Michael is married to Vicky and they have two children and four grandchildren. He retired from his career as a Chartered Town Planner in 2019.

Michael has been involved with Dorothea Court in Bedford since 1996, when he was first invited to lead a Sunday service in the home. In 2004 he became a trustee of the Dorothea Trust, which previously ran the home, and was instrumental in handing the work over to Pilgrim Homes in 2008. He then became a trustee of the Society until 2013 and, after a break, rejoined the board at the end of 2019.

Michael supports two churches: Providence Baptist Church in Bedford and a new church work in the Wixams just outside Bedford. He also preaches regularly at other churches and in the open air.

Alan Copeman is a Chartered Surveyor by profession and has recently retired after many years in the industry. He is a member of Pains Hill Chapel, Oxted and a long-standing member of the Grace Baptist Trust Corporation, where he's served as Deputy Chairman and Chairman.

Married to Jackie they have two adult children. He is committed to the work of Pilgrims' Friend Society where he has served since 1995.

Alan enjoys horse riding and gardening.

Judy has been a trustee since 2003. Her family has been involved with the Society for many years and she remembers attending fundraising events in her early childhood.

Judy, now retired, was a part-time General Practitioner and has a particular interest in the care of older people and those with dementia. Knowing the needs of the community in which she works, and then seeing the way that Pilgrims' Friend Society meets such needs in our homes is very rewarding. Our increasing expertise in dementia care is of special importance.

Judy is a member of Westgate Evangelical Free Church, Bury St Edmunds, where her husband Duncan is a Elder. They have three children. Judy has a special interest in our home at Great Finborough where she volunteers at the home support group. She has been involved with the home for more than 20 years.

Married with one son and a grand daughter, Genefer is now retired from a long career in Education (a substantial part as a secondary school Head Teacher). Genefer's father was a Baptist Minister who engendered in her a love for older Christians.

Genefer first became acquainted with Pilgrims' Friend Society through Milward House, where her mother was a 'family member' (those who live with us), for many years. She developed a love and understanding of care for older people through her experience with Milward House, and valued the Christian care that her mother received there. Her vision is to do all she can to support Pilgrims' Friend Society's mission to make the lives of older people, whether in residential care or in the community, richer and more fruitful.

As well as being a trustee of Pilgrims' Friend Society, Genefer is also a trustee of Cheam Baptist Church where she is involved in the pastoral ministry as well as chairing the Cheam Baptist Pre-School committee.

John was born in Chippenham and studied Economics and Accounting at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Graduating in 1983 he trained as a Chartered Accountant with what is now the medium sized West End firm, Alliotts.

Marrying Margaret in 1986, John returned to Wiltshire and worked in accountancy for 18 years. Needing a career-break he briefly worked as a driving instructor, before accountancy clients still wishing for his services persuaded him to start his own company and he continues to serve small business clients and have an increasing interest in charity accounts.

In addition to an inevitable interest in the Society’s accounts, John has a broad overview of the society’s care home operations through the involvement of his family. His mother, Betty, was a member of the Bath and District Auxiliary when funds were being raised for the Bristol and Chippenham homes, became a care worker when the Chippenham home opened in 1974, was a home visitor when she retired and then was a resident, first of the flats and then, as her needs increased of the care home, working her way through self-funding, local authority funding and continuing health care provision. John’s sister is credited with spotting Framland as a suitable property for the Wantage home when it came on the market in the 1980s and worked there as a member of the senior team.

John and Margaret serve in their local Baptist Church, where John is a deacon and Margaret the treasurer. They have two grown up daughters.

Sheila is a retired Chartered Health and Safety professional, having spent 14 years working in health and safety within local government. Before specialising in this area, she held various management roles in the electrical industry, including in credit, project management, quality assurance, and health and safety management.

In 2000, Sheila became a Trustee for a small Christian care home in Ipswich, where her primary responsibility was the care of the residents. Over time, she took on additional roles, including managing the property and serving as Chair of the Trust. Sheila also contributed to the inspection of several care and nursing facilities in Suffolk as a Healthwatch Suffolk Enter and View Authorised Representative.

