Our Trustees

Philip Mirfin Chair

Philip Mirfin Chair

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I have lived in Wokingham since 1980 with my wife Kathy and our two boys, who are now grown up living abroad with their own children.

Up until 2003, l was very involved with the Scout Association in Wokingham latterly as an Assistant District Commissioner.

For most of my working life l worked in sales and marketing as well as in the latter stages of my career in Customer Service management. Before retiring in 2013 I managed two global business accounts for Hewlett Packard.

From 2003 I was a Town Councillor in Wokingham and served as Mayor of Wokingham Town in 2015/16. I was also a Borough Councillor from 2004, finally stepping down from politics in 2019. Whilst at the Borough Council l headed up the Town Centre Regeneration, was a Non-Exec Director of Optalis and served on the Berkshire Fire Authority. More recently, I served as a Governor of St Paul’s School.

When l initially joined Wade as a Trustee in 2019 l was asked to steer the fund-raising side, with the Friends of Wade. Then early in 2021 l was asked to become Chairman of Trustees at Wade by the Board of Trustees.

The position of Chairman is quite involved so at the end of 2021, l relinquished my additional role as Chairman of the Wokingham Winter Carnival. After 24 years, my last Winter Carnival was in 2022, with Wokingham Lions now taking the reins.

My intentions now are to support our ongoing drive for funding. Funds are needed not only to help with the day-to-day running of the Centre, but to ensure the very fabric of Wade is maintained, repaired and improved for the future.

We are also looking to continue our Wade 150 Club. Our joint Golf Day in partnership with HomeStart Wokingham and hopefully make our Wade Concert an annual event.

Sandy Sweet Vice Chair

Sandy Sweet Vice Chair

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After periods working overseas, my husband and I settled with our two children in Wokingham where we’ve lived for over 30 years.

I started my working life as a lawyer but then trained as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse. I specialised in corporate taxation and became the International Tax Accountant for Avis plc. Later on when our children were settled in school I set up my own Relocation Consultancy which worked well with their various school commitments. When I retired, I applied to the magistracy & served on the Berkshire Bench for several years.

In the meanwhile, my mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease which led me to volunteer with Alzheimer’s Society. I worked with their Fix Dementia Care Team and I’m still involved with their Legacies and Fundraising departments.

I became interested in Wade when I heard they were thinking of extending their day care facilities to people with more advanced dementias. I was so impressed with both the beautiful house & grounds & the dedication of the staff. I’ve sat on the Friends of Wade Committee for over a year and as of 2022 I’m looking forward to serving as a Trustee.

When not busy at home, my husband and I love spending time on the Isle of Wight. I was a keen sailor but I’m usually an enthusiastic spectator these days!

Carol Barnes Trustee

Carol Barnes Trustee

Chris Barnes Trustee

Chris Barnes Trustee

Margaret Campbell-White Trustee

Margaret Campbell-White Trustee

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Margaret has been managing and renovating listed buildings for 50 years and was on Winchester City Council for 4 years, Winchester Community Health Council for 12 years and a Trustee of Winchester Abbeyfield Society for 25 years managing and supervising the upgrading of their two homes.

Since moving to Wokingham 10 years ago to be near family she has worked with Wokingham Healthwatch, Building Berkshire Together and with Inner Wheel has done the cake stalls at fundraising functions and when Inner Wheel closed a few years ago, decided to become more involved with WADE as a Trustee in 2021.

David Lee Trustee

David Lee Trustee

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I’m married to Jean, a retired special needs teacher, with three grown up children and six grandchildren.

After leaving university in 1977 I qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1980.

Before going to university I served as a navigating officer in the Merchant Navy for seven years.

As an accountant I worked in London on company reconstructions and Stock Exchange work. My other positions were as corporate banker with NatWest’s Ulster Investment Bank, Chevron Oil as a contract accountant on North Sea Platform projects. I have also owned and run a printing company in Maidenhead. I am currently working as a part-time owner and director for Demand Technology Ltd an engineering company.

