Members of the Board are elected annually at the AGM but may be co-opted throughout the year.

The members of the Board elected at the Friends AGM on the 9th of September 2026 are

Willy Goldschmidt

President

Elected to the Board 2013

Willy first served as The Friends Communications Lead and is a member of the Financial Strategy Group. He was Chair of the Charity between 2016 and 2021.

When COVID lockdown was eased he lead the restoration of Volunteer services and recruitment for the Charity.

After retiring from a career as a senior manager in the textile, transport and IT industries, Willy spent 2 years as a Non-exec Director of the George Elliot Hospital.

His motivation in joining the Friends is to give back to the Trust which supported him and his late wife during periods of poor health. He is also a Research Champion for the UHCW Trust.

Garth Murphy

Chair 

Brian Cheney

Treasurer

Elected to the Board 2022

Brian has served as Treasurer and as a member of the Financial Strategy Group since joining the Board as a Trustee in October 2022

Since qualifying as a Chartered Cost and Management Accountant in 1988, Brian has had an extensive career in finance, having worked for many years in the engineering, automotive and education sectors.

In addition to his role as a Trustee of The Friends, Brian has been a school governor in Rugby for over 25 years. He is currently Vice Chair of Governors at the Avon Valley School in Newbold on Avon.

Brian has lived in Rugby for his entire life.

Hilary Parry

Secretary 

Elected to the Board 2025

Hilary spent a number of years growing up in Rugby and has retained links to the town whilst working and living in other parts of the Midlands.

She has recently retired from managing her own business and a long career in Customer Operations, primarily in the Energy Sector.

Having been involved in volunteering activities during COVID and seeing at first hand the positive impact volunteers make in the NHS, Hilary welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the invaluable work undertaken by The Friends.

Adele Bull

Governance Support

Elected to the Board 2025

Recently retired qualified School Business Manager with a background in Finance and Admin management in business and education. Lived in Rugby since childhood.

A volunteer member of the social fundraising team since 2022. 

Dan Ibeziako 

Communications Lead

Elected to the Board 2026

Dan has been involved in communications and marketing throughout his working life. Latterly, he spent more than 16 years as a senior communications and engagement lead in the NHS, including across Coventry and Warwickshire. 

His previous roles have seen him win a number of national accolades, and as a Charted member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) he brings considerable experience and professional expertise to his role with the Friends. 

A Rugby resident for ten years, he is passionate about championing the patient voice. Dan is keen to continue his longstanding connection with the NHS through his work with the Friends.

Elizabeth Burnett

Volunteer Support

Elected to the Board 2020

Elizabeth has enjoyed being a volunteer at St Cross since 2018. She is the Service Coordinator for the Ward Trolley Service and the Tea Bar.    

She has lived in Rugby for over 50 years but was born and raised in Newcastle on Tyne.  She was a primary School teacher in Rugby and Coventry for over forty years and was a Head Teacher in Coventry for 23 years before retiring.  

Doug Jones

Governance Lead

Elected to the Board 2018

Doug has served as the Governance Lead and as a member of the Financial Strategy Group since becoming a Trustee. He was elected as Chair at the 2021 AGM and stands down from the Chair in September 2025.

He has an extensive background across both Private and Public Sector bodies at a senior level with a wide range of experience within Retail Banking and Local Government.

Doug and family moved to Rugby in 1995 and he and his wife have been actively involved with the Charity as volunteers within the Social Fundraising Committee for a number of years and have been supporters for in excess of 20 years.

Tracey Lennard

Social Fundraising Lead

Elected to the Board 1999

Tracey was born and grew up in Rugby. She is part of a large family that was looked after on many occasions by the Hospital of St Cross.

She was persuaded to join the board of trustees by her former school teacher and one of the charities former trustees Isabel Liddle.

Tracey leads the Social Fundraising Team and has a wealth of experience in organising and running very successful social fundraising events. She is also a strong advocate of the hospital, working tirelessly to raise the profile of St Cross.

Gita Natarajan BEM

Community Fund Raising

Elected to the Board 2023

Gita is a highly experienced project manager and specialises in social engineering/innovation, community cohesion and volunteer management. She has worked alongside Rugby Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council and The Benn Partnership Centre for over 20 years to help regenerate various deprived council wards in Rugby and transformed them into productive, thriving, cohesive and resilient communities.

During COVID she managed the Locke House Vaccination Centre, leading a team of over 80 healthcare professionals and 120 volunteers to deliver a regional record of more than 160,000 vaccinations.

Gita is currently working as the Transformation Project Manager with the Rugby Primary Care Network, leading on the management and delivery of Enhanced Access to GP Services with a focus on addressing health inequalities across the region.