In 2015, Sheila became involved with Pilgrims’ Friend Society and played a key role in the closure of the Ipswich home and the transfer of its assets to Pilgrims’ Friend Society in 2019. She subsequently became a trustee of the organisation.

Sheila is an active member of a Christian assembly in Lowestoft, where she is particularly engaged in children’s work, including Sunday school and summer camps.

Andrew Symonds is a widower with three children and seven grandchildren, who has been involved with Pilgrims' Friend Society from a very young age. His earliest memories are of singing in the "wards" at the Brighton Home in the late 1940s in the run up to Christmas. His parents were both involved in the Brighton Home - his mother as Lady Visitor and committee chair, and his father as home committee chairman and later a long-serving trustee of Pilgrims' Friend Society.

His great-grandfather, William Falkner, was a trustee in the 1920s, while his wife was a Lady Visitor at the Camberwell Home.

Andrew has been a trustee since 2003. A former chartered Quantity Surveyor and project manager in construction, he lives in Cuckfield, West Sussex. A member of Cuckfield Baptist Church for nearly 60 years, he currently serves as a Deacon.

Sylvia worked on the Pilgrims’ Friend Society Marketing and Communications Team until her retirement around three years ago.

Before that, Sylvia had over 25 years of experience in strategic HR management and consultancy. Sylvia has held various trustee/volunteer positions with charities and community organisations concerned with older people, mental health, homelessness, social care and substance misuse.

Sylvia learned about Jesus from her maternal grandparents, and when she was 15, she gave her life to Christ and was baptised. Sylvia is a member of the Christ Church Leyton PCC and the Communications subcommittee. She assists with children’s and women’s ministries; is a co-leader on Christianity/Hope Explored courses; facilitates one-to-one ministries; and gets involved with other things as they come along!

Mark was brought up in Northern Ireland and became a Christian in his early teens. Moving to England to attend Warwick University, Mark joined Canley Community Church in Coventry. He has worshipped there ever since and is now an Elder and leader.

After university, Mark spent 25 years in international business building process plants around the world and travelling extensively. In 2004, Mark moved into the retirement sector, first with the ExtraCare Charitable Trust, building 14 large affordable retirement villages across England, and latterly as Development Director at Anchor, the largest provider of older people's accommodation in England – so he has experienced plenty of encouraging and challenging issues in the older people's sector.

Mark has recently retired. He is married to Karen and they have three married children and ten grandchildren.

Leonie has known something of Pilgrims’ Friend Society all her life. Her parents are long-time supporters and her father, Bryan Jarvis, was a trustee for many years. She remembers visiting the homes as a child.

Being around older people from a young age influenced her decision to become as a nurse. She has also worked in women’s ministry. Her current role is with Christian charity CARE as OPEN (GB) Consultant, supporting churches in caring for women who have had an abortion or experienced baby loss.

As well as sitting on the board at Pilgrims’ Friend Society, Leonie is part of our care and housing health and safety subcommittee. As a trustee, Leonie aims to be a trusted friend, drawing on her experience where she can.

Leonie lives in southwest Norfolk with her husband, Matt. To relax, she loves making pottery and has her own potter’s wheel.

Tilly served as a trustee at Bridgemead in Bath for 20 years and was closely involved with the transfer of the home to Pilgrims’ Friend Society in Autumn 2024. With a background in commercial business, she is especially excited by the opportunities to develop our network of care homes through our Growth and Renewal Programme.

Through her involvement at Bridgemead and her experience of caring for older relatives, Tilly has gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by older people and the need to provide strong Christian support to those in later life.

She lives with her husband Tim in Bath where they are members of Widcombe Baptist Church. Now retired, she regularly helps with school assemblies and is a Sunday School leader at church. She also loves to garden and holds a National Diploma in Horticulture from Wiltshire College.

Stuart’s journey towards Pilgrims' Friend Society started in 2012 when his step-father suffered a sudden fatal brain haemorrhage and his mother decided to move into Bethany House, Preston. Stuart became a trustee at Bethany House in 2013 and joined the Board at Pilgrims' Friend Society when ownership of the care home transferred to our charity in April 2025.