While living and working in Ulster I set up the Northern Ireland Speech Impaired charity for children with speech problems; the National Aphasia Association did not at that time exist in Northern Ireland.

I was previously the Leader of the Wokingham Borough Council for six years. I was involved with the establishment of the Councils Housing Companies and Optalis Limited and the regeneration of the Town Centre. During my time on the Council I worked with Bob Wyatt in establishing the Link Visiting Scheme in conjunction with Woodley Baptist Church.

My other charitable interests include: previously a board member of the Berkshire Ambulance Trust taking the authority into trust status; a Wokingham Scout Leader for 15 years; the Honorary Treasurer for St John Ambulance in Woodley for a number of years.

I first became involved with Wade in 2019 having previously been involved on the edges through my council work, I was appointed as a trustee at the November 2019 AGM.

Leigh Slocombe Trustee

Leigh Slocombe Trustee

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I have over 25 years of experience in the voluntary sector, working in fundraising roles for national charities such as St John Ambulance, the Samaritans and the Brain and Spine Foundation before serving as Chief Executive of Epilepsy Research UK for 15 years. I subsequently moved into the care sector, working for a company specialising in 24/7 live-in care, before returning to consultancy work in the voluntary sector.

I am a member of Wokingham Dementia Action Alliance and also a trustee of Outside In World, a small charity dedicated to promoting world literature and children's books in translation.

I have lived in Winnersh since 2003 and became aware of the great work done by Wade whilst working in the local care sector. I became a trustee in 2019 bringing my dementia, care for the elderly, and fundraising experience to the charity.

Jackie Wilson Trustee

Jackie Wilson Trustee

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I was born in Reading, and I lived in Wokingham until 1945 when I moved to Kent. But I wasn’t away for long, and in 1956 I moved back to Wokingham with my parents who were local business people. And I’ve lived here ever since.

I have three children and three grandchildren. After bringing up the children I worked for a number of local firms, and for the final 16 years prior to retirement as Commercial/Legal Manager for Granada Computer Services.

In 2004 I became a part time secretary for Wade for 6 years. I was impressed by the work the charity did, and went on to become a volunteer Fundraiser and Trustee in 2013 brining my experience in legal and personnel work. In 2017 I was appointed as Chairman, and Vice Chairman in 2020.

My other charity work includes fundraising for Air Ambulance and Alexander Devine Trust.

Louise Wingfield Trustee

Louise Wingfield Trustee

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Having lived in and around the home counties all my life, ten years ago I settled in Wokingham with my husband Craig and two daughters. My career has been built over 30 years in specialist marketing roles for global software companies supplying FTSE 100 organisations.

I started volunteering at Wade in the Day Centre in 2018, and I was struck by the team's passion for everything they do - be it the way they care for our members through to the fundraising events. I was delighted to be asked to join the team as a trustee in 2021 and hope I can transfer some of my marketing skills to help raise awareness about the wonderful work Wade does for our community.

My other charity work includes wood clearing for the National Trust and seasonal volunteering for various local children's charities.

When I'm not working, I can be found cooking, in our garden or enjoying a long walk!

Lucy Zeal Patron

Lucy Zeal Patron

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I am honoured to be Patron of Wade, a post I've held since January 2021. My mother was Patron before me and, with her, I attended many Wade events and got to know the wonderful work offered by the Day Care Centre. Wade offers a vital service to elderly people in the town and is something that I feel strongly about.

I have been High Steward of Wokingham since 2018, and was High Sheriff of Berkshire 2019-20 and am also a Deputy Lieutenant of the County. I mentor young people with two local charities (Browns Community Services and Mustard Tree) and am a trustee of Berkshire Historic Churches Trust and Patron of the All Saints Church in Wokingham’s ‘spaceforall’ fundraising programme. Being involved in the community is really important to me, from young people starting out in life to older people sharing their years of life experiences.

From a personal perspective, I'm Berkshire born and bred, and have lived in the Wokingham area most of my life. I'm married to Chris and we have four grown-up children. My husband and I manage our family farming business, and prior to this I worked in global event production.