Meet the Trustees

Peter was a Cub Scout and briefly a Scout with 1st Prestbury, 1953 -55. (In the 1920’s his grandfather, Loris Mather was County Commissioner for The City of Manchester Scout Council retiring as its President in 1968). It was Loris who arranged for the purchase and gift of Sandiway, now the Forest Camp Activity Centre, to the Scouts. This connection led Peter to join the Campsite Committee in 1988 and he became its chair, before being nominated as chair of Trustees in 1990.  Since then, he has worked with six County Commissioners.  He has seen the changes from no mobile phones nor computers to Scouting online and was present when the purchase of the first computer for Cheshire Scouts was authorised.  Outside of Scouting Peter graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from Manchester University and served in assorted offices and roles in Mather and Platt in the UK and abroad before becoming a financial consultant, retiring in 2008. He served as an officer in the Cheshire Yeomanry and was the Territorial Army Individual Ski Champion in 1984.  He enjoys all sports he can participate in, Sailing, Skiing, Golf, Real Tennis, Racquets, Shooting and since lock down, Fell Walking. He also paints and sings in a choral society. He is fully supported by his wife, Bobbski, who shares most of the above.

Nominated by: Dave Hopley, County Commissioner

Dave has been a member of The Scouts since the age of six. He started his adult leadership journey as Assistant Scout Leader at 1st Over St Johns in Winsford, shortly after gaining his Queen’s Scout Award. He was appointed as Assistant County Commissioner (Scouts) in 2007, having volunteered on the National Scout section support team since 2004. In 2011 he became Deputy County Commissioner, before being appointed as County Commissioner (Lead Volunteer) in 2021. Dave has been instrumental in driving youth engagement in Cheshire and was a Cheshire Unit Leader to the World Scout Jamboree in Japan. Professionally, Dave is Assistant Principal Student Experience for Stoke on Trent College. Outside of work and Scouts, you can find Dave running, walking, spending time with his family and friends, as well as skiing and travelling.

Dan is an Economics Student at the University of Bath, but home will always be Chester. He started his scouting experience 13 years ago and has enjoyed every opportunity scouting has offered him, including two World Scout Jamborees, multiple Gang Shows and many Cheshire Hikes. Dan has been a Beaver Leader, a Young Leader at Cubs and was Deputy District Youth Commissioner for Chester & District. He wants all young people in Cheshire Scouts to be able to say they shaped their own adventure!

Outside of studying and scouting, Dan loves to play badminton, works as a waiter, and has a real passion for winter sports. It’s rare you don’t hear about his time as a chalet host in the French alps.

Having spent the majority of her Scouting life as a Cub Scout Leader, Janet has moved on, to become a Nights Away Advisor, a District and County Secretary.  Her professional life has been devoted to being a Farmers wife, Mum and Grannie.  Janet enjoys meeting and walking with friends and helping husband John breed and show their Shires horses.

Proposed by: Nigel Flatman

Seconded by: Peter Mather and John Duley

Luke trained as a Chartered Accountant with EY, spending five years working primarily with Energy & Construction companies from their Aberdeen and London offices.  He has worked with a range of organisations from FTSE 100 companies to early stage startups on a variety of projects relating to finance and accounting.  He’s currently studying his MBA at Harvard Business School. As a young person, he achieved his Queen’s Scout Award, Explorer Belt Award and attended the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden.  Aged 21 he joined the Board of the British Youth Council, where he was treasurer for four years.  In that role he led on financial matters for the organisation which employed 18 employed members of staff and delivered programs including the UK Youth Parliament, NHS Youth Forum and Bank of England Youth Forum.

Proposed by: Dave Hopley

Seconded by: Peter Mather and Val Thomason

Michael has been a member of The Scouts since 1997, when he joined his local Beaver Colony. He holds roles both locally, currently a Group Scout Leader, and nationally, as a member of the Awards Advisory Committee. Michael sat on the National Board of Trustee for a 3 year term, (2012-2015) and served as a trustee for Greater Manchester West (GMW) Scouts from 2009- 2018. He has also been a Cub Leader and ADC Cubs, as well as supporting higher awards as GMW Queen Scout Award Coordinator.  Professionally, Michael is a Assistant Headteacher for Outreach, Service and Partnership at Manchester Grammar School. Michael is a Mountain Leader and enjoys hill-walking, mountaineering trekking and climbing.  Outside of Scouting, Michael serves as a Magistrate in Greater Manchester, and as a trustee for Bond Board, who work to reduce homelessness by finding homes in the private sector for people on low incomes.

This year I’ve completed my A levels and currently work at my local primary school in their after school club, I’m also hoping to attend Loughborough University in September. In Scouting I took part in being a young leader at my local beaver group for 3 years and I am currently one of the Knutsford representatives for Cheshire scouts Youth Forum. In 2019 I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia and since have been able to achieve my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award and Queens Scout award. In my free time I enjoy crafting and spending time with friends.

Jake started his scouting experience as an Explorer Scout at Aquila ESU and before turning 18, he became a young leader at 8th Widnes. He is currently District Youth Commissioner of Mersey Weaver and is a Section Assistant at 8th Widnes. Jake has a real passion for empowering young people to shape their Scout experience and modernising the image of scouting. Jake also has a deep commitment to promoting mental health and wellbeing, and he has created the 365 Steps of Wellbeing Challenge in Mersey Weaver, an initiative aimed at enabling and encouraging young people in our Scouting community to be happier, more active and more aware of the importance of mental health and wellbeing.  Jake is also involved in the planning of Chamboree Subcamps for 2022 as a Deputy Subcamp Leader and is very much looking forward to the event next year. Outside of Scouting, Jake is studying for a MChem in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Leicester University and has been an active member of his faculty’s support network. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, art, watching films, attending festivals and meeting up with friends and family.

John retired having spent some 40 years working in telecommunications.  His scouting life started as a cub, scout and leader in Hertfordshire and progressed via Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and now Cheshire. During this time he has held roles at group, district and county levels including the county commissioner role in Bedfordshire.  Outside of Scouting he enjoys attending football matches as a supporter of Manchester United. He also is involved with various roles within the Methodist Church.