OUR PATRONS

We are very fortunate in having Colin Baker as our Patron. He is a dog lover with four dogs of his own. Colin originally trained to become a Solicitor before changing direction to acting. He appeared in the very popular TV series The Brothers from 1974 – 75 and was the 6th incarnation of Dr Who from 1984 – 86. He won a Celebrity Come Dine With Me and generously donated his winnings to SDR and also gave a good account of himself in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in December 2012. Colin lives nearby and has a regular column in the local newspaper, the Bucks Free Press.

Countess Baldwin of Bewdley, Lydia is a keen and active supporter of SDR and in 2011 she adopted Sherlock, a very handsome chap with lots of character. He died in 2017 and Lydia now has Stan, a very gentle Staffie cross who had belonged to her late daughter, Jessica. Dogs have always featured in her life and have ranged from a Griffon Bruxellois to a St Bernard, the former being by far the greater challenge.   Lydia is also an Oxfordshire contact for the Canine Epilepsy Support Group.   Having worked in publishing for many years, she took up sculpting in 1993 and exhibits under her own name of Lydia Segrave.

 

OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The volunteer Trustees oversee the running of the charity and provide strategic direction. The Board members come with many years of professional experience and have specific responsibilities, including fundraising, marketing and publicity, advertising, human resources, grant funding, IT, legacies as well as charity governance and management.

LESLEY PEEL - Chair 

I am pleased to support the great legacy which SDR has achieved in rescuing and rehoming dogs for over 60 years. Having enjoyed the love and loyalty of some wonderful dogs throughout my life, including Luci from SDR, I am pleased to be able to give back by helping this vital charity with my skills and experience from a background in HR management as well as valuable charity sector experience gained from working in animal care. 

MARK BIGGS

I retired in 2018 and in my working life qualified as a chartered accountant before holding senior finance positions in the automotive, distribution and leasing sectors.

I have a standard schnauzer called Elsa and a miniature schnauzer called Basil. They are a vocal pair and keep me on my toes! Being a Trustee of SDR and helping the charity to continue its great work enables me to help other dogs who are not as fortunate as them.

CLARE FACEY

I’m proud to be a Trustee of SDR , overseeing grant funding to support our mission of rescuing and rehoming dogs in need. With a background in communications and marketing, I work for a variety of social enterprises and not for profits. I’m passionate about animal welfare and at home we share our lives with two beautiful dogs, Rocket (a rescue) and Begley (an Irish Terrier).

SIMON FLETCHER 

SDR has a special place in my life: my first dog was adopted from SDR, and rescue dogs have been part of my home life ever since. I currently share my home with another rescue dog.

My background is in governance, risk, operations and organisational change, including senior leadership roles in professional services and the charity sector. I have also been a trustee of Pets as Therapy, where I saw first-hand the positive difference animals can make to people’s wellbeing. I hope to use that experience to help SDR continue its vital work caring for and rehoming dogs who need a fresh start.

ROBIN GATES 

I retired in October 2015 after many years as a Solicitor in private practice. I qualified in 1972 and specialised in Employment Law and Licensing Law. I have worked on prosecutions for the RSPCA and I have also defended them, along with the Police and the CPS. Animal Charities are close both to the hearts of my wife and me and I have helped Stokenchurch Dog Rescue on a Pro Bono basis for approximately 25 years. I have been a Secretary of Marlow Rugby Club and on an International Committee.

JO LLOYD 

For as long as I can remember, I have always been passionate about the welfare of animals, nature and wildlife. I have over twenty years of management experience as an HR professional and also twelve years in a management role within a rehoming centre, working for Dogs Trust. As part of my management role, I also undertook the added responsibility of being the lead manager for Philanthropy.
 
Whilst working as an HR professional within the public sector, I lost my first rescue dog, and it had such a profound effect on me that I was determined to change my career from working within the HR field to instead dedicating all my time, energy and passion in helping other rescue dogs that were as equally deserving of the same opportunity of happiness within a loving home.
 
As a result of working for animal rescue, I eventually succumbed to being a four-times over failed fosterer but successful adopter of four beautiful rescue terriers. I am also a keen photographer and all my best photography has been taken whilst enjoying nature with my best friends. In my spare time, I also volunteer at a wildlife rescue.
 

CLAIRE PEGGS 

I've always been a fan of dogs, and in recent years we've been lucky to have had two wonderful rescues in our family. SDR's dedication to finding every dog a safe and loving home means a lot to me. I look forward to putting my administrative and HR experience to good use as Board secretary and trustee and to working alongside fellow trustees to help SDR continue its important mission.
 

 TINA TRYTHALL

I am delighted to be a SDR Trustee with responsibility for grant funding. I am looking forward to bringing my professional skills and knowledge gained in a career in the research, communications and marketing of social, public policy and purpose driven missions to SDR.  Throughout my career I have been motivated by working in organisations that have a purpose at their heart whether that be working in social policy areas such as obesity, nutrition, physical activity, gambling harms in UK central government or at leading charities and foundations such as Oxfam, Cancer Research UK and Wellcome Trust. 

As I move into retirement becoming a trustee of SDR enables me to continue to support and drive forward a new purpose that is close to my heart.  As a dog owner of a 4-year-old Labrador called Albie and a frequent carer of my son’s golden doodle Sugo, the care and protection of all dogs is something that I feel a strong affinity and commitment to.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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