Village Hall Committee Members
Roger Thompson - Chair
My professional background was in the health service and more specifically nursing. I trained in supporting people with learning disabilities and worked in community settings. I progressed to the education and training of health care professionals and lectured at several UK universities. Later in my career I became involved in statutory regulation and completed my career as the Director of Policy and Standards for the Nursing and Midwifery Council. I was responsible for the standards for education and practice and was successful in driving through change and quality improvement with the support of an extensive team across the UK.
I have a daughter of my own and share my wife Mel’s three children and grandchildren. In the recent past I ran cycle training for 9/10 year olds and was a foster parent for a sister and brother who lived with us for over a year. I have always been keen on the outdoors and have sailed, mountain biked, skied, canoed and hiked all around Europe and North Africa. I am now chasing down my handicap at Okehampton Golf Club!
When I retired I vowed never to sit on a committee again! Soon after Mel and I arrived in Sampford Courtenay we were invited to take part in events at the Village Hall and then to contribute to the work of the Committee. It was a great way to meet people and make new friends and I enjoyed being part of the group. I am confident that I can work with people in the parish to ensure the Village Hall builds on its successes as a community hub and has a secure future with an ever increasing range of activities attracting the whole community.
Sandra Harper
My Name is Sandra Harper. I have been a Trustee of the Village hall committee for twenty one years, as chair twice and running the produce show for seventeen years. Previously I was a school governor for ten years and volunteered for MND and Homestart.
Andrew Townsend Green - Treasurer
My name is Andrew Townsend Green. I am currently the Treasurer of the Village Hall Committee. I am married with no children and a very excitable dog, three cats and four chickens.
I moved to Sampford Courtenay when I was 9 years old in 1970 to the house where I currently live. I was educated locally in North Tawton and Okehampton.
After graduating from Oxford University in 1981, I started a career in advertising eventually
specialising in market research in various global positions. I worked in France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and the USA before returning to the UK in 2004 where I embarked on a career in market research.
One of my key roles was marketing and developing new business globally which took me overseas often. Between trips, I commuted between London and Devon, where I had bought my father’s farm and began a new hobby and passion: gardening. I retired in 2021 to spend even more time gardening.
During my forty-year career I have run various business units (P&L) as well as creating and running marketing campaigns. I have written two books and authored more than a hundred articles for journals and magazines. I hope to bring some of these skills to bear in helping Sampford Courtenay Village Hall over the coming years.
Lynn Robinson - Secretary
My name is Lynn Robinson. I am married with 2 grown up children.
I was a Primary School teacher for 32 years working with children in the 4 to 10 age range.This gave me a wide range of organisational and people management skills. During this time I frequently organised school fetes and fund raising events. Consequently, I have plenty of skills and experience to help the Committee organise and run events.
During my teaching career I was frequently required to work in teams developing policies, risk assessments and documents.
I was a mentor for student teachers from Southampton and Winchester University. This required a high level of organisational skills; empathy; clear communication skills and observational skills. I believe these skills are all helpful to the Committee.
I was a School Governor for 12 years, sometimes taking minutes for the meetings.
I have a good level of computer skills which help with the role I currently hold for the committee as Secretary.
I enjoy being part of the community of Sampford Courtenay. Having previously lived and worked in towns, it is great to be part of a small community where people are friendly and keen to get involved. Being retired I have the time and energy to give to the Committee.
Nicky Courage - Publicity
I moved to Sampford Courtenay in 2015 and now run Middletown Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast in the heart of the village with my husband.
Having worked in hospitality and various other administration roles, as well as running my own businesses whilst raising our two children, I feel I can make a positive contribution to the day to day running of the Village Hall. I particularly enjoy organising fundraising events when time permits during my busy day to day life.
Joy Tucker - Booking
I have lived with my husband Bob (also on the VHC) about a mile out of the village of Sampford Courtenay, still within the parish, for approaching 13 years. I work from home as a freelance copy-editor. I have worked in publishing for over 20 years. Prior to that I trained in ceramics and glass at art college and undertook roles as a playgroup supervisor; art and crafts teacher; and activities organiser in two residential homes.
Previous experience on committees and in the voluntary sector includes:
being a school governor, including a period as chair; being a member of a
PTFA, also including a time as chair; volunteering for Oxfam – working in the local shop and, in the past, at music festivals. I have been a parish councillor twice and was vice-chair for some of that time.
Anthony Morris
My name is Anthony Morris. I am married to Deborah and have lived in Sampford Courtenay for 35 years.
I was born and brought up locally (and, in fact, can trace family from the village back to Tudor times!) A number of relatives attended the school at what is now the Village Hall in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I have always had a fondness for the building and attended many events, from cricket teas as a child, through discos and dances to a couple of my own “significant” birthday events.
I joined the Village Hall Committee in 1999 and have served two stints as Chairman. I oversaw the construction of the kitchen/meeting room extension in 2015-2016, liaising with the builders on a regular basis and reviewing costings etc.
Rory Robinson - Vice Chair
My name is Rory Robinson. I am married with 2 grown up children.
I retired in 2019 from my 34 year career as a Dispensing Optician. My early career was managing Optical practices on behalf a large independent group. During this time I became their Branch Development Officer, which involved helping staff and particularly managers turn around failing practices.
During the last 12 years of my career I set up my own Opticians in direct competition to Specsavers, Boots and another local independent. I sold this Practice as a very profitable and ongoing concern to an independent group. This gave me the opportunity to retire at 54 a year earlier than my life plan to retire at 55.
I have always been goal driven and love helping others achieve their dreams. I thrive on creating and working within great teams. I believe in catching people doing things right.
I have been involved in many large and small organisations in my social life which include the Chamber of commerce and charitable organisations. My main skills are people orientated, having dealt throughout my life with all age groups from 2-105.
Melanie Thompson
I am married with three children and four grandchildren. I have an wide ranging family network across Devon and keep in regular contact with my extended family.
I qualified as a Nursery Nurse and have worked with children 0-8 for many years in various settings. My last job was working in the community with parents and new born babies and running ante and post natal clinics. I am a very professional person and have gained a huge range of skills and experi- ence in my career.
In later life I worked with The Guide Dogs for the Blind for many years both puppy walking and breeding Labrador guide dogs. I have been called out to help with the births of many new litters and am very experienced with puppies, dogs and their training.
My husband and I became foster parents for two young siblings on a long term basis, a role we found equally challenging and rewarding.
I am well organised, committed and a hardworking member of the community. I enjoying meeting different people and working with them as well as helping anyone I can. I have made lots of new friends in Sampford Courtenay and I really enjoy helping out at the Village Hall.
Bob Tucker
I live with my wife Joy (also on the VHC) in the parish of Sampford Courtenay. For the last four years I have been working full time on building our new house, which I have enjoyed – although it’s been hard work at Ames!
I have been an artist by profession for nearly fifty years, painting mostly landscapes and seascapes in oils. I exhibit in galleries around the South West and occasionally have an exhibition of my work. I am looking forward to getting back to painting again after our ‘building sabbatical’!
In the past I have been a school governor (including some time as
chair) and a member of a PTFA. I have also undertaken art classes and demonstrations for art groups and those with protected characteristics. I am serving my second stretch as a parish councillor and have been vice-chair in the past.
I joined the VHC in 2017. I was chair last year and my focus is on hall maintenance. I am petitioning to have a gold star placed against my name when I successfully complete a DIY job