Our Present Trustees

Dr Mike Matthews, Chairman

I live in Harrogate, Yorkshire where I served as a clinical assistant in Accident and Emergency at Harrogate Hospital and worked for many years as General Practitioner, but am now enjoying being retired which gives me more time for my various community activities. I have a keen interest in allergy with a particular interest in food intolerance as so many patients I saw during my days as a GP had food related health problems. It is an area that is sadly dismissed by so many of my colleagues in the medical profession and I joined Allergy UK as a trustee because they were prepared to listen and try and help those with food related problems.

In addition to my work for Allergy UK I have been actively involved in the British Red Cross receiving their Badge of Merit Award for dedicated service. I am a director of Shared Care Dotcom Ltd, a valuable resource for any carer and a very busy Governor of Harrogate High School. I am married to Joan who uncomplainingly assists me in my activities and we have two sons.

Joy Allen

I feel that I represent the grass roots of the organisation as my family have hayfever and asthma and I fundraise for the organisation running the Crayford charity shop. Working with the other volunteers we generate £12,000 per annum for Allergy UK and this, together with the awareness we raise we know is very valuable. The Crayford charity shop is very much part of the local community and plays a part not only in allowing good quality items to be recycled but also provides a contact point for people with allergy.

When I am not working for the charity shop I am usually card making and doing other handicrafts which again I often turn into a means of generating income for the charity. I am a very proud Mother, Grandmother and now Great Grandmother, so I can understand how worrying it is for families to see allergies going down the generations in the family.

Liz Bell

I live on the Isle of Wight where I am also a trustee of the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre plus running the Isle of Wight Asthma Swimgroup and am Hon Secretary to the Isle of Wight Asthma UK branch. From this alone it will not come as any surprise to learn that I have a particular interest in respiratory complaints. Before retiring I was a physiotherapist working mainly in hospitals with acute patients and specialised in respiratory, trauma and orthopaedic field. In 1977 I instigated the Respiratory Care Service for practical advice and education of patients with COPD and asthma and parents of children with asthma and cystic fibrosis. In 1997 I was nominated onto the Board of the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Disease and as a result became more aware of the excellent work of Allergy UK and was delighted to be invited to join the Board of Trustees. In addition to the work detailed above I am also trustee of Newport Community Association and Abbeyfield Ryde Isle of Wight. Somehow in all of this thanks to the support of my wonderful husband Brian I also fit in a fair amount of travelling which I love and spend many happy hours with my lovely children and grandchildren.

Sarah Stoneham

I am a primary school teacher, living in Kent with my husband and our two daughters, both of whom suffer from allergies. When my eldest was born she was a happy but sickly baby. She was diagnosed with allergies to dairy, egg, soya, fish, sesame seeds and nuts and at 18 months old had her first anaphylactic reaction - an unbelievably frightening time for us, followed six months later by her first hospital admission for asthma.

When her sister was born it was clear she was also an 'allergic' child. She was diagnosed with similar allergies to her sister but additionally she was allergic to wheat, discovered at six months when she had a rusk, vomited and began to swell before our eyes. Over time they have outgrown some of their allergies but remain extremely allergic to dairy and egg - not easy to avoid but a much better position than we were in a few years ago!

The early days were very difficult as there was such a huge lack of understanding, information or support. Allergy UK have been working so hard to change that and I have been pleased to be involved with them as a support contact and am now thrilled to join them as a trustee.

Maggie Compton

I am a Solicitor living and working in Bexleyheath where I am a Partner is a general Practice called Apex Law LLP. I have been in the Legal Profession over 40 years. I have recently joined the Board of Trustees having had connections with the organisation for a number of years and became immensely impressed by the level of expertise, the commitment of all the staff and the amount of work undertaken in this difficult and under-funded area of medicine.

My daughter, my grandson and I have all suffered with various allergic reactions or intolerances and experienced the ineptitude of the medical profession in dealing with this area of medicine. I have also seen how serious allergy and intolerances can impact on family life causing considerable stress to all concerned if not tackled correctly, hence I was drawn to support this very worthwhile charity and to make my legal expertise available to the Company.

In addition to work as a Solicitor and Trustee of this Board I am also a Trustee of the Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice and Cornerstone Christian Counselling Service. I attend Christ Church Erith where I am a Pastoral Assistant and sing in the choir. I am married with one daughter and four grandchildren.

Andy Day, Chairman of Allergy Research Limited

For many years I lived locally to Allergy UK but have now relocated to Northern Ireland where I am enjoying retirement having been a police officer for 30 years and a civilian Crime Scene Examiner and Crime Scene Manager for a further 10 years. After leaving the police service I became a Senior University Lecturer in forensic science.

As Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the trading arm Allergy Research Limited I feel that I am able to make a contribution to improving the lot of allergy sufferers. I have two sons, one has followed me into police service and is an officer in Cheshire and the other son is teaching in Japan. As nurses my wife and my daughter-in-law have kept me very much in touch with the needs of the NHS and although there is a long way to go I am convinced that there is now a real will to improve allergy services in the future.

My interest in allergy started when my son developed allergy and I discovered that several colleagues and a number of my students suffered from allergy which definitely impacted on their life.