For the majority of Stuart’s 42 years of Christian life he has been a volunteer worker within various Free Methodist churches including through children’s and youth ministries, scouting, church planting and numerous other roles, and he currently fulfils a health and safety adviser role.

Professionally, Stuart is a buildings and facilities project manager working in support of public sector clients and 2025 brought him a 35 year long-service award. Each day Stuart attempts a 2-to-4-mile walk or longer cycle ride as a substitute work commute. He is married to Diane and they have two children.

Andrew is married to Jose and they have three grown-up married children and one grandchild. He is a carpenter by trade and has his own company of joiners and contractors.

Andrew has been involved in Bethany House, Preston since its inception, both in building the home and later extending it, taking Sunday morning service and being a Trustee for many years. He has been closely involved in the transfer of Bethany House to Pilgrims' Friend Society and is looking forward to the challenge of serving as Trustee of a new organisation.

Andrew attends Inglewhite Congregational Church and enjoys cycling, badminton and fell walking.

Chief Executive since January 2015, Stephen began his career as a mathematician and worked in the banking industry for 17 years. In 2000 he was appointed a director of Tearfund, with responsibility for its use of business as a tool of development, before his move to UK Community Foundations in 2005. Stephen has enjoyed the company of older people from his student days when he was part of a team that led worship in a care home and visited those who were housebound. The loneliness of older people was one of the key priorities that UK Community Foundations addressed latterly through its award-winning "Surviving Winter" campaigns that Stephen co-ordinated.

Stephen worships at Christ Church Harpenden and for many years ran the Crusaders (Urban Saints) youth group in the town. He still helps occasionally but is now part of the team that reaches out to the residents of a local residential care home.

Stephen is married to Susan and they have three grown-up children.

Having spent much of his working life with tech companies, last year Julian felt a heart to join a Christian charity that makes a difference to the world. He is delighted to be leading the finance team in living out Pilgrims' Friend Society's values of Compassion, Community, Transparency and Excellence.

Julian and his wife Debbie and have been at Christ Church Ewell since 2015. They have three grown-up girls who they love spending time with. Julian also loves long distance walking, Tottenham Hotspur, and chocolate!

Alexandra has been at Pilgrims’ Friend Society as Director of Marketing and Communications since September 2019. Previously she was part of the communications team at the Evangelical Alliance having worked for Release International in the supporter relations team. Alexandra has a Masters degree in Democracy and Democratisation from University College London and spent time with the Baptist Missionary Society in Kosovo. Alexandra is part of the leadership team at her church.

Maureen began her career as a student nurse at the Hammersmith hospital in London. After she qualified she specialised in coronary care until she married and moved to Leicestershire, where she worked for a number of years for Leicestershire Health Authority as a Health Education Officer.

When Maureen’s children were very young she led the children’s and young people’s work in her Church in Sileby, Leicestershire. She also worked for a nursing agency which sent her regularly to the Pilgrim Home in Evington, Leicester. The one thing that Maureen never wanted to do was work with older people. God obviously had other ideas and although it took the manager of the home at least a year to persuade Maureen to take a permanent position at the Evington home, she did eventually agree.

Maureen worked for a number of years as a night nurse and when the administrator left she offered to help out with the administration. This eventually became a full time job and a short while later she was offered the Managers post. After managing the Evington home for seven years she was offered the post of Director of Operations, overseeing all the homes. Over the years Maureen has seen the homes through many changes and difficult challenges and is so grateful that she works for a Christian organisation where the work is surrounded by prayer.

Hugh is a Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Builder, and member of the Institute of Customer Service, with a 35-year career in construction and property. He has been a Christian since his teens and after a year volunteering for a church in Huddersfield and several years working in London and abroad, has spent most of his working life in social housing. He has held various senior roles in Housing Associations and Local Authorities, with a recent role as Managing Director for a property management company in the retirement sector.

Hugh, who has four children, moved from Dorset to North Wales this summer to be nearer his wife Sally’s family in Snowdonia and they have recently started worshipping at St Catherine and St John’s Church in Old Colwyn.

