Our Trustees

Emma Lochhead. Chair
Emma is former HR Director for Government Communication in the Cabinet Office, as well as Director of HR and Planning for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity. Since moving permanently to Emsworth a few years ago, she is now Chair (as of September 2024) of the Aldingbourne Trust, Vice Chair for CancerWise in Chichester and formerly sat on the Risk and Audit Committee for Pallant House Gallery. 

Alistair Bath
Has a son who is supported by the Trust. Career railwayman becoming Deputy Director of Operations, British Railways Board, before retiring as Director of Operations, Eurostar. Subsequently undertook consultancy work as Associate Director, Halcrow for 3 years before working part-time in the travel industry for 16 years. Now fully retired.

John Dixon OBE
Former Director of Adults’ and Children’s Services in West Sussex and also Warwickshire, and President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. Heavily involved in the development of personalisation both locally and nationally. Now works on a voluntary basis as a Director of several third sector organisations.

David Godsmark
Owner of a local glasshouse nursery. Former chairman of FARGRO Ltd. A horticultural Distribution company. Former Chairman of Governors West Sussex College of Agriculture. Director of a Horticulture Consultancy providing training and consultancy in the sector. David has lived locally all his life and has three adult children.

David Hilditch
Retired after 32 years with NatWest as Senior Business Manager.  Further experience includes working with a building contractor, a residential lettings agency and a nationwide property management company thus gaining valuable knowledge of those sectors.  David has worked with Aldingbourne Trust for approaching 23 years originally as a volunteer residents’ advocate.  His brother, Stephen, who has now sadly passed away had Downs Syndrome.  A Past President of The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour, he remains an active and committed member.

Paula James
Is a solicitor with Irwin Mitchell, specialising in resolving will trust and estate disputes and contentious issues affecting the elderly and vulnerable in our community.  Paula is Regional Managing Partner of Irwin Mitchell’s Chichester office.  Paula has a grown up son and daughter and lives locally with her architect husband.

John Pitts
Owner and CEO of The Woodhorn Group - a family run Farming, Waste Management and Property business based near Chichester in West Sussex since 1882. Director of The Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative, the largest cooperative of Organic farmers in the UK.

Nick Rowe
Nick is a qualified Chartered Accountant, formerly at KPMG and Saffery Champness. Currently he is a Senior Investment Director at wealth manager, Rathbones with responsibility for private clients, charities, family trusts and pensions. Nick has three grown up children and lives near Salisbury.

Frances Russell
Formerly Chief Executive of Sussex Weald and Downs NHS Trust Frances took early retirement in 2002. Following her retirement Frances has volunteered as a Trustee with a number of local organisations having a particular interest in providing leadership and management support. She has a god daughter with a learning disability and is passionate about supporting people with a learning disability to achieve their full potential.

Rachael Tout
Senior marketing, retail and fundraising professional, having worked in consumer and charity marketing for 15+ years, plus lectured in marketing at University of Chichester and Chichester College. Currently Director of Income Generation at St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Bosham. Rachael has lived in Chichester for 20 years and has two young daughters. 

Jackie Williscroft
Former chair of Fordwater PTA, Committee member of Concern for Life, a Chichester based children’s charity, and former committee member of Save the Children, Face to Face, a Mencap/Scope befriending service for parents of children recently diagnosed with learning disabilities and West Sussex Best Value Review of Social Services. Having worked in languages and property, I live locally and have a large family including an adult son with learning and physical disabilities.

Des Wynne
Retired Chartered Surveyor with particular expertise in large commercial and residential development projects, including valuation, land acquisition, planning, development and investment. Most recently a director at A C Lloyd Holdings, and previously directorship roles at Severn Trent Property and Land Securities. Acted as a Trustee for L’Arche London for 10 years prior to relocating from London to the Midlands in 2004. Moved to Chichester two years ago following retirement.