands where as well as managing the Malaria eradication programme he delivered comprehensive medical care throughout the dependency. This experience inspired his move into general practice. GP training at Oxford lead to practical training in Didcot and a career long partnership in a practice in Hungerford from which he recently retired. An inspirational meeting in 1993 with the Children in Distress’s Founding Director led to an initial visit to St Laurence Hospice in Cernavoda and a life changing experience of both Robin and his wife Anna. Robin and Anna have been an integral part of the growth and development of Children in Distress and its mission of care since then. As a chair of the charity’s Advisory Group, he helped introduce medical audit visits and continues to promote the highest standards of medical treatment and care, in all of CID’s projects and partnership programmes. Having worked at St Thomas’s, CID’s hospice in Slobozia over many years, he continued contact and support when it was transferred to the Fundatia Paraschiva Cuvioasa and today he chairs their UK support charity. Now ‘retired’, Robin is one of the longest  serving Trustees of Children in Distress and each year fits in a series of advisory audit visits. He has worked as a volunteer doctor for ‘ACCROSS’, which using jumbulances assists pilgrimages across Europe for the frail, sick and disabled. He is a local community councillor a fundraiser for the rebuilding of his own local parish church and active in ‘Hungerford Churches Together’. Over the years, he has inspired and organised the Hungerford Big Wheel Bike ride for Children in Distress and fundraises widely for children in Slobozia.

Name: Alyth Hughes Title: Trustees and Physiotherapy Consultant, Chair of the Advisory Group Department: Ely Fund-a-Physio Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire

Alyth is a trustee, our consultant physiotherapist and Chair of the Advisory Group; she is also a Presedinte Adjunct ( Vice President) of the Romanian Copii in Dificultate Foundation. Being retired has not slowed Alyth down and she remains a consumate professional and dynamic driving force, championing best practice in all aspects of our work. She is constantly in demand as a facinating speaker on her work and the achievements of the charity. In all aspects of her work, she has the seemingly tireless support of Fund-a-Physio Ely.

Name: Reverend June Hurn Title: Trustee. Member of the Board of PositivPlus Department: Board of Trustees Location: Chistlehurst, Kent

June Hurn, one of the charity�s active and long-term supporters but newer trustees, was born in the United States, however has spent most of her life and career in the UK. A teacher and lecturer in physical education, June also qualified as a remedial gymnast and spent twenty years working with children with special educational needs. Now a priest in holy orders, June is part of the ministry team of St Nicholas�s Parish, Chislehurst in Kent, she is a governor of both the local Specialised School for Physical Development, and a primary school in a deprived area of Bromley. June is an equestrian of note and for thirty years has been active in the Riding for the Disabled Association. June is a loving mother (4) and doting grandmother (8) and enjoys a very active life together with her husband Bruce, a popular and talented artist who generously promotes and supports Children in Distress through the sale of his paintings.

Name: Chris Samuels Title: Chair Department: Board of Trustees Location: Wrexham

Canon Samuels recently retired after a 40 year ministry as an Anglican priest latterly delivered as a much loved vicar of St Mary outwith the Walls, Chester. One time Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Kings School Chester, he is actively involved with Adoption Matters (North West) and is National Chaplain for the Dunkirk Veterans. Chris was appointed Chaplain to the Queen in 2000. He remains very active in preaching and is in regular demand for preaching and services. He is very active in the Rotary Club of Chester and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Chris has been involved since 1989 in a very practical way collecting goods and leading lorry convoys of aid to where the need was greatest in Eastern Europe. He became part of the Children in Distress family of support in 1994 and is now Chairman of Trustees. He and his wife Sarah have devotedly restored their present home in Ruffet, in Wrexham, which also houses Sarah's renowned Art gallery and e-business

Name: Sir Neil Thorne Title: Life President & Senior Founding Trustee Location: City of Westminster

Sir Neil Throne recently accepted the honour of being names the Charity’s Life President. Sir Neil, has led a life of service to others, with a   professional qualification as a Chartered Surveyor and a successful career thereafter he became an authority in transport and as a Councillor, Alderman and later as a Member of Parliament for Ilford South. He has played a significant role in sponsoring the Parliamentary Bills providing the Heathrow Express, Jubilee Line Stratford Extension. Docklands Light Railway Bank extension NS1’s St Pancras Chanel Tunnel line amongst many others.   Sir Neil’s interest in charity is far reaching, but focussed primarily on hospices and health care at home and abroad. He has played a significant role in Children in Distress, being one of those who signed the Charity’s original founding document and now its most senior Trustees.

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Registered Charity Number: 1001327.
Scottish Registered Charity Number: SCO 39383.

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