Josh has been Director of Human Resources at Pilgrims' Friend Society since March 2021, having previously led the HR function for Tasty PLC who operated over 60 casual dining restaurants. Josh has been familiar with the work of Pilgrims' Friend Society due to family and friends who had both worked with and been supporters of the charity. He is delighted to be in a role where he can support our teams in creating environments of love, care, and flourishing. After graduating from Loughborough University Josh volunteered with University Christian College Fellowship (UCCF) for a year on their relay programme, he is part of the leadership team at Christ Church Leyton where he has been a member since 2013. Josh is married with three young children and enjoys playing and watching almost all types of sport!

Maureen began her career as a student nurse at the Hammersmith hospital in London. After she qualified she specialised in coronary care until she married and moved to Leicestershire, where she worked for a number of years for Leicestershire Health Authority as a Health Education Officer.

When Maureen’s children were very young she led the children’s and young people’s work in her Church in Sileby, Leicestershire. She also worked for a nursing agency which sent her regularly to the Pilgrim Home in Evington, Leicester. The one thing that Maureen never wanted to do was work with older people. God obviously had other ideas and although it took the manager of the home at least a year to persuade Maureen to take a permanent position at the Evington home, she did eventually agree.

Maureen worked for a number of years as a night nurse and when the administrator left she offered to help out with the administration. This eventually became a full time job and a short while later she was offered the Managers post. After managing the Evington home for seven years she was offered the post of Director of Operations, overseeing all the homes. Over the years Maureen has seen the homes through many changes and difficult challenges and is so grateful that she works for a Christian organisation where the work is surrounded by prayer.

Barbara has worked for Pilgrims’ Friend Society for nearly 25 years, initially as manager of our Framland care home and from 2006 within the Operations Team. Prior to this, she worked as a nurse in elderly care as a ward sister, district nurse and then within the management, and training and development teams for community services. When not working, Barbara enjoys walking with Callie (her daughter’s dog!), running, and exploring the beautiful area of North Wales where she now lives with her husband, Chris.

Barbara and Chris have three daughters, two son-in-laws and two granddaughters who they love visiting – all living in ‘the south of England’. She is blessed to have a church family at Criccieth Family Church where she sings and plays guitar in the music group and serves as a deacon within the leadership team, as well as being safeguarding lead.

Margaret Joined Pilgrims' Friend Society in November 2017 as Operations Manager. Prior to this she had 25 years’ experience managing care homes.

As well as supporting our homes with day-to-day management, she is our lead in the electronic systems on care planning and medication management.

Margaret lives in Derbyshire and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and her church groups as well as being part of Derbyshire Scouting as a cub scout leader.

Jane Trimarco has been an operations manager with Pilgrims' Friend Society for over six years. She looks after three care homes and also has a specialism in heading the Activities and Community Engagement (ACE) Programme within the organisation.

Her background has been predominantly within the care sector and she has been a carer, senior carer, deputy manager and then registered manager. She has always had a passion for activities and volunteers and is proud of the work that the ACE Facilitators are delivering in our care homes.

Jane lives in Northamptonshire and has one son. Her family originate from Tresco on the Isles of Scilly. She was privileged to be the care manager on the islands and carry out church services on the off islands, often taken by lifeboat! Her other passions are singing, acting and swimming. She has sung with Aled Jones as well as performing a solo at the Symphony Hall. Last year Jane swam the length of the Channel to raise funds for our Hummingbirds as part of The Pilgrimage.

Friederike joined Pilgrims’ Friend Society in February 2022 after almost 35 years in the NHS. Friederike is a Queen’s Nurse and leads on the development of care and dementia care (The Way We Care). In her role as Site and Operations Manager she oversees Middlefields House in Chippenham as well as supporting other homes.

Friederike is married with two sons. She enjoys walking, cooking, and gardening. Friederike and her husband worship at Widcombe Baptist Church in Bath where they are also involved in home group and children’s ministry.

Carol joined the Operations Team, November 2022. Carol lives in a coastal town in Devon and initially trained as a nurse, before moving her career into social care settings. She has experience in inspection, worked for Devon County Council for 23 years in various roles managing services for adults and was the Registered Manager of an ‘Outstanding’ home.

She enjoys travel, going to live theatre and music and worships at St. James’ Church very close to where she lives in Teignmouth.

