The Howard De Walden Centre is run by a group of dedicated Trustees for the benefit of the Maidstone community.
Patron
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
When I became Archbishop in 2013, indeed it was not the only title I gained. I am very fortunate to hold visitor, president and patron roles with around 130 organisations. I inherited many roles of course, with some relationships dating back hundreds of years with my predecessors. It is a privilege to continue to hold these offices with such history. Equally there are newer relationships which have been formed over the last seven years, many of which align with my personal priorities.
I am personally honoured to be involved with such a wide range of organisations which are carrying out invaluable work across many different areas such as education, the alleviation of poverty, and within the Church of England. I hope this pack is useful in explaining my role and how I can best serve you within your organisation. I look forward to continuing to work with you.
The current Trustees are:
Mike FitzGerald MBE (Chair)
Mike is the Chair of the Trustees.
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.
Ian Paterson (Vice Chairman)
Ian was Articled to Town Clerk of Darlington and qualified as a Solicitor in 1964. He was become the Deputy Town Clerk at Gillingham in 1967 and qualified as a Legal Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 1968.
He worked as the Chief Executive of Dover District Council from 1972 to 1977 before becoming a Regional Solicitor for the West Midlands Regional Health Authority in 1977.
Ian is now retired and became a Trustee of the Howard de Walden Centre in 2003.
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.
Ian Chittenden
Ian has lived with his wife in Maidstone for 40 years. Both his children, now grown up and married, attended the Howard de Walden Play group and later went to local schools. He was involved for many years with the Parents Association at Eastborough School and later at Maidstone Grammar School.
Ian retired after 40 years in Senior Management in the Construction industry. He was a Borough Councillor for 10 years and has been our local County Councillor for the last 13 years.
Ian has been a Trustee with Howard de Walden for more than 10 years.
Ian is a County Councillor for Kent County Council’s Maidstone North East Division.
Martin Cox
Martin has lived in Maidstone all his life and has been self employed for the past 34 years. A Rotarian since 2007 and before that in Round Table, Martin currently runs a print, design and multimedia business from his shop just off the Sutton Road. He has 2 children, a daughter and a son.
Martin is a Borough Councillor for Maidstone Borough Council’s East Ward.
On the Council Martin has sat on the Planning Committee and most of the other committees. Martin is proud of all the work he has done so far, as well as being the third generation of Councillors in his family – both his father Paul Cox and grandfather Percy Barden were councillors in the 1960’s.
Martin became a Trustee of the Howard de Walden Centre in 2011.
Plus:
- Fiona Pender, Space 2 Be Me
- Lauren Proctor/Becky Love, Pink Elephants
- Councillor Clive English, Maidstone Borough Council
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 