Abingdon School Governor Profiles
David Lillycrop, Chairman of Governors. A barrister and businessman, David became a governor in 1999 and Chairman in January 2009. He is married with three children; his two sons were at Abingdon, leaving in 2004 and 2006. He enjoys skiing, tennis, opera and walking in the Peak District. He is also a member of the governing Council of Wycombe Abbey School.
Jon Gabitass, Vice-Chairman. Educated at Plymouth College and St John’s College Oxford. Jon’s teaching career included Clifton College and Abingdon, where he was Head of English and Second Master. Jon was Headmaster of Merchant Taylors’ from 1991-2004. Present activities include appraisal of headmasters, Wolfson Foundation education panel. Jon is a former governor of four preparatory schools and now a governor of Abingdon, St Helen & St Katharine, and the Godolphin & Latymer schools. He is the Chairman of Abingdon Prep School Committee and a member of the Education, F & GP and Liaison committees. Married to Fiona with two daughters, Jon’s interests include reading and writing; sport (former rugby blue and triallist); art, music, theatre and walking.
Andrew Saunders-Davies, Vice-Chairman. Chartered Surveyor with an MBA from Henley Management College. Andrew works as a Divisional Chairman for Berkeley Homes, part of The Berkeley Group Holdings plc. He has worked in variety of industries but has spent the last 20 years in property development. Andrew is married with two children and enjoys sailing, skiing, keeping fit, golf and fine wine. Andrew became a governor in 2006 and chairs the F and GP committee.
John Bunce. John runs his own management consultancy business specialising in the IT and telecoms sectors. John also has interests in the property development market. Prior to this he was Managing Director in the UK for both Ericsson and Philips Business Systems. John is a Freeman of the City of London, a member of the MCC and an Old Abingdonian. Married with two daughters, a stepson and four grandchildren, he lives in north Oxfordshire.
Kathleen Burk. Born in California and educated at Berkeley and Oxford, Kathleen Burk is the Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at University College London. Kathleen is the author or editor of eleven books, particularly on Anglo-American relations, and is a regular commentator on current affairs for radio and television. Kathleen also writes on wine, and is a judge for the International Wine and Spirits Competition. She enjoys opera and playing early music. Kathleen has been a governor of three schools, and was the Chairman of Governors for six years at the School of St Helen & St Katharine.
Jane Cranston. Managing Director of Stevens Garnier, a wine importing company. Jane has been a governor at Abingdon for 20 years and her interest in education has led her to become a governor of all four of the Schools in the Abingdon4Education partnership. She is the Chairman of Governors at St Helen & St Katharine. Other interests include walking, tennis and opera.
Dr Owen Darbishire. A Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford and a University Lecturer at the Saïd Business School since 1996. Owen was educated in both the state and independent sectors and was an undergraduate at Oxford from 1984-1987. Following two years teaching, Owen completed his PhD at Cornell University in the United States. At Oxford, Owen has been the director of the undergraduate programmes in Management from 2006-9 and has run a range of other educational courses for undergraduates, graduates and executives. Owen is married with three young boys. He is a governor of Benenden School, Kent, and a former governor of St Catherine’s School, Bramley. At Abingdon he is a member of the Education Committee.
Robert Farrant. Educated at the Dragon School, Clifton College and Trinity College, Dublin. Robert is very much an Abingdon man with a particular interest in Abingdon School’s connections and influence within the local community. He was a Dental Surgeon with a practice in the town for 34 years and was a Magistrate on the Abingdon Bench for 9 years. He was also Chairman of Abingdon Round Table and President of the local Rotary Club. Robert is a governor and Master of Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon. He is married with a son and daughter and two grandchildren.
Judy Forrest. Educated at The Alice Ottley School, Worcester and Homerton College, Cambridge. Judy started teaching disadvantaged children in the east end of London before moving to Dulwich College Prep School, where she became Deputy Head of their Junior Department. She ran a nursery school whilst her own children were small and then taught at Grosvenor Prep School in Nottingham. She moved down to Oxfordshire 25 years ago and taught at The Manor Prep School in Abingdon, where she was Head of Lower School. She then moved to Windsor to become Head of Upton House School before returning to Oxfordshire as Head of Chandlings School. Now retired, she is currently a governor at The Hall School in Hampstead and St Hugh's School, Faringdon. She mentors new Heads for IAPS and works as an area representative for the Royal National Children's Foundation. She is married with a son (who was at Abingdon) and a daughter and has two grandchildren.
