The Trustees

Peter Hill – Chairman As well as Chairman of LEAP since it was established in February 2014, Peter is also Chairman of the Wivenhoe Housing Trust, another almshouse charity which manages 13 properties and where he has been Chairman for 30 years. He has been active in his local community of Wivenhoe since 1975 leading various organisations, including 25 years on his local council where he served as Town Mayor three times. He previously enjoyed a career in the City of London where he was Treasurer and director of an old-established merchant bank before moving into IT, leading the design of operational risk and compliance management systems for banks around the world. He took early retirement from professional life in 2012 to work in various community organisations since then.

Ian Dudley – Vice Chairman After 36 years in branch banking, Ian also took early retirement. Prior to leaving the bank he enjoyed a two year secondment as Appeal Manager to the Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, helping raise the £3 million needed to complete this ancient building with a magnificent gothic tower. He has since worked as a fundraiser for a number of charitable organisations including The Princes Trust. In 2004 he became Clerk to the Trustees at the John Henry Keene Memorial Homes. Keene Homes is a relatively modern almshouse charity with 42 properties in central Chelmsford.

Chris Andrews – Founder Trustee A solicitor and partner in Colchester-based law firm, John Fowlers LLP, focussing on work relating to trusts and private clients. He specialises in Court of Protection cases dealing with incapacitated adults and their property and financial affairs, and also their health and welfare issues. He is a member of the Panel of Deputies for the Office of the Public Guardian. He is a trustee of the Winnocks and Kendalls Almshouse Charity.

Diana Hoy – Founder Trustee After 22 years in private legal practice, she was elected Chair of Governors to a Nursery and then two Primary Schools; for 11 years was Chair of the Board of Directors for Uttlesford Citizens Advice; Trustee Director for 15 years of King Edward VI Almshouse Charity managing a huge restoration project with 47 properties; was on the Executive Board and Essex Director for The Almshouse Association; Trustee/Chair of two local Grant-making Trusts and buildings committee member for the largest parish church in Essex.

Alison Pooley - Trustee appointed 17th May 2017. Alison Pooley is a research fellow at the Suffolk Sustainability Institute, University of Suffolk. In addition to her research role, she also teaches on post graduate courses at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales. Alison has taught on architecture and related causes for over 20 years, including 8 years at Anglian Ruskin University. Alison’s current research focuses on resilience in almshouse communities. LEAP are very proud to be part of this 3 year funded research project, which builds on Alison’s previous research including a published RICS Research Trust report on the role of almshouses. See more about this in the LEAP News page - click here

Robert Neve - Trustee appointed 17th May 2017. Rob retired in 2015 from the firm of quantity surveyors Burr & Neve LLP in which he was a founder although he remains a consultant to the practice. He brings a wealth of building knowledge and experience to the board of LEAP. He is also a trustee of his local almshouse charity in Wivenhoe.

Rosie Pearson - Trustee appointed 17th July 2019. Rosie has been campaigning around sustainable and affordable housing issues in Essex for several years. Prior to that, Rosie was a business development and marketing manager in a variety of sectors. She has a degree in Geography from the University of Cambridge.

Manda O'Connell - Trustee appointed 17th November 2021. Passionate about responsible sustainable housing that blends with the local landscape, Manda has been campaigning since 2011 to prevent inappropriate development on, and for the preservation of, the natural assets to the east of Colchester and currently chairs the Community Liaison Group for the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community. With a Post-graduate PA Diploma in Economics, Law, Management and Business Administration and a background of computing in business and industry, both as trainer and developer, followed by a role as programme leader and computing tutor at Colchester Institute since 2008, she is now semi-retired.