Laraine Marriott, Chair of Trustees
My professional career was as a solicitor in private practice in Salisbury for 22 years. After appointment on the Board of the West Surrey North East Hampshire Health Authority where I became involved with the Mental Health Services I was appointed to the Mental Health Act Commission for 9 years. My connection with carers’ support services in Salisbury and South Wiltshire began over 20 years ago and I was Chair of the Management Committee for 6 years and Chair of Trustees for 11 years.
I was sole carer of my father when his health declined and later a ‘long-distance’ carer for his sister, so understand the pressures of juggling work and caring.
I am delighted that I am still able to make a contribution to the support of carers through my role as Vice-Chair of Carer Support Wiltshire by supporting the Chair and the management team in continuing to develop our service in its invaluable work with carers.
Huw Ponting, Vice-Chair
I have lived in Wiltshire for 16 years. I qualified as a Solicitor in 1995 and, since then, have been representing and supporting clients who have had the misfortune to suffer a brain injury as a result of an accident. Many of my clients have complex care needs and their families require support. I have experience in helping to pull together significant packages of care for clients and their families, whether funded privately or by various statutory services.
I also act as a Court appointed Deputy for a number of clients who are deemed unable to manage all, or part, of their financial and property affairs.I am involved with a number of other charities. I am currently a Trustee and past Chairman of Headway Bristol, a role that I have held for 15 years. Previously, I served two terms as a Governor of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) in Bath.
In my spare time I am interested in classic cars and motorsport, walking and cooking – when I’m not running around after my two very energetic boys!
Malcolm Seymour, Treasurer
I trained as a Chartered Accountant and worked as a financial executive in industry. For the last 17 years I have been a financial consultant working on utility projects around the world, advising on accounting, regulatory and strategic issues.
In recent years I have had to manage work and travel demands with being the joint carer responsible for an elderly parent and parents-in-law. I am pleased to be involved with Carer Support Wiltshire as it develops its services to support carers at a time of change in health care delivery.
David Binding
I was formerly a trustee of Carers Support West Wilts, serving as their Chair of Trustees in the few months before the merger of the organisation with three other carer support agencies in the county in April 2011. I combine working as an electrician with a keen interest in sport, particularly Bath Rugby where I have previously been their Child Welfare Officer.
Dr. Jeremy Bradbrooke
I was a GP in Trowbridge from 1972 and retired several years ago. I was formerly President and Medical Officer with the British Red Cross in Wiltshire. I am interested in supporting medical and health services in the Community and am very happy to be a trustee for Carer Support Wiltshire. I am very impressed by the diligence and professionalism of the staff.
My wife and I are carers for our daughter who has learning disabilities.
Derek Hayes
I spent 30 years as a nurse with the NHS before retiring to start my own business consultancy specialising in Quality improvement, Risk Management and Business Continuity. The work was predominantly with NHS Trusts. First-hand experience of the NHS over very many years has given me a valuable insight in to how the delivery of health care has changed.
There has never been a more important time for organisations such as Carer Support Wiltshire to be actively involved in supporting carers in the community. Whenever the organisation operates it does so with the highest degree of professionalism. Carers deserve nothing less than the best.
James Minett
I became a long distance carer for my father when he was admitted into a residential home. Latterly, since I retired from my 48 year career which comprised Civil Engineering, and Childcare, my wife and I have been carers for my mother-in-law who suffers from severe vascular dementia. I therefore have experience of Carer Support Wiltshire’s impressive support services offered to carers at their time of need.
I am delighted to become involved with the charity as it moves forward and develops its services.
Chris Meier
Throughout my 28 year professional career in manufacturing and financial services marketing I have used the skills and experience gained within a commercial environment to help a number of national and local charities and not for profits organisations to achieve their aims. 
When not working I can be found enjoying the outdoors through gardening, walking and camping or more often than not ferrying my children to and then watching rugby, hockey, netball or cricket matches.
Janet Surr
I have worked in the toy and gift industry for nearly 30 years as well as bought and sold my own company. My career has been focussed on marketing and product development as well as mentoring.
My mother died when I, and my brothers were teenagers and my sisters were toddlers. We managed to structure our lives to get through this period as we pulled together as a family. We had great support from friends and family.
I love Dressage, sometimes teach, competed a lot in the past and I am a Listed Dressage Judge officiating at events throughout the southwest.
Jane Mason
My time as a volunteer with the Carer Hub at RUH, Bath and volunteer representative on the CSW Quality and Policy Subcommittee has shown me the invaluable work done by the organisation in supporting and advocating for people whose contribution to society so often goes unrecognised, and whose voices are rarely heard.
My first professional qualification was as a nurse, then when my children were teenagers I retrained in the field of advice and guidance. Later I moved into higher education, researching the use of personal narrative to analyse the impact of organisational policies and processes on service users. For many years I was a freelance human resource development trainer, working mainly with organisations in the voluntary sector.
Ruth Martindale
I have worked at director level in the charity sector for 12 years primarily for organisations that provide welfare support. Whilst I am first and foremost a qualified accountant I also have knowledge of charity law and governance as well as of investment, IT, insurance, employment law and fundraising. 
My mother was a carer for various family members so I have first-hand experience of the impact a caring role can have on an individual and family.
