Northern Governors

Catherine was elected as a public governor for a two-year term in September 2022.

Catherine worked briefly as a “casualty clerk” at Hackney Hospital, London, and then as a hospital social worker from 1974-78. She then left for Italy where she taught English and yoga for many years. Between 1999-2002 she lived in Gabon, studying anthropology. On returning to Italy, she completed a master's degree in bioethics, then a doctorate in moral philosophy at the University of Rome, La Sapienza. Catherine then taught bioethics on the master's course, and on in-service training courses for doctors and nurses working with the terminally ill, at the San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital in Rome, 2013-2016. Catherine moved to Devon in 2018 and, concerned as ever with health issues, joined the Save Our Hospital Services group to learn more about the problems of the NHS locally, and contribute to what can be done. She hopes her varied experience of health systems will be useful as she serves the Trust as governor.

Quentin was elected as a public governor for a three-year term in September 2023.

Quentin was brought up on a farm in Sussex, and educated locally. At medical school in London, he met his wife, Jacqueline, who trained in psychiatry. He trained to become an orthopaedic surgeon in London and the East Midlands, as well as completing a research fellowship in the USA. After an initial consultant post in Leicester, he relocated to Inverness, where he set up an orthopaedic hand service. At different times he served as a medical manager, non-executive NHS board director, and clinical staff representative at a national level. He also served for over 10 years in the Territorial Army as a medic. On retirement in 2019, he moved to Ilfracombe, and now enjoys seeing more of his three children and five grandchildren. He hopes to utilise previous experience in the role of public governor.

Dale was elected as a public governor for a two-year term in September 2022.

Dale came to love Devon when fostered here for ten years so he returned with his wife Rachel in 2016 when he retired. In between, he lectured in political philosophy at Swansea University and founded Opinion Research Services (ORS), a university spin-out social research company. He also served as a member of the Wales Medical Research Ethics Committee and as a non-executive director of a health authority, housing association and the Wales Quality Centre. ORS continues as a UK-wide applied social research practice specialising in policing and emergency services, health, housing, and local and national government studies.

In Devon, Dale is a trustee of the Devon Campaign to Protect Rural England, produces a village newsletter and runs the Ashford community support network, both of which had their origins in the COVID-19 lockdowns. He has also served as a parish councillor.

For the Royal Devon, he is particularly interested in community consultation, social research, good governance, and the importance of free speech and accountability. He is committed to strengthening the governors’ key role of protecting the public interest by holding the non-executive directors to account.

George was elected as a public governor for a three-year term in September 2022.

George was born and educated in Hampshire, where he began his career in pathology. He then moved to Surrey and then North Devon as the scientific head of pathology. After seven years he was seconded to what was the NHS Training Authority, to manage the NHS General Management Training Scheme and to develop competency frameworks for the delivery of healthcare. A further secondment to a London Hospital to co-direct the Department of Health project Patients First also led to his appointment as an honorary senior university lecturer. George’s later years were spent in consultancy, both nationally and internationally. He now supports charities supporting the less able, both locally and nationally. George is happily married with two sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter.

Sue was elected as a public governor for a three-year term in September 2023.

Sue is a retired registered nurse, having completed more than 45 years in adult nursing and mental health, specialising in critical care, including at North Devon District Hospital. Sue spent the last 22 years of her nursing career working for the Royal College of Nursing as a regional officer across the South West. She has extensive experience in both caring for patients but also supporting and representing nursing and nurses. Sue has particular expertise in occupational health and safety, and employment relations. Sue has been involved in health service development and procurement projects with Devon and Cornwall Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), is chair of Litchdon and Barnstaple Alliance Patient Participation Groups, and liaises regularly with Healthwatch and the Royal Devon’s Involving People Steering Group. She is an active member of a number of community groups, focusing on how and where patients access care and how the vulnerable and disadvantaged can be supported. Sue has been a carer all of her adult life for family and friends and is now a patient as coach trainer for student nurses at the University of Bolton and Nursing Academy at Petroc in Barnstaple.

Carol was elected as a public governor for a three-year term in September 2022.

Carol has lived in North Devon since 1977. She bought a public house with her husband and continued her teaching career, specialising in pupils who had special educational needs. She had ovarian cancer in 1987 and discovered that North Devon District Hospital did not have a CT scanner. She began the North Devon Scanner Appeal and has been involved in engagement with local health services ever since.

Carol was a district councillor for 20 years and is still a parish councillor since 1990. Carol was the lay member of Northern Locality Clinical Commissioning Group and chair of Devon Senior Voice.

Carol is active in many community groups, including chair of Queen's Medical Centre Patient Participation Group, and a member of Devon County Council’s Joint Engagement Group, NHS Devon’s Clinical Policy Engagement and Consultation Group, Involving People Steering Group at the Royal Devon and member of Healthwatch steering group.

She has many opportunities to engage with the community and is committed to ensuring that the patient’s voice is heard.

Avril was elected as a public governor for a one-year term in September 2023.

Avril is grateful her parents moved from war-torn London to Barnstaple when she was young. Avril enjoyed growing up in a busy family-run country hotel developing her communication and social skills from a young age. Following her husband’s retirement from the RAF, Avril returned to Barnstaple and joined the legal department of the Devon and Cornwall Police where she worked for 16 years. Avril became a director of one of the first community property trusts, culminating in a housing complex being designed and built for the young in her village and a community hall for everyone to enjoy. This interest in her community led to Avril writing her first social history book, which was followed by five other books and many articles. Avril also worked as the secretary for a medical charity whilst living in Scotland. On their return to Barnstaple, Avril was invited to become a director of the North Devon Athenaeum, a position she still holds. Avril has plenty of experience of the care the NHS has given her and her family, including care of her husband who had motor neurone disease. Avril hopes through her governor role to support people receiving and giving care in the North Devon area.