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Meet the Team

Antony Walters

Antony Walters

CO-CHAIR

I initially came to live and work in Northallerton in 1985, being a junior doctor at the Friarage Hospital. Having completed my training on the General Practice training scheme I became a GP in rural South Australia before returning to Northallerton in March 1989. I became a GP partner at the Mayford House Surgery in Northallerton from that date until my retirement in October 2016. For a number of years I was also a medical director of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust. Both of our children were born at the Friarage, and we regard the hospital as an important local service and resource.

Susan Watson

CO-CHAIR

Susan was born and grew up in Scotland before moving to Northallerton in 1992. She worked for the NHS for more than 30 years - 22 of those with South Tees Hospitals. 
Susan has two grown up children who were both born at the Friarage. Her husband, mother and father have all been treated at the Friarage and always had excellent medical and nursing care. She's a member of the United Reformed Church in Northallerton and, with her husband, dances with the Northallerton Caledonian Society.  She became a trustee with the Friends of the Friarage in 2015 and regularly volunteers in the Friarage shop. 

Susan Watson
Steve Jamieson

Steve Jamieson

TREASURER

Hi, I’m Steve Jamieson. Prior to retirement, I worked in the NHS for 42 years, starting in Pathology in Glasgow and slowly working my way across the border! The last 22 years of my career were in General Management, culminating in 13 years at South Tyneside & Sunderland Foundation Trust. During my career, I worked at the Friarage Hospital twice: initially as Chief MLSO in Haematology/Transfusion 1990-1993; and secondly as Divisional General Manager for a number of specialities 2000-2002 prior to the acquisition of acute services by South Tees.

I am married with two daughters and a step-son, all grown up (in age if nothing else!). Since retiring in December 2022, I have started playing golf again 5 days per week - weather permitting! I also plan to take up acrylic painting in the winter days.

Derrick Brearley

TRUSTEE & CONVENER OF SHOP COMMITTEE

Born 1955 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, I spent most of my working life in the Midlands before taking early retirement and relocating to Northallerton. My former careers include pharmaceuticals as a Medical Representative for CIBA-GEIGY a large multinational; visiting General Practitioners, hospital consultants, retail and hospital pharmacists. I have 15 years NHS experience as a registered Biomedical Scientist specialising in Haematology and Blood Transfusion. My interests include being a Member of the National Trust and attending Steam engine rallies. I was appointed a Trustee of The Friends in 2016 and I volunteer in the Hospital Shop.

Derrick Brearley
Keeley Metcalfe

Keeley Metcalfe

TRUSTEE

Keeley is an experienced HR professional, having worked in Human Resources for the past 12 years, specialising in recruitment.  She also has experience of delivering Volunteer led projects.  Keeley is a part time Adult Education Tutor, delivering a wide range of courses

Lyn Proud

TRUSTEE

Hi, I’m Lyn. I am married to John and have three children and 4 grandchildren. I live in Northallerton and worked at the Friarage Hospital for 21 years. My interests and hobbies include spending time with my grandchildren and supporting them in all their many and varied activities, cake decorating, genealogy and reading historical novels, particularly the Plantagenet and Tudor period. I am a member of Northallerton Rotary Club supporting its projects in Nepal. I joined the Board of Trustees for the Friends of the Friarage in October 2015 and am responsible for arranging Events and helping with Fund Raising.

Lyn Proud
Jim Dixon

Jim Dixon

TRUSTEE

I have lived locally for 18 years and worked at the Friarage Hospital for 14 of those, seeing many changes to the organisation in that time. I maintain my connection with the Friarage by volunteering in the Friends Shop on a weekly basis. I am proud of the friendly, caring and efficient service our hospital provides for the local and wider community in North Yorkshire. I am concerned about any erosion of services at our local hospital and want to assist in preventing further losses and at the same time do all that is practicable to enhance current services and facilities through the assistance that the Friends of the Friarage can provide.

Mike Bramble

TRUSTEE

Professor Mike Bramble is a retired Consultant Gastroenterologist, having worked at Middlesbrough General Hospital and then the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough since 1982. He was Vice-President of the British Society of Gastroenterology and Chairman of the Endoscopy Committee 2000-2002. He became the Trust's Medical Director in 2005 until 2010 after which he returned to part time clinical work at the Friarage until 2018. In 2013 he was appointed to the Board of Sunderland CCG for a 4 year period as the designated Secondary Care Doctor. His hobbies include playing tennis, walking and gardening.

