KEY PEOPLE
Rachel Gilpin Assoc CIPD
Chief Executive
Rachel has been Estuary’s Chief Executive since 2004. With a background in retail banking and business management, Rachel has overseen a period of incremental growth which has meant that the charity can mobilise more local volunteers & staff enabling the charity to reach more beneficiaries year-on-year. Rachel led the major capital development to raise £1.87m to build the popular Topsham based community hub, Nancy Potter House, which opened to the public in 2018. Rachel is also Company Secretary for Estuary’s Registered Charity and the Community Hub CIC.
Laura Gale
Premises Manager
Laura manages Nancy Potter House, our Topsham based community hub, and our charity shops. She manages room bookings for the hub, is point of contact with contractors and trades for the hub and charity shops, and leads on marketing and social media for the charity.
Sarah Russell
Activities & Volunteer Co-ordinator
Sarah oversees the day-to-day activities within the Hub at the Nancy Potter House, introducing and running groups for all ages and needs; providing support in promoting and enhancing individuals’ social, mental, and physical wellbeing.
Lorraine Mortimer
Office Administrator
Lorraine assists in every aspect of the day-to-day running of our services and is often the first point of contact for clients, their families and carers.
Marilyn Ramsden B. Pharm Hons
Chair
Marilyn is a retired Pharmaceutical Adviser and Chief Pharmacist living in Topsham. During her career, she set up the first pharmacy in a health centre in Devon, was the first Pharmaceutical Adviser and Director of the first Cardiac Network in the Peninsula tasked with improving the quality and timeliness of cardiac services. She brings her extensive leadership skills, knowledge of the health and social care environment and local knowledge to her role as the Chair of Estuary’s Community Hub, Nancy Potter House
Wyn Davies, FCA
Honorary Treasurer
Wyn is an experienced Financial Controller and Managing Director, now retired. Wyn brings extensive experience of financial management, accounting and leadership to the Board.
Rebecca Gliddon
Secretary
Rebecca is an experienced senior lawyer at the Environment Agency. Before joining the Board, Rebecca led on all aspects of the legal administration of the charity’s Community Hub development to build Nancy Potter House as part of her previous role at Ashfords Solicitors.
Mrs Pamela Diffey MA, JP
Pamela is a retired teacher with a specialism in special needs, who was involved in the standardisation of examination results in her role as a Senior Examiner for the AQA Examination Board. Pamela has also been a Magistrate in the Family Court, a Local Authority Advocate for children with special needs, Chair of a Charitable Trust, and is currently Chair of her local Village Hall and an Elder of her local Church.
Iain Crombie
Vice Chair
Iain is a Chiropractor with his own Topsham based healthcare practice, Harbour Chiropractic & Physiotherapy. As a chiropractor, Iain is a Fellow of The Royal College of Chiropractors Sports Faculty. He is currently a part of the Somerset County Cricket Club medical team and has previously worked with the likes of the New Zealand All Blacks, Southampton & Bristol Rovers Football Clubs, and Great Britain Paralympic and winter Olympic athletes. Iain joined the board of The Estuary Community Hub CIC in 2017 and the charity board in 2020. He lives locally in Topsham with his young family.
Maddy Jevon
Maddy has a background in supporting vulnerable adults, including older people, to overcome challenges. After qualifying as a clinical psychologist in the early 1990s, her varied roles have included developing an NHS Psychological Therapies Service for Somerset and liaising with care providers, GPs and nurses in and around East Devon to ensure adults with complex needs get the support they need. Maddy joined the Board in 2022, she also volunteers for Topsham Museum, creates art and is a keen tap dancer.
Peter Tosh
Peter of Peter Tosh Opticians in Topsham joined the Board in 2022. Through his practice, Peter is in daily contact with the local people served by Estuary and is in tune with local need. Peter brings feedback from the community into discussions and planning at board level.
Anna Smith
Anna is the newest member to the board joined in 2023. With an immense background in Pharmacy over the years along with being a member to other committees in East Devon, Anna brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board. Married with two children, Anna enjoys her down time walking, cycling, gardening, playing Tennis and Golf and anything else involving hitting a ball !
The Estuary Community Hub CIC (registration number 09333118) was established in 2014 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of registered charity The Estuary League of Friends.
Ian Garcia
Chair of CIC
Ian's background is as a professional marketer and successful entrepreneur. After moving to Topsham in 2005, Ian continued to provide specialist marketing and construction services before co-founding local estate agency, East of Exe. Ian brings marketing skills and building expertise to the board.
Sue Wilkinson
Secretary
Sue brings legal expertise and local knowledge to the Board. Sue was called to the bar after graduating and her career has included applying the law for a leading retailer and for the Department of Employment and Productivity. After which, she became a Lecturer in law. Sue moved to Topsham in 2002. She has been Secretary to the Topsham Community Association and on the board of registered charity, The Estuary League of Friends. She is also a Trustee of Topsham Museum.
Cllr Andrew Leadbetter
Andrew has been County Councillor for Topsham and St Loyes since 1997 and is one of the City Councillors for Topsham. Before joining the Board, he was a Trustee of our charity The Estuary League of Friends between 2012 and 2019 and joined the CIC Board in 2019.
Rachel Gilpin Assoc CIPD
Company Secretary
Rachel is Company Secretary for The Estuary Community Hub CIC. She led the major capital development to raise £1.87m to build the Topsham based community hub, Nancy Potter House, and is Chief Executive of The Estuary League of Friends.