I was the original chairman of The Pied Piper Appeal when it was founded in 1992 to raise funds to support the development of a new Children’s Centre at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. In 2004 although I stood down as Chairman I remained a Trustee and in 2013 was honoured to be made President of the Pied Piper.

I am extremely proud of what we have achieved for sick children in the county. As an experience it has been humbling, but I have had a wonderful time raising money over the years.

Charlie is a local boy who has played rugby in Gloucestershire all his life. He has played for England as well as Gloucester and is about to have his Testimonial Year. After recently becoming a father he is proud to become a Vice Patron of the Charity and is a often see visiting the Children’s Centre with the Gloucester RFC team.

Alex is a local boy who went to Wycliffe School in Stonehouse before playing Cricket for Gloucestershire. He suffered a bad injury to his finger which caused him to take early retirement from the game he loved. Subsequent operations were not successful on his finger and he now gives motivational talks to companys and writes a sportsmans blog.

Jill Douglas is a respected and experienced sports broadcaster and journalist who regularly appears on the BBC and ITV.

Jill is best known for her work in rugby and cycling and began her career as a print news journalist in the Scottish Borders before moving into television.

She became the UK’s first female rugby presenter when she fronted Rugby Special. Jill has covered a variety of major events including four Olympic Games, five Commonwealth Games, four Rugby World Cups, Lions Tours and Six Nations Championships. Jill combines her broadcasting career with her role as CEO of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and her work with the global insurance broker, Gallagher.

Ben Caton began his career within private healthcare for Nuffield Health. He left to found Titan Performance Gyms UK, a specialist gym and physiotherapy clinic that supports professional sports teams in multiple disciplines. Titan completed an annual and gruelling 24-hour challenge in support of the Pied Piper and raised over £15,000 in the past two years.

Ben Caton is a founder of Wellmi, a wellbeing app used by thousands of students across Gloucestershire, and the recipient of a Microsoft Sponsorship award. He combined his previous experience across health and wellbeing support, global sustainability, and lifestyle into his current role as managing director of Ergochair. This firm is the market-leading manufacturer of specialist office seating for employees with postural needs in the UK, also supplying in Europe, Australasia, and North America.

I was born and raised in Gloucester and attended the Crypt School. I then started an apprenticeship at Hazelwoods and trained to become a qualified accountant before moving on to senior finance roles within businesses in Gloucester.

A sport-loving, family man I live in Gloucester with my wife and two young daughters, and Arwen the Staffie. When not busy with family life, I enjoy playing football, going to the cinema, running and following Gloucester Rugby.

I have supported the Pied Piper Appeal and helped the charity from a financial perspective for several years.

I am proud and pleased to now take on a closer role and be more involved as a Trustee and help Pied Piper continue its invaluable and important work across Gloucestershire.

Julie was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List as founder of the Emily Kent Charitable Trust and services to Charities.

Sadly after losing her first child to a brain tumour at the age of three Julie and her husband formed the Emily Kent Charitable Trust and raised thousands of pounds for children with cancer in Gloucestershire. They donated £50,000 to the Pied Piper Appeal and when the new Children’s unit was built the Oncology ward was named the Emily Kent Unit along with a ward in the Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Since joining the Pied Piper in September 2014, Julie was appointed Vice Chair in December 2015 and oversaw the fundraising during covid including the 30th year of Pied Piper when 30 businesses brought in an extra £140k. 

Rich is managing partner of the Cheltenham office of law firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys. He is delighted to be part of the Pied Piper team, bringing enthusiasm to the trustee board whilst also giving something back to the local community (and where needed by the charity, providing legal advice!). A little known fact is that Richard used to be a nurse during the summer holidays whilst he was at University, working with children with severe special needs. The fantastic work that charities provide to the children and families under such circumstances and those which the Pied Piper handle, is therefore very close to his heart.

As a marketing professional I have a passion for creative writing and social media, working on traditional and digital marketing projects, I enjoy new challenges and working with the Pied Piper allows me to help make a difference for children in our county. I almost always have a special and rewarding project on the go, from working for Gloucester Rugby’s Peter Buxton on his successful testimonial year to blogging for the LEJOG cycling team to supporting grassroots rugby. When not at work, being a Mum or feeding the chickens, I love tennis, golf, the odd G&T, and supporting rugby in our county!