Mike Bramble
Sarah-Jane Harrison

Sarah-Jane Harrison

TRUSTEE

Hello! I’m Sarah-Jane. I am a dedicated and passionate individual who has lived in the local community for over 14 years. I have a background in supporting adults with additional needs to live an independent life, and I am now currently working for the local council as a Court of Protection and Appointeeship Officer. I am a proud parent of two children and I spend most of my free time with them. I am motivated to help my local community and driven to help raise the profile of the charity within the wider area. I’m looking forward to using my experience and skills to make a positive impact at Friends of the Friarage and the community it serves - I am proud to be a Trustee of the Charity.

Jennifer Scribbins

TRUSTEE

Jenn started her career in South Yorkshire as a research scientist working on biochemical methods to study motor neurone disease. She then moved to Liverpool to work at the University of Liverpool. Returning to Yorkshire in 2019, Jenn started working for the Motor Neurone Disease Association as their regional fundraiser helping support fundraisers and volunteers at local branches and groups across the region. In 2023 she moved to Catterick Village and gave birth to her son at the Friarage in July. She is looking forward to supporting fundraising campaigns and working with volunteers at the charity. 

Jennifer Scribbins
Alèxe Finlay

Alèxe Finlay

TRUSTEE

Alèxe is managing director of a marine consultancy specialising in counter pollution, counter terrorism, port safety and marine audit. She also works regionally and nationally for seafarers’ welfare, facilitating shoreside facilities for visiting crew. She is a member of St Mary’s Church, Richmond, where she has various pastoral responsibilities. Alèxe lives on the outskirts of Great Smeaton, with her husband Jonathan Roberts, where she has far too much gardening. Her hobbies are singing (quite well), playing the violin (quite badly), and all aspects of the arts. Becoming a Trustee is a huge privilege and honour.

Bettina Howard

TRUSTEE

I had both my children at the Friarage Hospital and I have visited with many sporting injuries and have always received excellent care.
 
I currently work as an Account Manager but previously I was a Director at Lewis & Cooper in Northallerton. 

My hobbies outside of work are playing hockey, running, biking, walking and hiking - to name a few! I’m really looking forward to my role as a trustee of Friends of the Friarage. 

Bettina Howard
Celia Curry

Celia Curry

ADMINISTRATOR

Following a fascinating time working in overseas developments in Somalia and Papua New Guinea, Celia counts herself lucky to have spent many happy years as a headteacher in North Yorkshire.  For the last four years she has been the Administrator for the Friends of the Friarage, a job she loves. For Celia the best part of her job is seeing the difference Friends can make to the public, patients, and staff.  In her spare time, she's often in Edinburgh or London visiting her two children or back home in Newcastle catching up with her roots.  Her  passions include live music, learning piano and Spanish,  outdoor swimming and travelling anwhere she hasn't seen before.

Carri Ramsbottom

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Originally from Leeds, Carri has previously lived in Sydney, Australia and more recently in Brighton but has now settled back home in Yorkshire to be closer to family and bring her two young children up in the outdoors and fresh country air!

Carri joins us with experience in many areas of design and publishing and is proud to say she has seen a fair bit of the world too - some of her achievements include having trekked across the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, the Himalayas in India and Nepal plus climbing to Everest Base Camp and crossing 22 towers of the Great Wall of China.

We are pleased to welcome Carri to the team at FOTF and Carri is excited to be working for our charity and putting her experience to good use. In her spare time Carri also helps out as a member of the committee at a local charity pre-school her children attend. 

One motto Carri lives by? “Be yourself - everyone else is taken!”

Carri Ramsbottom
Sarah Norman

Sarah Norman

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Sarah joined us in 2022 with her previous background in childcare and financial advising.  She is known as the queen of organisation and gets stuck into anything systems based and is very methodical.  In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, whether that is having a chilled weekend at home, nice walks or going away in her touring caravan. Upon joining us she said: "I am so excited to be joining Friends of the Friarage and I’m looking forward to learning lots more about this amazing charity! I have a real passion for helping people in life, I live by the quote ‘it takes nothing to be kind’.”

Join Us

We are currently looking to recruit a number of new Trustees to sit on the Board and help oversee the general running of the charity. We are keen to broaden the experience and skill set of our Board members and are looking to attract people of all ages and backgrounds to help us gain new perspectives and ideas.

In addition, we are always looking for new Volunteers to join our team and support us in many areas, from working in our hospital shop, to helping out at fundraising events.

No matter what your age or experience, please do get in touch if you are interested in becoming either a Trustee or Volunteer and we would be happy to discuss how you can help us and bring your skills and knowledge to our wonderful charity.

Join Us