Governor profiles
John Westnedge
Chair of Governors
I worked for Tesco, latterly as an IT director, for 31 years and retired in 2013. During that time I was based in Hertfordshire but was also fortunate to work in Prague, Dublin, Bangalore and Tokyo managing IT projects and business change programmes. We lived in Prague for 3 years and moved to Saffron Walden in 2000 when my wife and I returned home. We have always been regular church goers and have attended St Mary’s church since we came to Saffron Walden.
I was a school governor at a large independent school for 18 years and also sat on the Board of a Multi-Academy Trust for 5 years. Helping out with planning and delivering projects was my main role there. I retired from these positions in December 2018 and joined the Governing Body at St Mary’s where I am now the Chair of Governors. It's great to work as part of a team of people all committed to helping the school’s development for the benefit of the children and their education.
Christopher Jarmain
Staff Governor (Headteacher)
I have been a Headteacher, a Senior Leader and a class teacher in primary schools in Essex for over 20 years. Previously to this appointment, I was the Headteacher of St John’s Church of England Primary School and prior to that I was the Assistant Head Teacher for a number of years. Furthermore, I have a family of my own; I have two children: Arron and Amelie – who are currently 11 years old and 9 years old.
I am well aware of the importance of your child’s primary school and, as a father myself, I am aware what our children mean to us so you can therefore, be absolutely assured that as the proud Headteacher and Governor of St Mary’s I will work tirelessly to create the very best education for your child or children whilst they are members of our school community.
Please also see the link below:
Carey Dickinson
Foundation Governor
I am delighted to be coming back to be a governor at St Mary's. I have previously served as a church governor for one year in 2015-16.
I have lived in Saffron Walden for many years and have spent my life teaching Primary aged children; for nineteen years I taught in Saffron Walden at Dame Bradbury's School. I have also been a Deputy Head, an Assistant Head and the Membership Officer of the Independent Schools Association; I have extensive experience both of teaching and of leadership and management. I am now semi-retired and teach three days a week at St Mary's, Stansted. I am still passionate about education.
I am a member of the congregation of St Mary's and enjoy serving the church and the community in a variety of ways. I look forward to working with you all in promoting a thriving, happy school with a Christian ethos.
Rob Twell
Associate Governor
I am very pleased to sit on the board of governors as an Associate Governor and I currently have 2 children at the school with a 3rd due to start in September 2022 hopefully. The school has worked wonders with the children over the last 2 years of COVID and I see my role as a governor to monitor and help the school continue its progress with the children and ensure stability of that progress.
My primary job is a Director of Fleet Operations for a shipping company that installs, monitors, and maintains telecommunication and power cables around the world. All these areas of responsibility are transferrable to a school environment. As a side-line, I am the Chairman of the War Committee at the UK Chamber of Shipping, a Director of the Sea Safe Training Group (SSTG) which funds, trains and mentors sea going cadets, and finally I Manage 2 U9 Cricket teams at Saffron Walden Cricket Club.
You might wonder what an ex sailor has to offer a board of governors, well my role as a Director is to manage a seafarer pool of around 650 sailors worldwide, as well as a sizeable team shoreside. The specialities include crewing and HR, technical management, contract management, large budget control, project management, auditing, and assurance. My volunteering roles offer much more besides.
Jeremy Trew
Foundation Governor and St Mary's Rector
Having recently taken up the post of Rector at St Mary’s Church, Saffron Walden, I am enjoying getting involved at St Mary’s School, where I serve as a governor and join in some assemblies. I am married to Alison, a teacher, and have to young adult children.
Will Coldwell
Foundation Governor and Vice Chair
I started out my professional life in the military before moving into civil aviation where I have been a commercial airline pilot for the last 15 years. During this period, I also started, grew, and sold a small tech company. I currently work with several technology start-ups in Cambridge, helping them through initial periods of growth.
I currently have two children at St Mary’s, my eldest in Year 3 and my youngest in Year 1. As parents, my wife and I are humbled by the holistic approach the staff at St Mary’s have towards education. We have been particularly impressed by the support and nurture given during the pandemic and I would like to play a part in supporting the school, wherever I can, in my role as a Foundation Governor.
Conor Clarke
Staff Governor
I am very pleased to join the board of governors as the staff representative. This is my seventh year at St Mary’s and I was a Teaching Assistant at the school before getting my PGCE. I have taught a range of age groups while at St Mary’s, across KS2 and KS1, and am currently the Year 6 teacher. I am also the Key Stage Two Lead and Deputy Safeguarding Lead.
As a member of the Senior Leadership team, I feel passionate about delivering the best education for all the children that attend St Mary’s, both academically and in developing them as unique individuals. I am looking forward to working with the other members of the board to continue to improve St Mary’s school and to strengthen ties with the diocese.
Jane Rolfe
Local Authority Governor
My name is Jane Rolfe. I moved to Saffron Walden one year ago from Stanstead Abbotts in Herfordshire. Two years ago I retired from my role as Business Manager at Whitehall Primary School in Chingford, East London. I became a staff governor whilst working at Whitehall Primary and held that role until 2014 when the governing body was re-constituted. I then became an Associate Governor, reporting to Governors on budget, premises and health and safety monitoring.