Kevin is the Headteacher of Belmont Special School in Cheltenham. Originally from Somerset he moved to Gloucester in 1998 to start his career with Crypt Secondary School PE department. During the past 25 years he has continued to work in Gloucestershire schools and is currently a Headteacher of a large outstanding special school supporting children with communication and interaction needs.  During recent years he has been the chair of Gloucestershire Association of Special School Heads and observed the growing positive impact on The Pied Piper Appeals work on children with special needs across the county.

Clara is a Consultant Paediatrician working in the Gloucestershire NHS Trust. She is a General Paediatrician with a specialist interest in Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the management of Critically Unwell Children.

She has worked in the refugee camps of Darfur, Sudan, as a volunteer Doctor with ‘Medicins Du Monde’ in 2005 and continues to work with ‘The Virtual Doctor’ charity offering advice to Zambian and Malawian health workers to assist and empower them in diagnosing and treating conditions in impoverished parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Steven is general manager at the idyllic Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach and is a familiar face on the Cheltenham scene. He’s been involved with The Pied Piper Appeal since 2018 as an active member of the Promotional Board and supports the growth of the charity as an elected trustee.

His experience within hospitality provides expertise across the events where he has supported with drinks receptions and organising the charity balls, Steven has hosted online Cocktail masterclasses, donated auction prizes and he utilises his connections within the location for fabulous raffle prizes.

Jonathan was born in London but due to his father’s promotion at BT his parents moved the family to Gloucestershire at the age of 15. Gloucester quickly became his new home and after working many years for Vodafone, he left to set up his own business specialising in advising businesses on how to improve their sales and delivering sales training to salespeople globally.

Through a long-term friendship with Nick Broady, Jonathan began assisting in Pied Piper events and annually runs his corporate golf day in which all proceeds go to supporting this incredible charity. Since 2018 Jonathan has been on the Promo Board helping share some of his commercial knowledge for the fundraising efforts and is proud to be part of such a great team of trustees.

Sarah Mills graduated from Plymouth University in 2014 with a degree in Education with a strong interest in SEN Education. Since graduating Sarah has embarked on travelling through a variety of different countries within Africa supporting small charities and organisations. A couple of highlights were tracking mountain Gorilla populations in the Bwindi National park and supporting to build a education programme for both children and adults in local schools in Zambia. After spending a couple of years travelling in and out of Africa this is where my passion grew for working with Charities. Shortly after, Sarah joined The Royal British legion Poppy Appeal where she currently works as Regional Poppy Appeal Manager supporting a team of fundraisers across the Midlands areas.

Sarah Mills graduated from Plymouth University in 2014 with a degree in Education with a strong interest in SEN Education. Since graduating Sarah has embarked on travelling through a variety of different countries within Africa supporting small charities and organisations. A couple of highlights were tracking mountain Gorilla populations in the Bwindi National park and supporting to build a education programme for both children and adults in local schools in Zambia. After spending a couple of years travelling in and out of Africa this is where my passion grew for working with Charities. Shortly after, Sarah joined The Royal British legion Poppy Appeal where she currently works as Regional Poppy Appeal Manager supporting a team of fundraisers across the Midlands areas.

Kelly oversees the smooth running of all processes and procedures at Pied Piper. Super-organised, she makes sure the finances are up together and money raised from all events is collected in correctly and then goes to the right projects. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys walking; her ambition is to complete the Three Peaks Challenge!

Katy is at the heart of fundraising and events at The Pied Piper Appeal. If she’s not in the office, you’ll find her out and about, always ready for a chat and brimming with creative ideas. A true Gloucester girl, she’s passionate about her community and never misses a rugby match—rain or shine!

If you’re looking for a fundraising idea, Katy is the one to talk to. Just be prepared—her enthusiasm might take you to new heights… possibly even the wing of a plane!

I was born in Herefordshire and have always lived in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire apart from student days in London.

I have been involved with The Pied Piper Appeal for a number of years, as a volunteer, undertaking a variety of roles.

A current role of mine is helping to manage the Pied Piper Collection Tins that are stationed around the County. I generally attend the office once a week and this has given me a greater insight into the valuable contribution The Pied Piper Appeal makes alongside the many generous people who support us and those that give their time as volunteers. I also help with the arrangements for The Pied Piper Summer Show.

Louise has been volunteering with The Pied Piper Appeal since our very first Summer Show back in 2009 and joined the Promo Board in 2017.

“I am proud to support this local charity and see what a difference it makes to the children and their families in Gloucestershire”

Sandra volunteers in the office and is an essential part of booking in the classic cars for our biggest event of the year. She enjoys being retired, cooking a Sunday roast for her 6 grandchildren, and taking extended holidays!