Region 2 Governors Pen Portraits

My name is Bridget Williams and previously was a Director and Vice Chair of the Painsley MAC. My involvement with this board and previous LGB has spanned some 9 years. I am a widow with two grown-up children and one grandson all of which went through Catholic Education my grandson currently attending St Giles Primary in Cheadle.I am retired after many years working in the corporate world, firstly with a major brewer as regional sales manager covering the South of England .During this time l worked both in the wholesale and retail trade, together with the tied house estate where my experience was extensive particularly with staffing and external clients. Later I moved to Uttoxeter due to my late husbands promotion, followed a short career break with my young children and then into the world of property and estate agency. My time in estate agency as a Board of Management Partner being responsible for staff, marketing, budgets and sales is where l stayed until retirement. I am practicing Catholic and active parishioner in my local Church, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Painsley MAC being part of its continuing strength and success and contributing in however I could.

Luke Salkeld

I currently serve as Headteacher of a Catholic secondary school, championing Faith, Culture and Learning. With a strong foundation in Catholic education, I serve as a Catholic Schools Inspector, ensuring the spiritual and educational integrity of Catholic schools. I have active involvement on the advisory board of an improving school in Wolverhampton, offering strategic guidance and support for sustainable progress. A parent to three young children, balancing professional responsibilities with family life and a lifelong passion for sport, which informs my belief in teamwork, resilience, and well-being in education.

Hi, I’m Clare. I have been in Catholic education my whole life. I’m a former pupil of St Anne’s and Blessed William Howard schools in Stafford and I have taught in Catholic secondary schools for the last 30 years, gaining an MA in Catholic School Leadership from St Mary’s in Twickenham along the way. I am currently an assistant principal and English teacher with whole school pastoral and communication, language and literacy responsibilities and I believe in helping every child to become the best that they can be. I attend St Austin’s Catholic Church in Stafford, which I serve as both a reader and Eucharistic Minister. I have
worked on governing bodies and Boards of Directors for the past 10 years to support our Catholic schools in their mission to provide every child with
an excellent education and to secure Catholic education for the future. I love reading, travelling and, since lockdown, I have been developing my artistic side through painting and crafting.

Mary Rooke
Holding qualifications in Diagnostic Radiography, Mammography and Counselling, I worked in clinical practice in the NHS and Breast Screening Services. Moving into a clinical educator role, as a Practice Placement Manager, I was responsible for ensuring the consistency and quality of the practice learning experiences available to students across all of the healthcare and medical professions. Joining the Faculty of Health in a Midlands university, I completed a PGCertEd as part of MA study and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As Associate Professor and Faculty Director of Academic Quality, I was involved in several visits to overseas universities to set up franchise/endorsement arrangements.
Upon retirement, I became a Lay Visitor for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, undertaking course approval and monitoring visits to Universities throughout the United Kingdom and Crown dependencies. I was recently invited to join the Professional Conduct Committee of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. A practising Catholic, married for almost fifty years with two children and four grandchildren, I’m an extraordinary minister and lay reader in my local parish and was a foundation
Governor of the parish primary school. I am a member of my parish conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and in addition
to local visiting, I coordinate the school’s Mini Vinnie group. As a young Vincentian development officer, I have visited many schools throughout the Archdiocese to help set up Mini Vinnie groups.
I am also a very committed advocate for Catholic schools. My family benefitted from Catholic education with all the joy, sense of family and security that brings. I hope, in this wonderful new venture, we can offer that to many other families for a long time to come.
 

My name is Ken Wilson and I was Chair of the Board of Directors for Painsley Catholic Academy. I’m married for over 50 years, have 3 children and 8 grandchildren. I enjoy most sports including football, cricket, rugby and in earlier years participated in athletics, squash, swimming, boxing, football, angling & cricket. I also trained in my early years as a musician and attended the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall where I played Bass Trombone, Violin and Bass Fanfare Trumpet. I enjoy music singing Bass in the Church Choir and as Cantor as well as in the past in local / County choirs.I’ve been involved with Catholic Education for more than forty years in various capacities including PTFAs, elected Parent Governor, LGB Foundation Governor, Foundation Director; Chair of the Board of Directors of Holy Trinity Academy, Stafford and Chair of the Board for the past 7 years of The Painsley Catholic Academy, which comprises 16 schools. In this capacity I also Chair sub committees on Standards & Curriculum,
Safeguarding, Catholic Life and am a member of the Resource / Finance committee.
I’m a CATENIAN for over 22 years, past President of Stafford Circle and currently President of Stoke- on-Trent Circle. I am also a member and past Chair of PROBUS. I started a Catholic Scout Troop which I enjoyably led for a number of years until work / travel commitments overtook me.
I studied with the Open University, University of Wolverhampton, Ohio State University, USA and have a B.A. (Hons) in Business and HR. Whilst I’m now retired for many years I was responsible for operations in Russia, Europe, Middle East & Africa in a leadership, technical, quality and manufacturing capacity having also worked prior to that in the UK, Japan and USA.