Committee
Chairman
Jean Chudleigh
Jean has lived in Purley for over 40 years and has been involved in many aspects of village life. She was Barn Manager for several years and was active in developing the barn into the valuable community asset which it is today. Needless to say the barn is close to her heart.
She was co-founder of the Village Drama Group, Purley Players, and has also been a member of Thames Vale Singers for over 10 years where she has also played an active role.
Jean was part of the Steering Committee which organised the extensive celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and, more recently, organised events to commemorate the Queen’s 90th Birthday.
Secretary
Pam Beddoes
Pam was brought up in West Wales, graduated from the University of London and moved to Purley 38 years ago, where her three daughters attended Westwood Farm Primary and Denefield schools.
Recently retired, she is a member of Purley on Thames Parish Council, actively working on Planning, Barn and Recreation committees, with responsibility for Villager of the Year; Currently she is the Chair of the Parish Barn committee. Additionally she is also secretary of Friends of Purley Barn, a committee member of Project Purley and a member of Purley Players.
Treasurer
Angela Grindley
I lived in Kent/London most of my life but moved to Purley nearly 6 years ago to be near my daughter and 3 grandchildren and it was the best decision. A lovely change from the Legal Profession I left behind. I have two boys as well, one in London and the other in Rome both of whom had baby boys last year. I play badminton and a lot of Bridge – I am on the committee of the Barn Bridge Club and ran the successful bridge drive last year. I am an enthusiastic cyclist and can be seen everywhere on my electric bike helping me up those Purley hills.
Ordinary Member
Catherine Sampson
As a resident of Purley for around 24 years, chairman of Project Purley, and a member of Purley Players, Catherine has enjoyed many events and activities in the Barn. She believes that ensuring our historic Barn remains a viable asset for the village, is one of the best ways of protecting its long term future, whilst also helping the community to continue to thrive and develop.
Catherine was a member of the second Village Plan steering group, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee committee and the Armistice Centenary Commemorations working group, and over the years has been involved with a wide range of village events at venues across the village. She is also a keen social historian and photographer.
Ordinary Member
Debbie Mackay
Debbie has lived in the Purley/Tilehurst borders for 20 years. Her children attended Purley Infants and Long Lane Schools, where she was Chair of PTA and Parent Governor. Debbie works at Purley Park Trust, as the Learning and Development Manager. She is a regular user of the Barn, as a venue for staff training, and has a keen interest in encouraging the development of inclusive social interaction within the local community, that benefits all members of that community.
Ordinary Member
Suzanne Stout
Suzanne was born and bred in Twickenham and moved to Tilehurst and then Purley, 30 years ago. In Scouting since the age of 15, she has overseen the merger of the local two Scout Groups to form 1st Purley and Pangbourne Scout Group in 2001. The Barn has been fundamental to the operation of the Group and remains key to its growing success with 5 out of the Group’s 8 Sections meeting there! Suzanne continues as the Group Scout Leader.
Locally, Suzanne has previously been Chairman of Purley Pre-school and involved with the original Village Plan and both the Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Purley. In the rest of her spare time, she will be found walking the dog or playing walking football!
Ordinary Member
Bernie Nix
After a life in IT, Bernie moved to Purley in 1995 and became a Parish Councillor upon retirement in 2009. In his time on the Parish Council he served as Chair of the Highways and Footpaths committee and as the Chair of the Parish Barn committee.
Until recently, he was the Purley Flood Warden Co-ordinator , and is still a member of the Purley Flood Defense Group committee. Bernie’s hobbies are mainly of a nautical nature, renovating classic motor launches and cruising the Thames.