When I retired, I aimed to become a school governor as I feel I have a lot to offer and dearly want to stay involved in the education system.
On a personal note, I now very much enjoy being involved in the lives of my 3 grandchildren. I swim regularly and have embraced dancing for the past ten years, taking lessons once per week. I also love reading and have recently joined a local book club.
Alan Palmer
Foundation Governor
I moved to Saffron Walden in 2020 after the death of my wife so that I was near to my daughter and family ( she has lived here since 2004 and my late wife and myself were frequently here from then on). Our daughter married at St. Mary’s and both grandchildren were baptised there. Since moving here permanently I have attended St. Mary’s church weekly, especially for the 8am service and for Evensong. I taught for forty years, all in Northamptonshire and all in Church Aided secondary schools, retiring as deputy head of Bishop Stopford school in Kettering. I was subsequently, in semi retirement, consultant to Peterborough Diocesan Board of Education during which time we established six Church Aided primary schools and one secondary Aided in Northampton borough. I have served as a governor in a variety of roles and schools, and across the 4 to 19 age groups.
Doron Solomon
Parent Governor
I am Dad to two young sons, both of whom are pupils at St Mary's. Part of my reason for wanting to be Governor is to give back to the school and community that has made us feel so welcome since moving here.
In my professional life, I am a sofware engineer working in the financial services sector. Working in technology, I place great value in STEM and its place in a child's education. Two decades after finishing my undergrad, I went back to get a Master's degree in Computer Science whilst working full-time. This experience reminded me of the lifelong learning journey, whose foundation is laid in primary school. As a parent Governor I hope to help ensure that all students at St Mary's get the most out of their time here, both in and outside the classroom.
As an adoptive parent and Parent-Trainer with Essex County Council's adoption service, I use both my knowledge and practical experience to help prospective adopters better understand the importance of pastoral care. I believe a child's social and emotional development is as important as their academic development, and hope my experience can help shape how the school approaches this side of our children's education.
Sarah Scruby
Associate Governor
I am delighted to have become an Associate Governor of St Marys.
We have lived in the area for over 20 years and enjoy the benefits that Saffron Walden and its community has to offer. By background I have retired from a career in commercial property latterly based in Cambridge.
I am a volunteer at the local Citizens Advice Bureau and was a volunteer and Trustee of HomeStart Uttlesford for many years. I also belong to several local societies.
My hope is that as a Governor I can helpfully contribute to the on going success and Christian ethos of St Marys. As a mother of three grown up children I am very aware of the formative experience of primary school education.
Gillian Hayes
Foundation Governor
Much of my working life has been in healthcare and medical research, with the last decade managing a national clinical and neuropathological dementia research study.
I have been a counsellor for NSPCC Childline since 2007 and more recently joined the Childline staff team, supporting counsellors and managing child protection risk in the counselling room. I am passionate about Child Protection and working towards keeping all children safe from harm.
As a Governor, by supporting school staff in their teaching, nurture and encouragement of the children at the school, I hope to help the school to continue to be the best it can be for all children.
Louise Preston
Parent Governor
My 2 eldest daughters started at St. Mary’s when I moved with my family to Saffron Walden in 2022. They received a wonderfully warm welcome to their new school that I will always remember gratefully; it certainly helped me as a parent worried about how my children would cope with our move! My eldest daughter has now moved on to SWCHS where she is in Year 8, and my youngest daughter has joined St Mary’s and is now in Year 1.
I have worked in Further Education for 22 years, mainly working in large colleges as a teacher and leader of courses for adults and young people over 16. My specialisms are in teaching English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL), and Adult Literacy. I continue to work with colleges and other Further Education providers, as well as working as an Ofsted inspector within the sector. I also hold an MBA in Further Education Management.
Alongside my work in education, I also currently work for a market research company providing customer insight to large multinational companies across a range of sectors, including Finance and Healthcare.
I love being involved in education of all types, and I am excited to become part of the Governing body of St Mary's. Having had such a positive experience of St Mary's personally, I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of the school. With my knowledge and experience of curriculum, safeguarding and Ofsted requirements, I hope that I can be a valuable member of the team.
Ralph Meloy
Foundation Governor
I am a local councillor, a member of St Mary‘s church, Saffron Walden, and a chaplaincy volunteer at Addenbrooke’s.
I am retired after a career with the British Medical Association, the British Dental Association, BAA plc (Stansted Airport Limited), and the Diocese of Chelmsford. Roughly half of my working life was spent in industrial and​ employee relations and staff development; the other half was in public affairs and communications.
I believe that a good education should enable each child to make the most of their talents and should lay the foundations for all children to become citizens who live well together. That is why I am proud to be a governor of St Mary’s where we make each child our priority as we build on our 180 years of service to the community.
Working with colleagues to sustain the school’s special character and relationship with St Mary’s church is important to me.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and I enjoy singing in the Cambridge biomedical campus choir.