Angus Campbell HM Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset - President Expand I was raised in North Dorset. My father, from a family with a strong military tradition, settled in the County on retirement from the Army in 1949. I was educated in Dorset and Devon, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1970 to work for the Auckland Herd Improvement Association at the age of 20 and gained my Private Pilot’s Licence whilst working in that country. Returning to the UK after my two year contract was completed; I applied to join the Army with a view to flying. I was Commissioned into the Army as one of the first direct-entry Army Air Corps Pilots and served in West Germany, United Nations Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Canada and finally as Second in Command of 16 Flight Army Air Corps in Cyprus before retiring at the end of this Short Service Commission. I continued as a Territorial Army Pilot until 1982. On retiring from the Army, I returned to the family farm near Iwerne Minster in North Dorset and diversified my farming activities with an interest in running several Game Shooting enterprises. Drawn into local politics for four years 1989/93 when elected to be the Dorset County Council Member for Blandford Forum, I became Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee but did not stand for re-election in 1993. However, I returned to local politics on election to the North Dorset District Council in 1999 serving as Leader for the first four and a half years. Standing for Dorset County Council again in 2001, I became Deputy Leader from 2002 to 2006 and then Leader for the seven years between 2006 and 2013. In 2013 I stood down from local politics. Whilst serving within Local Government in Dorset, for five years I also Chaired the Strategic Leaders Board for the South West that became South West Councils, and represented the South West on the Local Government Association’s Executive Board. I was also Chairman of the Dorset Olympic Board (2006 - 2012) with responsibility for the delivery of the Olympic Sailing Events in Weymouth and Portland in summer 2012. In January 2014 I was appointed by The Queen to represent Her Majesty as Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset. I live with my wife Carola in Iwerne Minster and have two daughters. My interests include; Archaeology, History, Country Sports and Writing. Dorset Youth Association has a proud history of supporting the young people of Dorset. It is vitally important that such organisations are supported so that they can continue to improve the life chances of our youth. It is a huge honour to be their President.
Ray Seymour - Vice President / Trustee Expand I am seen by many as the elder statesman of Dorset Youth Association and Youth Work in Dorset as I have been delivering services for young people since 1939. I have been a Trustee for the Organisation since 1971. I have delivered services continually since that time with the exception of my time in the Army where I served in Burma from 1943-1947. I was a voluntary leader at Bere Regis Youth Club for 30 years in the village where I knew most people and managed my business for over 55 years. I have served as a Trustee at Dorset Youth Association since 1971 and undertaken many roles at the Wareham Youth Centre including Chairman of the Management Committee, where I still help to deliver the lunchtime programme three times per week. I gained valuable experience when I served as the Dorset representative on the board of the National Association of Youth Clubs before focussing my time again on local delivery. I remain totally committed to providing support for all young people and helping them to grow and develop into valued citizens who we can be proud of and believe that Dorset Youth Association are needed more now than ever.
Col. David Swann - Vice President / Trustee Expand I was born in Manchester but from an early age moved around the country – school in Cumbria, university in London – and the world during a full career in the British Army before retiring last year. My military career was spent with The Queen’s Royal Hussars, the early years of which were largely in Germany in the days of the Cold War and I saw active service with the UN in Cyprus, in Beirut and the first Gulf War. I commanded my regiment, based in Germany 2000-2002, and led it through a six month deployment to Kosovo. Shortly after command I was promoted to Colonel and undertook two assignments in Dorset and my final military appointment was as the Defence Attaché at the British Embassy in Kabul 2012-2014. Following retirement from the Army I became the Chambers Director for a barristers’ set based in the Temple, London. Whilst serving as the Commander of the Armour Centre and Bovington Garrison I became a Trustee of the Dorset Youth Association; and for a short period chaired the Executive Committee. Despite having known the county for many years, and marrying a Dorset girl, I had no idea of the isolation and hardships that can be faced by too many young people across the county. I fully endorse the DYA’s aims and feel privileged to play a part in the charity’s governance.
Allen Knott - Chairman Expand I joined Dorset Youth Association as a Trustee in 2009 and I feel most honoured to be Chair of this organisation since 2011. I have lived in the great County of Dorset all my life. I left school at the age of 16years to become a Police Cadet and joined the Force as a Constable in 1969. I served in Poole, Lyme Regis and Bridport and in 1981 I became a specialist Juvenile Liaison Officer. This involved working in a multi-disciplinary setting with both professional and voluntary organisations. I retired from the Dorset Police in 1999 and became a Dyslexia Therapist working in local schools. Although retiring some four years ago I still have a private practice. I started voluntary youth work in 1966 when I helped run a Cub Pack. I eventually became a Group Scout Leader. Over the years I have supported young people in a variety of ways. I have run a Church Youth Group, been a manager of some County Youth Clubs, a school Governor, Chairman of the Board for a local prep-school, and Child Protection Officer for Dorset Athletic Association and also St John Ambulance. I am engaged in other charitable work. I am a Director of Dorchester Football Club, now a Community Club, A Lay Minister in the Church of England and President of the Dorchester Disabled Association. I believe in investing in young people, especially those who are disadvantaged in some way. This is just one way we can ensure a healthy future for our society.