Carol married her husband Paul five years ago in Reykjavik Iceland, shortly followed by a church blessing at her home church.

Stuart joined the Operations Team in November 2023. With 11 years of experience as a Senior Operations Manager in the purpose-built student accommodation sector, Stuart has enhanced his skills in operations management, compliance, coaching, mentoring, and leadership.

Stuart is a father to three girls. Outside of the work environment, he is a keen sports fan, with Notts County being his favourite football team, causing him more stress and anguish than his three girls combined!

Stuart is actively engaged in his local church community. He has been involved in the prison ministry team and the compassion team, where he helps reach out and provide food, clothing, and furniture to the city's most vulnerable residents.

Josh has been Director of Human Resources at Pilgrims' Friend Society since March 2021, having previously led the HR function for Tasty PLC who operated over 60 casual dining restaurants. Josh has been familiar with the work of Pilgrims' Friend Society due to family and friends who had both worked with and been supporters of the charity. He is delighted to be in a role where he can support our teams in creating environments of love, care, and flourishing. After graduating from Loughborough University Josh volunteered with University Christian College Fellowship (UCCF) for a year on their relay programme, he is part of the leadership team at Christ Church Leyton where he has been a member since 2013. Josh is married with three young children and enjoys playing and watching almost all types of sport!

Camilla has been with Pilgrims’ Friend Society since July 2021, leading the recruitment function while also providing HR generalist support across the organisation. With a background in consultancy recruitment, she brings a thoughtful and people-focused approach to talent acquisition and employee wellbeing. She works closely with staff at all levels to foster a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. Camilla particularly enjoys being part of a company that serves the Lord’s people—it is a privilege for her to contribute to a mission-driven team rooted in Christian values

Outside of work, she enjoys Pilates, playing badminton, and discovering aesthetically pleasing cafés that serve a great matcha latte. Camilla is married and an active member of her local church community.

Akhil is a passionate HR professional with over 8 years of experience across a diverse range of industries, including services, manufacturing, hospitality, and IT. He has successfully led and scaled HR teams, launched new initiatives, and finds great fulfilment in mentoring others throughout their professional journeys.

Akhil joined Pilgrims’ Friend Society in December 2024 as a Payroll & HR Assistant. He brings hands-on expertise across a range of HR functions, including recruitment, payroll, onboarding, employee relations, training, internal communications, and performance management.

Since joining the organisation, one of the most joyful milestones in his life has been welcoming his baby girl last Christmas with his wife—a true blessing.

Alexandra has been at Pilgrims’ Friend Society as Director of Marketing and Communications since September 2019. Previously she was part of the communications team at the Evangelical Alliance having worked for Release International in the supporter relations team. Alexandra has a Masters degree in Democracy and Democratisation from University College London and spent time with the Baptist Missionary Society in Kosovo. Alexandra is part of the leadership team at her church.

Helen has been with Pilgrims' Friend Society since March 2020. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University and has worked in comms for a number of charities, including The Children's Literacy Charity.

Among other things, Helen edits The Pilgrims' Magazine, looks after the website, oversees social media and acts as a first contact for press. Her favourite part of her role is finding stories about our work and ensuring they gain wider media attention.

Outside of work, Helen enjoys outdoor swimming and learning German. She is part of the church family at Christ Church, Crouch End.

Miriam has been at Pilgrims’ Friend Society as Supporter Engagement Manager since September 2024. Previously she worked at Noiser as Production Manager, making history podcasts. Prior to this, she worked in the charity sector in several roles which supported the well-being of older people including setting up community befriending initiatives in Hammersmith and Fulham for Creighton House.

Miriam has a degree in English Literature from Royal Holloway University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Studies. Outside of work, Miriam enjoys going to the theatre and reading. Miriam is married with two sons, and the family are active members of their local church.

Tyler has been part of Pilgrims' Friend Society since September 2024. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Multimedia Journalism from the University of Westminster and has worked as a journalist for various UK publications, including Artists and Illustrators Magazine.

In her current role, Tyler edits and publishes articles on the website, manages social media, and contributes to the magazine. Her favourite aspect of the job is creating impactful content that showcases the daily lives of the those who live and work in our homes.