Tanya Hawley. Tanya is a governor nominated by the Mercers' Company in 2007. She is a former social worker with particular experience of working with young people and schools. She has also worked for various committees of a nationwide housing trust. She was brought up in a boys' boarding school where her father was Headmaster. Her interests include music and singing. She is married with a scientist daughter and three grandchildren and lives in Abingdon's catchment area.
Emily Hohler. Emily is a journalist; having lived abroad until the age of eight, she was educated at Wycombe Abbey School and Magdalen College, Oxford where she read Modern Languages. Currently Contributing Editor of MoneyWeek magazine, which she helped set up, she has worked both as a freelance journalist and as an editor for The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Times, The Independent on Sunday and The Daily Mail. She is married with three young children, all of whom attend school in Oxford, and enjoys photography, cooking and walking in Scotland. Emily was nominated as a governor by the Mercers’ Company in 2011
Dr Heather Lumsden. Born in Singapore, and educated at Wycombe Abbey School; then Oxford, Cambridge and London Universities. Heather has an MA (English); PGCE with distinction; and then medical MBBS MRCGP and DRCOG. She taught English in schools in Norfolk and Paris; worked as a doctor in hospitals in London and Oxford; and is now a GP Senior Partner in Abingdon, where she also teaches medical undergraduates and postgraduates. Heather has been an Abingdon School governor since 2007; and a Prep School governor since 2008. She has 3 children, all educated at schools in Oxford. She was a national standard competitive swimmer; and is a regular member of an Oxford choral society.
Geoffrey Morris. Educated at King Alfred’s Grammar School, Wantage and then trained as a Chartered Accountant, qualifying in 1970. Worked in general practice until 2001, for Wenn Townsend, being the resident partner in Abingdon from 1982 until retirement in 2001. Geoffrey has been involved with Abingdon School since 1988, having two sons at the School and has seen service with the Abingdon School Society and Music Society committees. Geoffrey is the governor in charge of Finance at Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon, whose connection with Abingdon School is well known. He was also Master of the Charity from 2006-8, which included ex-officio Freedom of the Town, and governor of Abingdon School, where he now continues in co-optative capacity. In 2003 he was appointed to the National Executive, the National Association of Almshouses.
Christopher Owen. Co-opted to Governing Body on recommendation of School Common Room in 1999; serves on Education and Staff Committees. Chris taught at Abingdon, becoming Head of English 1962-1973 and also taught in co-educational comprehensive schools; Head of John Mason, Abingdon 1979-1994. Chris is a Key Stage Three and GCSE marker with Edexcel and has worked with Oxfordshire Schools Inspectorate. Chris’s son was a pupil at Abingdon.
The Hon Mr Justice Ramsey. A High Court Judge and Civil Engineer, Vivian became a governor in 2009. He is an OA being at Abingdon from 1961 to 1968. He was a barrister, arbitrator and mediator becoming a QC and Head of Keating Chambers in London before being appointed a judge. He is a Special Professor at Nottingham University and a Visiting Professor at King’s College, London and also edits Keating on Construction Contracts. He is married with four children. He lists his interests as building renovation and vineyards.
Olga Senior. MSc in Public Service Management and considerable experience of clinical and managerial leadership within the NHS at local, regional and national level. Olga is currently Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at South Central Strategic Health Authority. Her particular area of expertise is governance, and her interest is in organisational development. Olga has been a governor since 2008.
Chantal Stebbings. Professor of Law and Legal History and a Director of the Centre for Legal History Research at the University of Exeter School of Law, and is Professeur Invité at the University of Rennes I, France. For many years she was a General Commissioner of Income Tax. She became a governor of Abingdon School in 2010, and is married with two grown up children. She enjoys spending time with her family and her pug dog, in Devon, France and Scotland.
Tom Ayling, Clerk to the Governors. Oxford chemist; trainee patent agent; taught in London then Abingdon School, finishing as Second Master. Three daughters attended Oxford High School. Governor of Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon and of Our Lady’s Abingdon. Interests include all sports, music, architecture, film and travel.
