Giving back to the community he calls home

Mytime Active’s new trustee has dedicated much of his time to charity work since he retired. We find out more about him and his goals as a trustee.

“I’ve lived in West Wickham since February 1992, so this community is very much my community. Ensuring we collectively support all our population to improve their physical and mental health is something I care about deeply; it’s what I’ve devoted much of my time to since I retired. 

“My own love of activity started on a farm in rural Suffolk. There was no money, no facilities and no real culture of keeping fit – I just started ‘playing tennis’ at about seven years old by hitting a bald ball against a barn wall. When I could persuade my older sister to join in, we’d play on the farm driveway, our court marked out by the lines in the concrete, with a piece of string standing in for a net. It was the tennis equivalent of laying down two jumpers as goalposts for an impromptu football match! 

“That freedom to play, with no proper facilities or defined rules, was crucial in helping me to develop a lifelong habit of staying active. I think we need to support everyone, whatever their age, background or ability, to get moving in whatever way is available to them. The benefits of being active, both physical and social, are enormous and too many people are still missing out. It isn’t just about health. Sport is a brilliant vehicle for personal development, especially for young people. Tennis has a real discipline to it and that matters when children are still learning how to manage their emotions. Making sure no one is left behind and that everyone gets the chance to have a go, whatever their background, is what drives me. 

“I see that need up close through my work with Kent Tennis. We recently discovered there isn’t a single tennis court on the Isle of Sheppey – an area with three prisons, high levels of deprivation and poor health, and a significant number of children with learning disabilities. We’re now working with the prison service to build courts there and create a proper community venue. It’s not these communities’ fault they’ve ended up without opportunities; it’s ours, as a society. 

“That’s part of why organisations like Mytime Active matter so much to me. Compared with private members’ clubs, they’re far more affordable and accessible, and far more relevant to everybody. I also believe strongly in fairness: if we make activity accessible and available, people can take some responsibility for their own health and wellbeing by walking through the door. If it isn’t there, they never get that chance in the first place. 

“I spent over three decades working at HMRC and, after I left in 2009, I put a lot of energy into tennis. I was chairman at my club for 14 years. In that time, we grew from a struggling club in danger of folding into one with a membership of over 700. Seeing that kind of transformation happen, when energy and determination are pointed in the same direction, has inspired me. I was Kent’s representative at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) from 2020-2022 and also a Board member and director of the LTA itself from 2023-2025. This gave me a much wider view of participation, safeguarding and strategy across sport.  

“I believe in Mytime Active’s mission and want to put my experience to good use. I’m a firm believer that we all achieve more when we work together, utilising the skills and differing perspectives that a high-performing Board should have. Volunteering gives me real purpose and becoming a trustee of Mytime Active means I can keep giving back to the community I’ve called home for over 30 years.”