Outside of work, Tyler enjoys synchronised swimming, reading the Financial Times, learning Portuguese, and actively participating in her church's youth group.

Having spent much of his working life with tech companies, last year Julian felt a heart to join a Christian charity that makes a difference to the world. He is delighted to be leading the finance team in living out Pilgrims' Friend Society's values of Compassion, Community, Transparency and Excellence.

Julian and his wife Debbie and have been at Christ Church Ewell since 2015. They have three grown-up girls who they love spending time with. Julian also loves long distance walking, Tottenham Hotspur, and chocolate!

Ecar joined Pilgrims’ Friend Society in 2023 as Financial Controller. Originally from Hong Kong, she moved to the UK in 2021 with her two children. She brings extensive experience in executive management, having worked with multinational companies across China trade, foodstuffs, manufacturing, and fashion.

Before she joined the charity, she had led her family’s fit-out contracting business and founded her own Christmas decoration export company.

Outside of work, Ecar is active in ministry. A former member of Saddleback Church in Hong Kong, she helped launch a local fellowship in the UK in 2025. The group hosts monthly outreach events for non-believers and singles, and she leads two weekly small groups. She is passionate about community building and living out her calling as a steward of God’s purpose.

Maggie has over 15 years of experience in the investment banking sector, where she gained a deep expertise in financial operations and systems. In recent years, she has focused on automation, harnessing no-code platforms to streamline workflows, minimise manual effort, and enhance overall productivity.

In March 2025, Maggie joined Pilgrims' Friend Society as a Finance Accountant. In her role, she supports month-end ledger closures and prepares key financial reports that help assess the organisation's financial health. Beyond her core duties, she also plays an active role in project management initiatives designed to improve efficiency and refine internal processes.

Originally from Aberdeen, Maggie was a long-time member of Aberdeen Baptist Church, where her faith was nurtured from a young age. Since relocating to Reading with her family, she continues to be actively involved in church life and community service. A devoted mother of two, Maggie remains committed to both her professional growth and her spiritual journey.

Hugh is a Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Builder, and member of the Institute of Customer Service, with a 35-year career in construction and property. He has been a Christian since his teens and after a year volunteering for a church in Huddersfield and several years working in London and abroad, has spent most of his working life in social housing. He has held various senior roles in Housing Associations and Local Authorities, with a recent role as Managing Director for a property management company in the retirement sector.

Hugh, who has four children, moved from Dorset to North Wales this summer to be nearer his wife Sally’s family in Snowdonia and they have recently started worshipping at St Catherine and St John’s Church in Old Colwyn.

Simon joined the Property Services Team in October 2023. He has worked as a Commercial Building Surveyor/Project Manager for over 25 years.

Simon lives in a Leicestershire village with his wife, Fiona. He is the proud father of three lovely girls who have all “flown the nest” since completing their degrees at university. Outside of work, Simon enjoys hiking with a group of Christian friends and watching Rugby Union.

Simon is a PCC member at the parish church in the village where he lives. He regularly takes part in Sunday morning services by reading and leading prayers.

Nicky is an experienced Architectural Technician with a 30-year career in property development, architectural planning, and project management across Southern Africa and Namibia. In 2016, she moved to the UK with her husband, Kent, and their two children, Abi and John, settling in a rural village between Cambridge and Ely.

Raised in a Christian home by a single mother dedicated to Christian education for underprivileged children in post-apartheid South Africa, Nicky developed a strong commitment to community support. She and her family remain actively connected to a Christian charity in South Africa that provides care for vulnerable and orphaned children.

Before joining Pilgrims' Friend Society, Nicky obtained HSC certification and in 2019, founded a support group aimed at tackling loneliness among older people in her community. She continues to run this group in her spare time with the help of her local church.

Stephen is a Building Surveyor with a career spanning over 40 years in construction and property. He has spent the bulk of his career in social housing, working for housing associations and local authorities maintaining their portfolios of housing stock, building new homes and improving old ones. He has held very varied roles from dealing with empty homes to procuring new homes on large sites. He was brought up as a Christian and has been worshipping at and working for his current Parish in Sussex for more than 15 years.