Gideon Daly - Vice Chairman Expand I have been a Trustee of the Dorset Youth Association since 2009 and Vice Chair for the last few years. I am always immensely impressed by the young people involved with the charity, either those who volunteer or those have been beneficiaries of its programmes. I have endeavored to support the charity as it has weathered the harsh economic climate of recent years, continuing to deliver its vitally important work of giving Dorset’s young people the best possible start in life. I work as the Financial Controller at Wyatt Homes, a growing traditional housebuilder of quality homes based in Poole. I am also an Associate Governor at The Purbeck School in Wareham, a Foundation Governor at St Mary & St Joseph’s Primary School in Wool, a singer in the Wareham Choral Society and my local church choir and a keen runner of anything from local park runs to marathons. My role within the Executive Committee includes using my experience as a chartered management accountant to help guide the Committee in overseeing the sound management of finances for the purpose of fulfilling the charity’s aims of improving the lives of young people in Dorset.
Val Morton - Honorary Treasurer Expand I have been a Trustee of Dorset Youth Association and an honorary Treasurer since 2007. After growing up in South Wales and being the eldest of 6 children my parents always believed in the importance of education. After studying at Grammar School I left with 3 A Levels and joined the Civil Service, first in Bath with the Audit Commission, and later in Dorchester. Ten years later I joined the Land Registry (Weymouth) and trained as a Legal Examiner. I studied at evening classes and gained a qualification as an Accounting Technician, and then moved to the Finance Department of Land Registry in the London HQ, and began 5 years of commuting to and from London, with weekends spent in Dorset. Further evening studying led to qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant. I did also find time to visit many theatres and enjoy some nights out! I returned to Dorset, at Dorset County Council in Social Services finance section. In 2004 I left DCC to take up part time work in other local authority and spent much time helping West Dorset RSPCA set up its re-homing centre at Kingston Maurward. I was a Trustee and honorary Treasurer for many years. I was lucky to grow up in a supportive close family, and feel that children need this – Dorset Youth Association is the next best thing.
David Chalstrey - Trustee Expand I have been a Trustee for Dorset Youth Association since 2009. I was born in Scotland but was brought up in Cheshire and North Wales and educated at Repton School in Derbyshire. At School I was a keen Cross Country runner and loved to be Outdoors, climbing the Peaks and Snowdonia. After School I worked in the City of London for a Stockbroker before moving into the insurance market, and then became a Reinsurance Broker for Lloyds of London. After this time I became an Army Reservist as a Special Observer in the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). Following selection for the HAC I realised how much you can push yourself and became obsessed with endurance sport, amongst many things I have run a triple marathon in one go (78 miles), attempted to cross the channel the long way for Dorset Youth Association (42 miles), competed in triathlons, run in the mountains (the Three peaks in 19 hrs, 24 peaks in 24hrs Snowdonia) and Ice Climbed in the Alps In recent years I have gained a Higher National Diploma in Surveying and I am a Volunteer Army Cadet Force Leader, which has allowed me to use my outward bound skills to benefit young people. My passion is making people realise they are capable of amazing things and expanding their horizons. Achievement is relative to where we are now it’s just having the motivation to say ‘yes, I can do that’ and take the first step towards it. Failure is irrelevant by simply attempting something you have gone further than most people already.
Victoria Pearson - Trustee Expand I became a Trustee for Dorset Youth Association in 2010. Born in Japan, I was educated in Malaysia, Indonesia and in England. I qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and since 2004 I have been a partner at Humphries Kirk Solicitors. I have 2 children, both of whom were born in Dorchester, Dorset, Oliver aged 10 and Amelia aged 8. Following ill health in 2011 I set myself a challenge and in 2015/16 completed a leg of The Clipper Round the World Ocean Yacht Race sailing over 5000 nautical miles from Albany, Western Australia to Airlie Beach, Whitsundays as well as completing the Sydney Hobart Race. I joined Dorset Youth Association as Trustee as I am keen that young people, whatever their start in life, are given all the help they can to achieve all they want to.
Matt Lucas - Trustee Expand I was born in 1973 at the Old Portwey Hospital in Weymouth and schooled in Dorchester where I have lived most of my life. Early working days saw me nursing which I thoroughly enjoyed, firstly at Forston Clinic followed by the Linden Unit in Weymouth and then Barnes Ward at Dorset County Hospital. Whilst nursing and working the normal shift pattern I started extra work as a driver/ bearer with local funeral directors during my spare time. After a while I felt that Funeral Directing was the occupation that I wished to pursue, and after qualifying with a diploma in Funeral directing I have now been a funeral director for 20 years and three years ago I started my own Funeral Directors based on Poundbury. Interests include sports and in particular Football, where I have played locally for many years. I managed Youth Football teams for 10 years and spent time as Dorchester Town Youths Secretary and Welfare Officer. After becoming a Director of Dorchester Town FC in 2010 I became Club Chairman in early 2014 and the Club is now community owned. I have also led a local Church based youth Club which I thoroughly enjoyed. It taught me how important it is to be able to offer a safe place where Children can come, have fun, mix with their peer group and also have a place where there can be a listening ear and advice, something that might not be readily available within their own circle of life. I have a broad range of skills and experience and was pleased to be invited to become a Trustee and to help with the Governance of the charity.