The Howard De Walden Centre is run by a group of dedicated Trustees for the benefit of the Maidstone community.
Patron
The Archbishop of Canterbury
The current Trustees are:
Darren Jumnoodoo
Darren is the Chair of the Trustees.
Darren is Head of Enterprise Architecture for a Microsoft Partner implementing enterprise level technology solutions.
He has been associated with the Howard De Walden Centre since 1987 where he has practised various Martial Arts. He is the Chief Instructor to his own group (TKMA) which is based at the Centre and runs 2 nights per week with other clubs in Kent and London.
He is involved in other charitable work in the local area.
Mike FitzGerald MBE
Mike is the Vice Chair.
Mike was a Craft Bookbinder and Teacher working at both the Maidstone College of Art and the Kent Adult Education Service. He has spent a ‘lifetime’ supporting local charities and working with the community to help all people young and old. He was the Mayor of Maidstone in 2006-07.
Mike is more famous for his 50+ years of organising The World Custard Pie Championship which continue to provide fun and a great day out for the family.
Bill Cockcroft
Bill was a Senior Partner of a Quantity Surveying Practice and the former Chief Commissioner of England for the Scout Association, and Camp Chief for the 2007 Centenary World Scout Jamboree in the UK with 40,000 Scouts from 200 countries.
Bill is a Deputy Lieutenant in Kent. He is involved with several local charities in Maidstone and Kent. He loves sailing, boats and the sea. Bill is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
Jeevitha Sampangi
I am Jeevitha Sampangi, and lived in Grove Green, Maidstone for 5 years, I coordinate Various Local Community, Maidstone Indian Associations and Gurukul Arts and Dance Academy Maidstone and include cultural groups, which I lead.
I work locally for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and a Trustee for couple of charity organisations: the Howard de Walden Community Centre, Maidstone, and The Relief in Need Charity, Maidstone.
I have two children who study at local schools in Grove Green, while my husband works in the healthcare industry locally. I am strong local community supporter, taking time to listen to people’s concerns and issues and building networks that help people connect and provide opportunities a for food and culture.
I will bring my expertise in leadership, financial management, strategy planning and ideas & enthusiasm for further developments of the centre by supporting local community.
Lauren Proctor
Lauren is a Director of Pink Elephants Nursery and a previous secondary School teacher. She is passionate about quality education for all, and collaborative working with families. Lauren is proud to be a trustee of such a fantastic facility which holds so many clubs and opportunities for the local community. The more opportunities we can create the more positive experiences people get the chance to have. The spirit of Howard De Walden is something that is so desperately needed in this challenging world.
Councillor Clive English, Maidstone Borough Council
Clive is a retired Royal Mail employee and has been a Borough Councillor since 1994, representing High Street Ward. He is currently Deputy Leader of the Council.
A keen Conservationist he has co-founded a number of Local Nature Reserves and has been actively involved in many local charities, including the Cutbush and Corrall Almshouses, Community Rail Partnership, Collis Millenium Green and the Hayle Park Nature reserve amongst others.
He is also a member of Detling Bearsted and Boxley Parish Councils.
Plus:
- Fiona Pender, Space 2 Be Me
Are you interested in becoming a Trustee? If you are, please get in touch with our Chair.
Other important contacts
The Clerk to the Trustees and Booking Administrator
The Clerk to the Trustees is Jane Clarke. Jane is the person to contact for all booking and general enquiries.
The Centre Manager
The Centre Manager is Cllr David Naghi. David is available for emergencies during bookings.
David was raised in Maidstone and attended local schools.
He has been a Maidstone Borough Councillor for some 16 years and was the Mayor of Maidstone (2018 – 2019)
For many years he ran the Youth Club at Howard de Walden and runs his own business.
Howard De Walden Community Centre 