St Peter's Marlborough

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Trustees
& Staff

Our Trustees

St Peter’s Council of Trustees, are responsible for the direction, integrity and safety of this charitable organisation. We are fortunate to have a breadth of experience on the council that ensures the continued work at St Peter’s.

AnnMarie Newbigin
AnnMarie Newbigin
Chair

After moving to Marlborough from London in 2016, AnnMarie became involved with St Peter’s as a volunteer. After joining the Council as a Trustee in 2019 was voted Chair of St Peter and Paul’s Trust in 2023.

Alongside her role as Chair, AnnMarie is the Head of the Outreach Committee and responsible for increasing engagement with our local communities in Marlborough and the wider Kennet Valley through our updated website and other social media avenues. She is also a member of the Finance Committee.

From 2010 till 2019, AnnMarie was Chair of the Board of Green Corridor, a charity specializing in providing alternative education and training opportunities for young people with special needs. Previously, AnnMarie held trustee roles with charities involved in cultural conservation and volunteering such as CSV since 1995.

AnnMarie has extensive experience in the commercial sector in the areas of management consulting and financial services since coming to the UK from the US in 1988.  In the early 1990’s, AnnMarie moved into Corporate Human Resources covering Foreign Exchange, Fixed Income and Corporate Finance with the investment Bank, UBS, where she became a Managing Director in 1998.

While at UBS, AnnMarie was a Trustee of the Pension Fund and a member of the Investment Committee and led the major transition to a defined contribution plan from a salary benefit plan.

Since moving to Marlborough, AnnMarie and her husband, Michael, have become active members of various local organizations. Since 2019, AnnMarie has led two Study Groups for the local branch of the u3a:  Short Stories and American History.

Nicki Evans
Nicki Evans
Trustee & Secretary

Nicki joined St. Peters & St. Paul’s Trust early in 2021 bringing a wealth of local knowledge, charity experience and a diverse commercial background with her. Currently, she is the Trust’s Secretary and a member of the Outreach sub-committee; responsible for communication and social media, educational initiatives and business and membership development. The role demands good communication skills, teamwork and an interest in developing local interactions.

Having lived in the Marlborough area for 28 years she has been involved in a number of local and charitable organisations: Chair of Preshute Primary School, member of the Residents Association and for the last 8 years Chair of Manton Village Hall; responsible for raising funds and managing a total refurbishment. Being involved in the community and developing the resources that are available to be utilised by local people is of paramount importance.

Her business background began in retail management with Marks & Spencer, based all over the country, then progressed to managing their graduate recruitment programme. Finally, she joined M&SFS and was involved in the development of its banking arm. Over the last twenty years she has run her own property management company in the Marlborough area. Her commercial experience has demanded leadership, teamwork and communication capabilities all of which are utilised as a Trustee.

Trustee Paul Crerand
Paul Crerand
Trustee
Following retirement Paul moved to Marlborough from Newbury in September 2022 with his wife, Marion, where they spent the first year settling into their 15th century home. Paul and Marion have been enjoying the excellent coffee at Cardinal Coffee since it opened in April 2023, and subsequently became members of St Peter’s as they fell in love with the place, and the people. Paul became a Trustee in April 2024 and Tower Tour Guide the same month, then Director of the Cardinal Coffee Shop in March 2025. Paul’s initial focus is developing and growing the coffee shop into a successful concern in support of the Trust.
Paul is also a Trustee with Kennet Furniture Refurbiz (KFR) in Devizes, a recycling and refurbishment charity serving those in need across Wiltshire. Paul also teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to Ukrainians, remotely in Ukraine. Prior to moving, Paul was a volunteer Careers Enterprise Adviser working through the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership assisting Careers Leaders in local schools. Paul also volunteers as a coach with Redeployable working with service leavers starting careers in high tech industries. 
 
