Tormead School

The School is managed by a Board of Governors. All correspondence to Governors is handled by the Clerk to the Governors, Mr Michael O’Donovan, who is also the Bursar.

Chairman

C.W.M. Herbert Esq., B.Sc. Hons

Vice Chairman

W.T. Gillen Esq., M.A.

Governors

J. Dennis Esq., D.C.A.A.E., A.M.I.M.I., O.B.E.

Miss R Edbrooke, B.Ed (Hons)

Dr W Ewart, B.Sc. PhD, FSB

Mrs R. Harris, B.A., A.C.A.

The Rev. Dr. J.M. Holmes, M.A., Ph.D., Vet.M.B., M.R.C.V.S.

Mr R. Jewkes, Esq, BEng, FIE Aust

Dr. C. Kissin M.B, Ch.B., M.R.C.P., F.R.C.R.

P. O’Keefe Esq. R.I.B.A., M.C.I.O.B. M.I.M.gt.

Dr. J Page, B.Sc., M.B.B.S., M.R.C.P., F.R.C.R., LL.M., M.F.F.L.M.,

D.M. Williams Esq. B.A., F.C.A.

Bursar and Clerk to the Governors

Mr M. O’DONOVAN, B.A. (Canterbury)
modonovan@tormeadschool.org.uk

Chairman

Mr C.W.M. Herbert

Colston has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the Healthcare Sector. He has spent 27 years in the pharmaceutical industry, working on both prescription and over the counter medicines culminating in the position of President of Sterling Health Europe. Since retiring he has held a number of significant Chairmanships both in the private and public sectors.

He was Chairman of the Royal Surrey County Hospital for 7 years, and was also Chair of Gowrings Mobility, a business involved in Wheelchair Accessibility.

Bill Gillen has been a Governor at Tormead since 2003; he is Vice Chairman of Governors and Chairman of the Academic Committee. Educated at the Royal Belfast Academic Institution, Queen’s University Belfast and St Catherine’s College, Cambridge. Bill was appointed as Deputy Headmaster of the Royal Grammar School Guildford in 1980. Two HMC headships followed at the Kings School Tynemouth from 1986 – 1993 and Arnold from 1993 – 2003.

Currently he is a School governor at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Reigate, Chairman of the Association of Representatives of Old Pupils Societies and a Fellow of the Company of Educators. London. His interests include music, drama, sport and travel.

John’s two daughters (and one sister) attended Tormead. He has spent his working life in the vehicle manufacturing business, firstly with Dennis Specialist Vehicles. From 1985 until his retirement in 2005, he was Chairman and Managing Director of John Dennis Coachbuilders which is the largest UK manufacturer of fire engines.

Rowan is the current Headmistress of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon having worked previously at St Margaret’s School, Exeter (Head) and Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls (Deputy Head and Head of Sixth Form). She is an inspector with the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Her interests are sport, music and literature.

Wendy Ewart obtained her BSc in Physiology and Biochemistry at the University of Southampton and PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Bristol.
Dr Ewart was a Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Deputy Director of the Gastrointestinal Science Unit at Queen Mary, University of London. Following a period of time as a senior manager at the Wellcome Trust, from 2003 Dr Ewart was Head of Strategy for the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London. Dr Ewart was a non–executive director on the Board of an acute NHS Hospital Trust for seven years. Since 2008 Dr Ewart has been Director of Strategy for the Medical Research Council, UK.

Rosie has been connected to Tormead School since her daughter joined pre-prep in September 1996. Rosie is a Chartered Accountant who has spent most of her career in the Financial Services industry, predominantly with Prudential where in her last role she was the UK Chief Operating Officer. She is currently the Chief Risk Officer for the Insurance Division of Lloyds Banking Group and works between London, Bristol and Edinburgh.

The Revd Dr Jonathan Holmes joined the Governing Body of Tormead in 1993 and is a Member of the Academic Committee. He is a Fellow, Dean of Chapel, Chaplain and Keeper of the Records at Queens' College in the University of Cambridge. He is a qualified Veterinary Surgeon and, before ordination in the Church of England in 1988, was a Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy at Cambridge. He gained his doctorate through research on cancer in dogs. He still teaches anatomy part-time to veterinary students, and occasionally medical students, at Cambridge as well as his primary duties as Dean. He was brought up in Gloucestershire and is also a Governor of Dean Close School, Cheltenham.

Mr Jewkes joined the Governing Body in 2010. He is Managing Director of Petrofac Energy Developments and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia. His 3 daughters have attended Tormead since arrival in the UK in 2004, and his wife Sally teaches sport and Physical Education at the School

A consultant radiologist in the Guildford area, Dr Kissin also teaches and examines on various postgraduate medical courses run in conjunction with St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London and University of Kingston.

Caroline sits on the Academic Committee as well as the General Council. Her two daughters were both pupils at Tormead from the ages of 5 to 18; one was Head Girl and is now a practising barrister, the younger was Head of House and is currently a medical student.

Peter joined the Governing Body over 10 years ago and has served on the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Peter was educated in Guildford and is a member of The Chartered Institute of Building, The Royal Institute of British Architects and the Chartered Management Institute.

He is the senior partner of a medium sized architectural practice based in West Byfleet which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. He lives in Guildford as do his 3 married children and 8 grandchildren.

Formerly a Consultant Radiologist, Janet also has a degree in Medical Law and currently works as a medico legal advisor for an International Organisation providing professional advice and representation to doctors.

Janet’s daughters are former pupils of the school. 

A Chartered Accountant David retired as director of Bunzl plc in January 2006, he is now non executive director of Dubai based DP World Ltd. and Tullow Oil plc. chairing their audit committees. He is vice chairman of the Rory Peck Trust a charity dedicated to supporting freelance news gatherers worldwide as well as the Co-Chairman of Mondi plc and the senior independent director of Meggitt plc.

Committee Members:

Academic Committee
Mr W Gillen
Mr C Herbert
Revd J Holmes
Dr C Kissin
Mrs R Edbrooke
Dr W Ewart
In Attendance: Headmistress, Bursar, Deputy Head Academic, Head of Junior School

Finance Committee
Mrs R Harris
Mr C Herbert
Mr P O’Keefe
Mr W Gillen
Mr J Dennis
Mr D Williams
Mr R Jewkes
In Attendance: Headmistress, Bursar

Premises Committee
Mr P O'Keefe
Mr C Herbert
Mr J Dennis
Mr W Gillen
Mr R Jewkes
Dr J Page
In Attendance: Headmistress, Bursar, Deputy Head Pastoral, School Administrator