Passion For Somerset Patrons And Directors
Patrons
Annie Maw was born into a Naval family in Henley on Thames. She was educated at the School of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon. She trained to be a State Registered Nurse at Westminster Hospital in London where she then worked as a Staff Nurse. She married a St Bartholomew’s Hospital doctor and, when he took an appointment as a consultant surgeon at the Bristol Royal Infirmary in 1973, they moved to Somerset where they have lived ever since.
Annie has been involved with several different charitable movements and activities over the years supporting the elderly, children and, in particular, those who are disadvantaged. She has also taken various further educational courses with a special focus on social history and on fine art and history of art. Since 1999 she has been a guide in Wells Cathedral. Riding and horses have always been a much loved pastime. She also enjoys gardening, painting, reading and writing.
In 2002 she broke her back in a riding accident resulting in paraplegia. Despite life in a wheelchair, in 2008 she was High Sheriff of Somerset after which she chaired the Somerset Crimebeat Trust for one year. At the end of 2014 Annie was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset and in March 2016 she became Lord Lieutenant.
The 19th Duke of Somerset whose ancestor, the 6th Duke of Somerset,
was Somerset’s Lord Lieutenant at the time of the battle of Sedgemoor is
a Patron of Somerset Day.
The Dukedom is one of England's oldest and the current Duke is closely
involved with the daily management of the Duchy’s west country estates.
He was elected to sit in the House of Lords at the December 2014 House of Lords By-election and regularly attends as a Crossbencher.
Bishop Ruth became Bishop of Taunton in the Diocese of Bath and Wells in June 2015. She studied English literature, theology and biblical studies at the University of Manchester and trained for ordained ministry at St John's College, Nottingham.
Her role is to support Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells in leading the diocese. Previous to that Bishop Ruth was Archdeacon of Wiltshire and was also an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen.
Michael Eavis is the founder of the world-famous Glastonbury Festival, held annually on the farm in Pilton where he was born and where he still farms.
After attending Wells Cathedral School, he joined the Merchant Navy. Following his father's death, he took over the family farm in Somerset.
He was awarded the C.B.E. in the 2007 Birthday Honours list for his services to the Glastonbury Festival.
Michael and his family hail from a strong local Non Conformist tradition and he is a practising Methodist.
In 2009 Time Magazine nominated Michael as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world.
He is passionate about his county of birth and his lifelong home – Somerset.
Directors
Nigel Muers-Raby is the founder and Chairman of Passion for Somerset,
the organisation behind Somerset Day. He is Consultant Head of
Marketing at Pardoes Solicitors, a regional law firm with offices across
Somerset and Dorset. He is also a Director of Visit Somerset.
Nigel has wide experience at board level, including having held Chairman
and Managing Director positions. Other roles have included organising
major events and spearheading lobbying at Westminster.
Having worked initially in London but subsequently in Somerset for over
40 years, Nigel is keen to share his passion for Somerset.
Nigel and his wife also run exclusive tours and events at their home, one of Somerset's most Historic Houses, Cothelstone Manor
Kit Chapman is the Proprietor of The Castle at Taunton. He is a
well-known personality on the British hotel and restaurant scene, and as
a bon viveur, writer and television presenter, he has been a vigorous
campaigner for improving culinary standards in this country. He is also
the architect of the hotel’s regular programme of literary and cultural
events, and over the past forty years, he has attracted many of the
world’s greatest chamber music ensembles to play at The Castle for its
annual season of winter weekend festivals.
Kit is also Founder & Executive Director of ArtsTaunton.
In 1989, Kit was appointed MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his work in hospitality and the tourism industry.
Penny has over twenty five years’ experience of PR and marketing, having been a director for one of the south west’s top full service marketing communications agencies before establishing her own consultancy in 1996. Penny now advises clients across a wide variety of business sectors including Commercial and residential property, Food and drink, Construction and building products, Print and mail services and Retail. Penny is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Jonathan Langdon is Chairman and Founder Partner of Milsted Langdon, a
large regional accountancy practice, and has almost 40 years'
experience of advising a whole range of businesses.
Jonathan is a Governor of Richard Huish College and a Trustee of St
Margaret's Hospice, as well as being a board member of Arts Taunton and a
former board member of Into Somerset.
Married with 3 grown-up children, Jonathan is a Cornishman by birth, but
has lived in Somerset since the age of 19 when he started at Bath
University.
She has been a West Somerset resident for over four decades and lives
in Minehead with her husband Stuart and together they have raised three
grown up sons and are grandparents to eight children.
Christine is now a retired company secretary for a Christian charity
however has kept busy within her role as a county councillor.
She has previously worked in education, adult social care and health and
wellbeing. These environments have given her the insight and knowledge
that has underpinned her desire to help Somerset residents where it is
most needed and her passion for Somerset.
Denys Rayner is Chair of Trustees of the Lighthouse at Weston, a
charity seeking to bring hope to those in need at Weston Super Mare.
Denys has spent the last twenty years operating at Board level in both
large and smaller companies as well as a number of charity and ‘not for
profit’ organisations.
He also has significant experience in managing a variety of business
units in large financial institutions as well as a period in
organisational change-management.
Denys has developed successful strategies for a range of organisations
as varied as the business arm of a large bank, a regional law firm, a
chamber of commerce and a thriving church.
Bill Lloyd is Creative Programmer and Director at Cedars Hall Wells , a state of the art concert hall opened in 2016.
Following a long career with the BBC where he ultimately became Producer BBC Scotland Music, he moved to Aldeburgh to become Director of Artist Development, responsible for the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme and Aldeburgh Residencies.
Having studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Goldsmiths, University of London, Bill undertook a Masters in Philosophy, Composition at Cambridge University.
Ex Officio Members of the Board
The Directors are supported from time to time by a small number of ex-officio members of the board.
At present these are:
Chairman of Somerset County Council. William has been a district Councillor since 2003, and a County Councillor since 2005. He has also been chairman of finance for the Avon and Somerset Police Authority and chairman of HR for the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority.
Head of the family law team at Pardoes Solicitors. Moira qualified into a well known South Eastern Firm in 2005, moving to the South West in 2009.