Paul initially completed a five year Telecommunications Engineering apprenticeship qualifying as a Technical Officer with what was then Post Office Telecommunications Ltd before going back to college for another year at University College London (UCL) to study Digital Electronics and Central Processor Theory before joining Nixdorf Computer as a Support Engineer. Paul was put on a two year management development programme in 1984 and since then has held a wide variety of leadership roles at the Director, VP and CTO levels across Europe, The Middle East and Africa, primarily for US software companies establishing new business in markets outside the US. Paul taught himself French and German, although lack of use does have an impact. Paul served as a Platoon Sergeant in the Reserve Forces and continued post-graduate studies with The Open University in Software Engineering, Social Sciences and Business Studies. Paul taught martial arts for twenty-five years although today he is a peaceful yoga student. Paul is a keen cyclist and motorcyclist, and completed a number of charity challenges cycling across Namibia, Borneo and Costa Rica on behalf of The Princes’ Trust.
 
Paul and Marion love living in Marlborough and the ambience at St Peter’s, and look forward to getting to know everyone as they settle into their Third Age.
Suzy Birch
Trustee

Suzy brings a wealth of experience from a long and successful career in retail, including ten years working in central London as a Regional manager in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. This role demanded excellent time management, strong organisation, and the ability to lead effectively — all skills she continues to apply in her work today with St Peters, and the Cardinal Coffee Shop where she is now a Director.

 

A real people person, Suzy is naturally social in building relationships. As a mother of seven, with children attending local schools, she’s well connected in the Marlborough community, where she’s happily lived for the past ten years, and plans to stay!

In her role as Community Liaison Trustee, Suzy hopes to bring energy and enthusiasm, and she has bags of it. She’s passionate about connecting people, enriching the local community, and supporting the positive work of St Peter’s. She also hopes to bring an element of education and culture to the organisation, helping St Peter’s remain a vibrant, inclusive space for all. 

Mike Stokes
Mike Stokes
Trustee

Michael was elected to the Council as a Trustee in 2020 and served as Tower Constable in 2023.

Michael still undertakes regular guided tours of St Peter’s tower and is still on hand to help with other tower duties when required.

Michael is particularly interested in the history of Marlborough and is eager to bring to wider attention the town’s significant events through the activities of the Trust and the use of the Church for the benefit of the community and tourists.

Married to a Canadian in Salisbury Cathedral in 1967, Michael and Rosamund have owned a house in Marlborough since 1981, where they have lived whenever Service and other duties have allowed.  Together they have enjoyed much foreign travel by land, sea and air, are social bridge players and own 2 oriental dogs.

Previously, Michael spent 33 years in the RAF involved flying Hercules tactical transport aircraft all over the world, often into inhospitable territory or climate, undertaking famine and disaster relief missions in addition to low level insertion and extraction of para-troops by day and night, training crews in air refuelling and as a meteorological research test pilot.  

On retirement from the RAF as a Wing Commander in 1997, Michael spent the next 20 years training young men and women to become airline pilots at Oxford Airport, helping over 500 students develop their confidence, responsibility and the self-discipline required for this demanding profession.

Finally in 2017, after 50 years as a professional pilot and with 20,000 flying hours under his belt, he folded his wings.  He hopes now to use all his experience gained as a Serviceman to enhance the opportunities for St Peter’s Trust to serve the community.

Rachael Gilleard
Trustee

Rachael and her husband moved to Marlborough in 2011. When their son was born, Rachael became involved in the local NCT group and organised coffee mornings for parents and carers, which met in the wonderful surroundings and welcoming atmosphere of St Peter’s. She was a Trustee of Sunflowers at Grafton Nursery from 2015-2021, including as Chair of the Trustee Board. 

Rachael began her career as a charted surveyor and real estate consultant working with international corporations, primarily across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Several years ago, she chose to refocus her career to the not the profit sector and has since worked in governance roles in the heritage, social housing, education and regulatory sectors. She is currently the Deputy Head of Governance for the General Dental Council. 
 
Rachael is looking forward to supporting the mission of the Trust to be a vibrant community hub for history and the arts in the heart of Marlborough, and to working alongside the Trustees, Members and the Marlborough community in the next exciting phase in the history of St Peter’s. 
Hannah Roche
Trustee

Hannah’s experience has taken her to far flung places, but her heart has always remained not just in the arts and people sector, but also in the surrounding areas of Marlborough. As well as working full time in a thriving arts centre, she now divides her focus between spending time with her family, debating the merits of mouse-catching with her cat, and hiking with her dog.