Collette O’Connor

Elected to the Board 2024

Collette has a strong interest in helping the marginalised and the vulnerable in our community

and helps to oversee our Befriending Scheme, which The Friends offers all year round.

Collette has previously worked in Private Practice as a Solicitor, has extensive experience in the Third Sector and currently sits on a number of Boards.

She joined The Friends as she has a strong interest in healthcare and wanted to help with the important work that The Friends undertake.

Supriya Pattanayak

Communications Support

Elected to the Board 2025

Supriya brings many years of experience from a career in the IT industry, with expertise in delivering strategic, value-driven solutions for customers across North Europe.

She has lived in Warwickshire for the last 17 years and is passionate about supporting and making a difference in the local community. She is committed to helping the Friends and aims to contribute towards a practical and forward-looking approach to the charity’s work, with a particular focus on amplifying awareness through an enhanced social media presence and communication.

Stephen Walshaw

Purchasing Lead

Elected to the Board 2019

Stephen has served as the Purchasing Lead since becoming a Trustee and more recently became a member of the Financial Strategy Group.

Now retired, he has an extensive background in Energy Procurement and Infrastructure Projects, across both Private and ex-Public Industries.    

Stephen and family moved to the area in 1990, he and his wife have been actively involved with charitable activities from before that time. He joined the Friends through the Daily Mail’s Helpforce Campaign, to help staff and patients by making a difference in local healthcare.

The Friends are delighted to recognise some of our supporters on this page.

The President of the Rotary Club of Rugby Breakfast has kindly nominated The Friends as one of the Club's charities for 2025 / 26.

The Trustees would also like to thank the businesses listed below who have offered to support The Friends by sharing information about us for no charge.

The Charity has not used these businesses services and so cannot endorse the services that they provide.

Belvedere Wills and Estate Planning kindly created and donated a video introduction to the Friends of St Cross which can be viewed on this link and have also offered to share information about the Friends with their clients.  The services they offer to clients are to "Secure your legacy with our trusted will writing services, designed to make planning for the future simple and stress-free. We provide clear, professional, and cost-effective solutions to help you create a legally constructed will that protects your loved ones and your wishes."

Fiesta Farewell have kindly offered to share information about the Friends with their clients on their website.

Our team of Service Co-ordinators organise the rotas for the various services that Friends Volunteers deliver in the hospital.  They are key links between the trustees, hospital managers and our 200 volunteers.

Bob Tooze

Chair of the Service Co-ordinator meetings 

Hospital Admin and Mealtime Companion Service Co-ordinator

I am a retired manager for an electrical engineering company and have been a Friends of St Cross Hospital volunteer for 5 years.

The Hospital Admin volunteers carry out duties that are many and varied in numerous departments throughout the hospital, with tasks ranging from handling paperwork and manning telephones to running errands and undertaking patient surveys, plus much more.

Mealtime Companions volunteer in the three inpatient wards, serving food to mainly elderly patients, encouraging them to eat, and assisting them when required.

Alan Turner

Deputy Chair of the Service Co-ordinator meetings

Meet and Greet Services Co-ordinator 

Volunteering since August 2020

The Services are well received by patients/visitors and staff. Volunteers are based at the main entrances to the hospital at the start of the patient/visitor journey. By welcoming people into the hospital with a smile, volunteers aim to give a good first impression before using their knowledge to provide appropriate reassurance and assistance and, if required, a friendly escort to correct destinations on the site. Importantly, the volunteers work in partnership with reception, clinical, and other staff to enhance the overall service provided.

Jane Edgeoch

Bingo Service Co-otdinator

The Bingo Volunteer Team at Hospital St Cross is more than just a group of helpers — we’re a small community of friendly faces who enjoy bringing moments of joy to patients each week. Our bingo sessions create opportunities for laughter, light-hearted competition, and genuine connection in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Whether we’re setting up the games, chatting with patients, or finding the perfect bingo prizes, we ensure everyone feels included and able to take part.

For us, volunteering is about more than running a game; it’s about offering companionship, kindness, and a sense of normality when patients need it most. Every smile, shared joke, and enthusiastic “Bingo!” reminds us why we do what we do — to make a real, heartfelt difference in someone’s day.

Pauline Masterman

Books Sales team co-ordinator

I have been volunteering for the Friends of St Cross for over 10 years.  I started assisting with admin work and then took over as Co-Ordinator for the Second Hand Books and Jigsaws Sales with a small team to help me.

Though not a  large money spinner, all the proceeds go towards purchasing equipment for the hospital.

It is good volunteering for an organisation that appreciates your help.

Jane Guthrie

Database Admin

I am a Volunteer Administrator supporting the Service Co-ordinators by maintaining the Friends’ database.  This includes the inputting of volunteer attendances from the weekly signing-in sheets, producing monthly attendance reports and ensuring the volunteer records are up-to-date.

