Our People.

Gavin is a retired Local Government Finance Officer and Accountant having worked for over 30 years for the City of Durham from where he retired in 2000 as Head of Financial Services and Deputy Director of Finance. He lives in Durham and is married with two children. His connections with the Society began in 1990 when his son, then aged 4 became a pupil at the Society’s school and from which he progressed through to a placement with our Adult Services. Gavin became a Trustee of the Society in 2002 and was appointed as its Chairman in 2005.
 

Born in Nakuru, Kenya in 1947 and after an exciting and adventurous childhood in Kenya, I came to the UK for further education spending four years in North Wales of which three years were on Anglesey at HMS Conway. The next 24 years were spent as a Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy of which the last ten years were as a Master Mariner with other external related appointments. I then joined Northumbria Police in a civilian capacity from which I retired early in 2009.

I moved to South Tyneside in the late 1960s and married in 1975 and have one son.

An early diagnosis of my son’s Autism led to him being refered to Thornhill Park School for his education in 1991 and the start of my involvement with the North East Autism Society, forming closer ties to the Society after being appointed a Trustee in 1995.

I have had the pleasure over the years of seeing a first class autistic service both develop and expand and become widely recognised for its expertise and quality.
 

Although born in Sunderland I now live in Durham. I have three children and my middle son has attended the school since 2003 as a day pupil. I am a full time student but do voluntary work for the NCH. Although I am always juggling my time I joined as a Trustee of the Society in 2005 as I felt it was important that the views of parents should be heard. I feel privileged that I am part of such a fantastic organisation that is known throughout for its first class care. It has been wonderful to see at first hand how with the Society’s support our children, young people and adults have a wonderful future being in such caring and importantly enabling environment
 

John is a member of the Family Law Bar Association and a barrister in private practice in Newcastle upon Tyne specializing in family and divorce law. He is a Londoner by birth but migrated to the North East in the 1980’s where he married and now has three children. His interests include walking, swimming, music, sport and literature.
 

Malcolm is a Corporate Manager with Barclays Bank where he has worked since he was 18. He specializes in the business sector where he has gained experience in corporate finance and has been looking after the banking relationships of north east businesses since 1992. He was born and raised in the Sunderland area. Now living in Durham, he is married with two children. 
 

Born and raised in Stockton on Tees in 1961.

I am married to Yvonne and we have two sons, Shaun and Cameron. Cameron started at the Emsworth Unit when he was four and a half and has continued to attend the provisions the Society have and is currently a pupil of the SECAS unit. I am currently an Operations Manager for the Co-operative Funeralcare having a responsibility for a large part of the North of the UK. Taking on the role of a trustee on the Board of Directors I hope that I bring to the group knowledge based on both business management and an understanding of Autism as a parent.