Our Trustees
Diane Akers
Diane Akers grew up in East Anglia before studying nursing at University College, London and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Stanmore.
She then worked as a nursing sister in general practice for many years before studying for a BSC hons at the Royal College of Nursing, as a mature student. Diane then worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the community trying to establish, the then new role, in West Sussex
Since joining FSH she has become a member of the main fundraising committee, the West Sussex Fundraising Committee and organises the West Sussex lunches at Tottington Manor.
Diane is married to an historian and has had two children.
Dr Simon Baer
Simon studied Medicine at St Marys Hospital before training in Ear Nose and Throat surgery. He was appointed as a Consultant at Hastings (later East Sussex Hospitals) in 1994. He was a visiting surgeon at Benenden Hospital and Chair of the Medical Committee at Spire Sussex Hospital. He recently retired from medical practice. He is on the Board of Rye Golf Club and a Trustee for Friends of Sussex Hospices.
He is married to Amanda and has one son and two daughters.
Dr Ian Gough
Ian trained as a dental surgeon at Guy’s Hospital and after serving as a dental officer in the RN and RNR worked in general dental practice in Shoreham by sea and Hove until his retirement in 2013. He was a General Commissioner of Income Tax for Brighton and Hove for ten years.
Married to a retired physiotherapist he has two grown up children. His daughter is a criminal barrister and his son works in aviation flight simulation.
His interests include restoring old cars, growing vegetables and amateur genealogy. He’s also a trustee of the Friends of Lancing Chapel.
Andrew Hicks ACMA (Treasurer)
Andrew grew up in Sussex and moved back over 20 years ago and now lives in Danehill. A qualified accountant for many years he has worked in finance and supply chain across a variety of business sectors and is currently employed by The National Trust. Andrew is and has been Treasurer or Independent Auditor for several local charities. A keen walker he is also actively involved in the local Parish Church.
Helen Searle
Helen Searle is a leading intellectual property lawyer specialising in the entertainment industry with a particular focus on the music, film and TV industries.
Her client base is global and includes artists, song writers, producers, independent record labels, publishers, managers, booking agents and film and TV production companies. She has been instrumental in forging and guiding the careers of many superstars and has a particularly strong reputation for representing recording artists, from established household names to emerging talent, providing advice on recording and publishing deals, branding, sponsorship, worldwide tours and films. Helen has an incredibly wide range of contacts within the entertainment industry.
Helen is also frequently engaged to broker a settlement in music industry disputes.
She is a non-executive director of two established music charities. Go North and CM.
Helen regularly writes and lectures on music industry related matters. She also keeps bees and teaches yoga.
Chantal Wilson DL
Chantal lives in Crowborough where she was born having returned after several years living elsewhere including abroad. She has 2 adult daughters and two granddaughters.
Chantal has been involved in the charity and voluntary sector for many years. As well as being a trustee of FSH now and for 9 years until 2019, she is chairman of Crowborough Community Association and a Sussex Charity Mentor. She has previously been chairman of Action in rural Sussex and the Friends of Crowborough Hospital.
Chantal was a local councillor for 32 years and independent chairman of Wealden District Council for 2 years. She is a recently retired deputy lieutenant of East Sussex.
She currently runs an architectural business with her husband.
Heather Woolcott
Heather grew up in Hastings, left to go to university in Hull and settled in West London in retail banking. She left banking in 1992 to join her husband in Dubai for 5 years, coming back with 2 sons!
They then moved back to Sussex to be nearer family, she studied nutrition and set up a small baking business specializing in ‘Free from’ products (which still keeps her busy). Once the boys were at school she started volunteering with Wealden Talking News, has been reading and editing ever since, and is now a trustee.
Some years ago, she was asked to join FSH to sort out the new online accounting system and although it was a steep learning curve, it was sorted out and now it is just a case of entering items and balancing the bank accounts!
Heather’s interests are sugar craft, vegetable gardening and anything creative.