Across her career in the arts and hospitality, she has gained a wealth of experience in what makes a business tick, how to get the best out of people, the art of connection, and why teams are always at the heart of any success.

Bob Pick
Robert Pick
Trustee

Bob and his wife, Ali, have been associated with Marlborough since 1980 when Bob joined the chemistry department of Marlborough College following graduation from Durham and Leeds universities.

In his time at the College he was Master in Charge of both rugby and cricket, a Housemaster, Second Master and Deputy Master. He was also a governor of two Wiltshire preparatory schools for a total of twenty-five years. In 2009, following the College’s decision to expand overseas, he became Head of International Development and the founding Master of Marlborough College Malaysia.  On retirement from Malaysia in 2017, Bob and Ali returned to their home in Marlborough.  He has since been involved as an educational consultant, a tutor with Buckingham University for teacher training, an A’ Level chemistry tutor and holds a number of non-executive directorships. 

Bob’s main interests revolve around his family (two daughters and two granddaughters) and sport, particularly golf, cricket, rugby and football.  He is, for his sins, a misguided but passionate supporter of Leeds United.

Bob believes that becoming a trustee of St Peter’s provides an excellent opportunity for him to give something back to the Marlborough community.

Our Staff

St Peter’s employs staff to operate the core functions of the charity. Employed staff bring continuity and targeted expertise to managing St Peter’s.

Overseen by the Council, our staff are responsible for the day to day operations of the Trust.

Les Donaldson
Trust Manager

Having worked as a consultant to the Trust in 2024, Les quickly helped establish a flourishing events programme including St Peter’s Live, our Monday Markets, Kids’ Halloween activities, Santa’s Grotto and a splendid 1920s themed New Year’s Eve party. 

So far in 2025 we’ve hosted a 38 piece concert orchestra, a 22 piece big band and we’re just getting started. 

With over 25 years business management experience, Les brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of running a multifaceted organisation from strategy and budgeting to sales and marketing.

Les has a degree in visual communication from the University of the Arts London and was recruited straight from his end of year show by the Corin Group PLC. There Les head up the marketing team for four years, reporting directly to the board, before setting up the first of two marketing agencies he has grown and sold.

Notable clients have included the British Athlete’s Commission, having built the Team GB athletes an information portal for the London 2012 Olympics. Nationwide Building Society, and Optima Group PLC who supplied C-IED training and consultancy for governments and institutions such as the UN. 

Les was head hunted in 2016 by Heliograph Holdings GmbH to help run and market Daetwyler UK, the UK’s largest importer of European and US industrial print machinery. Overseeing the five year period that included leaving the EU and the pandemic, while maintaining profitability. 

Since 2021 Les has been providing business development and marketing consultancy for a number of businesses and charities which is how the relationship with St Peter’s began. 

Have a short conversation with Les and you’ll see why he is now St Peter’s Trust Manager. He is passionate about the building and building our community. In the short time he has been working with the Trust we have started a transformation and there is an exciting future ahead.

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Gift Aid Declaration

Thank you so much for donating to St Peter’s and St Paul’s Marlborough Trust. Your support is helping us to raise vital funds in order to preserve this building of significant historic interest and to provide a centre for the community to explore its history and enjoy its space.

If you sign up to Gift Aid, a tax relief allowing UK charities to reclaim an extra 25% in tax on every eligible donation made by a UK taxpayer, it means that without donating a penny extra, you're helping us keep St Peter's Church open for years to come.

There are a couple of reasons that may affect our ability to reclaim that extra money, so please contact us within 21 days if:
You expect to pay less than your Gift Aid value, in UK income and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current year, or your personal details, such as name and address have changed.

If you have not paid enough tax to meet the Gift Aid claimed by St Peter’s and St Paul’s Marlborough Trust and have not notified us of this, HMRC may seek to recover this sum from you directly, as it is your responsibility to pay any difference. You can get in touch with us on contact@stpetersmarlborough.org.uk if you have any questions.

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