I have been a volunteer for five years and am also part of the Phlebotomy Meet & Greet Team.

Marie Guyett

Holding Hands in theatre and Meet and Greet X-Ray Service Co-ordinator

I joined in February 2019 as a Meet and Greet volunteer in the Out Patients Department working one day per week, during Covid I continued to volunteer and sewed PPE garments daily.  Since then, I've had various other roles such as serving in the tea bar, helping with the Ward Trolley service, and maintaining the garden troughs outside the Diabetic clinic as necessary and packing envelopes in the Bowel screening unit.

I was also the Service Co-ordinator in the Maple Unit for its startup and had several weekly shifts there. These days I support the library once per month, and I'm currently Service Co-ordinator for the x-ray department and do a weekly shift there, I am also the coordinator for Holding Hands in the theatre for cataract operations, again on a weekly basis.

In addition to giving guidance to volunteers for my departments I have also given induction talks for the new volunteers.

Lizzy Howes

Maple Unit Service Co-ordinator

I joined the volunteers after retiring from teaching, wanting to make a worthwhile contribution within the NHS, where I had received such wonderful care some years ago. 

The Maple unit delivers chemotherapy treatment as well as blood transfusions and other blood services. As volunteers, our main tasks are to prepare drinks and lunches for patients, chatting with them and listening to them, above all with a caring and supportive manner. We also try to do the same for anyone who is accompanying a patient having treatment. It is extremely rewarding, and we are made to feel very welcome by the Maple Unit clinical team. 

Collette O’Connor

Patient Visiting and Keep Active Service Co-ordinator

Patient Visiting is a service run by volunteers, who kindly give their time to offer support and connection to people who are in hospital, this is often a very difficult time for patients and we endeavour to bring a positive experience to brighten their day. 

It’s a good experience for volunteers too, who advise us that they feel that they make a real difference and really enjoy the time they give to the service. 

Alison Chmpken-Woods

Phlebotomy Meet and Greet Service Co-ordinator

I worked for the Health Service for 46 years and qualified as a nurse in 1976. During my career In the Health Service, I predominantly worked across Critical Care and Theatres in a variety of roles both clinical and managerial within the public and private sectors.

I have worked across a number of large NHS Trusts across the country, predominantly in the south of England.

In the year 2000 I worked on a number of national projects including Access, Booking and Choice, Cancelled Operations, Surgical Care/Anaesthetic Practitioners, Priority Treatment lists with a focus on service delivery.

Since retirement in 2012, I was employed to review services across a number of Trusts in London and the south of England. I was also the Chair of Trustees for a charity for older people within Thame in South Oxfordshire and set up a dementia café in 2021.

I moved to Dunchurch in 2025 to be closer to family and earlier this year I joined the volunteers at St. Cross on Meet and Greet. I was made very welcome by the team of volunteers at St. Cross and it is evident by the comments from patients that St. Cross is a service  that is held in high regard by everyone. I am pleased that I am able to contribute to the service.

I have also become a trustee for the Hoskyn Centre in Rugby.

Michael Borg

Receipts & Distribution Service Co-ordinator

I was born in the Black Country and spent the first 40 years of my life in that area. My career was in banking and as a Finance Director in a large firm of solicitors in Warwickshire. It was my banking job that saw me move to Rugby in 1992 when I was appointed as a local business manager and have remained here since. 

I have been retired for 8 years and spend a little of that time as a volunteer in the Receipts and Distributions Office.

I joined the Friends of St Cross about 5 years ago as I was keen to undertake some form of voluntary work. Being in Receipts and Distribution is probably less high profile than some of the other volunteer groups within the hospital, but nonetheless, I still feel that I am making a valuable contribution to the running of the hospital.

Elizabeth Burnett

Tea Bar & Ward Trolley Services Co-ordinator

We are two teams who work closely together as we share the same base and stock.  Therefore, it it’s important that we all get on and support each other. 

The Tea Bar team provide hot and cold drinks and a variety of sweet and savoury snacks for patients and visitors.  They ably assist those who require help and are happy to chat or listen to patients and their relatives. 

The Ward Trolley service provides cold drinks and a variety of snacks.  They visit every department in the hospital and are welcomed by patients, visitors and staff. 

Annette Turner

Volunteer Recruitment Administrator

I am a retired Civil Servant and joined the Friends Team about 2 years ago, mainly doing Meet and Greet Volunteering.  

I also took on the role of Volunteer Administrator for the Friends almost 1 year ago.

I love crafting and am part of a crafting group who make blankets for the patients and cards to sell in the Tea Bar.