Trustees
Sobell House Hospice Charity has a group of dedicated trustees who have the overall responsibility for the governance and strategic direction of the charity. Our trustees meet regularly to develop policies, make recommendations, and ensure the charity is fulfilling its duties to its beneficiaries.
Ian Miles
I have a long association with Sobell House as my father was the first Treasurer when the hospice opened in 1976. I now have the privilege of being the current Chair of Trustees, having been a trustee since 2005. I retired from practice as a chartered accountant in April 2023, after 43 years in practice. As a trustee, I constantly ask myself if we are serving the people of Oxfordshire who need us most to the best of our ability. For me, being a part of the Sobell Family means bringing the best help and support to people in need.
Dr Tim Littlewood
In my day job as a consultant haematologist in Oxford I have worked with many staff members from Sobell House as they provided care for a lot of my patients at different stages of their disease. I had been looking for this sort of position in my retirement and was very pleased when I saw the advertisement to become a Sobell House trustee; even more pleased when my application was accepted. I hope that I can make a small contribution.
Duncan Crine
I have been a lawyer most of my working life and I’m now a mediator. Having lost my brother to myeloma, a type of blood cancer, some years ago, I know how important it is for patients and their families to be supported by people who understand and care. Sobell House provides that support when it is most needed, and that’s why I am proud to help their work as a volunteer Sobell Companion and one of their charity trustees.
Elizabeth Drew
I have always been hugely impressed by the work of Sobell House and I am happy to support the charity as it facilitates the provision of palliative and end of life care in Oxfordshire. By background I am a nurse, having worked mainly in occupational health. I have also served as a trustee of a children’s hospice for twelve years. Now, following a five-year break, I am pleased to bring this experience to a new role.
Greg Birdseye
I first became aware of Sobell House in 2016 when my wife started palliative care treatment for lung cancer. Penny was given such dedicated and sympathetic care, both at home and in the hospice, until she died there in October 2017. This inspired me to volunteer, first as an Ambassador, and then in 2019 as a trustee of the charity. I now chair the Fundraising and Communications Committee, which contributes to the wide-ranging efforts to raise as much money as possible to continue Sobell’s wonderful work.
Hugh Fraser
I am a successful entrepreneur in a family-run retail business in the Oxfordshire area and have run this business for over 50 years. Now into semi-retirement, the business is being run by the 3rd generation who are moving it onwards and upwards! I become a trustee of Sobell House Hospice Charity due to my strong commitment to social responsibility and philanthropy. Serving as a trustee allows me to actively engage with a cause I deeply care about and support the important work of providing palliative care to those in need. By dedicating my time, expertise, and resources to the charity, I’m able to make a direct and significant impact on the lives of patients and their families during challenging times.
John Holloran
I qualified as an accountant but spent my career running companies in the media sector. I was CEO of companies in the printing, publishing, and distribution markets. I became a trustee of Sobell House in 2010 and its treasurer in 2017. I am a passionate believer in everyone dying with dignity and in comfort after watching my father dying with neither in a London hospital. I am very proud to be part of the Sobell House team.
Julie Findley
My family and I owe a lot to the NHS, and I have tried over the years to use my training and experience as a practising lawyer to give back and say thank you. I’ve held previous voluntary roles on the regional ethics committee and as a trustee of Oxford Hospitals Charity, and I now sit on the board of trustees for Sobell House Hospice Charity. I hope that I can play a part in contributing to the NHS’ future, so other people can benefit as we have done. It is also an interesting and, at times, challenging role!
Mike Wells
I am a retired research physicist who, some 17 years ago, felt it was time to offer my services to Sobell House in return for the care my wife received ten years earlier, so I became a volunteer driver. The administrative staff persuaded me to become an Ambassador as I enjoyed the chance to present the hard work and devotion of Sobell staff, on both the administrative and clinical fronts, to the public. When the opportunity occurred to become a Trustee, I saw it as a progressive move to become part of the decision-making board that has put Sobell House Hospice in the strong position that it holds today in the eyes of the people of Oxfordshire.
Sandra Nash
My background is in market research. I have been a trustee for about 12 years, and am a member of the shops and fundraising committees. I volunteer in the shops on a weekly basis and help fundraising if required.
Vivienne Spurge
I have been a trustee of the charity for over 20 years and have enjoyed seeing the charity grow in size and reputation. My roles have included acting as the Chair and Vice Chair and for the last few years I have been the Honorary Secretary. The hospice movement is particularly important to me as my father died when I was only 10, and there was no local hospice to support him. My background is in commercial property, until retirement working as a Chartered Surveyor. I first became involved with the charity when they were looking to expand their shops portfolio
Each year, our trustees prepare an annual report to explain what we have done in the past year to meet our charitable purposes. You can view all of our annual reports on the Charity Commission’s website.
If you have any questions, please get in touch: mail@sobellhospice.org or 01865 857007.