Who we are

The Board leads and controls Freebridge. This includes setting the budget and overall strategy, developing the business plan and monitoring performance. The Board is made up of tenant, independent and council representatives.

	Ray Johnson Board Chairman Ray was born in Brancaster, but has worked in the property development industry throughout the UK, returning to live in King's Lynn in the late 1990s. He is a Chartered Surveyor and has an Honours Degree in Estate Management; he is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building. He has spent his 40-year career working in both the private and public sectors covering housing and commercial property development and management.
	Paul Leader Vice Chairman Paul is a tenant in Terrington St Clement. He has been a member of the Government's Tenant Sounding Board and has given presentations on tenant involvement at different venues across the country. He is also a school governor and has been a Norfolk Constabulary Community Volunteer. He previously worked in the building industry.
	Sylvia Calver Sylvia was born and bred in West Norfolk, where she attended the local primary school and then Downham Market Grammar School. She is now a tenant in Tilney St Lawrence, where she helps to run clubs for the elderly. She worked in financial services from the age of 16 until her retirement and was Mayor's Consort for the Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk during 2006-07. She was a member of the Marshland Branch of the Women's Institute for 20 years, three of those as President, and has also served as Treasurer of the tenants' group, TOWN (Tenants of West Norfolk).
	Michael Jervis Michael was born in King’s Lynn, where he attended the local primary and grammar schools. He now lives in Shouldham. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and spent his working life in local government or public sector finance. Now retired, until recently he was Chairman of the Governors at St Edmund’s School, North Lynn.
	Irene Gammon Irene is a tenant in King's Lynn. She spent some years as a missionary nurse and later became involved in homes for the elderly, working in a team and in a managerial capacity. She has also worked with the church amongst women. She has served as Vice-Chair of the King's Lynn Safer Stronger Communities Fund Neighbourhood Management Board. She is Secretary to the Hillington Square Residents' Association and is part of the team that runs the Hillington Square Community Centre.
	Bill Guyan Bill is a tenant in North Lynn, where he has lived for many years, although he loves to visit his native Scotland. He has a naval background and has worked with the sea cadets for many years. He is a trained engineer, running his own business prior to retirement. He helped to create the North Lynn Community Group, of which he is President. He previously served as Vice-Chair of the tenants' group, TOWN (Tenants of West Norfolk).
	Lesley Bambridge Lesley was raised in West Norfolk and following a twenty year spell in London she returned to enjoy what it has to offer. She worked in advertising in London and various marketing jobs upon her return to Norfolk. She also worked with schools and local businesses to help young people find out about the world of work. She is a trustee of some local charities and undertakes voluntary work. She is a member of Rotary. Lesley represents St Margaret’s with St Nicholas ward on the Borough Council.
	Colin Sampson Colin has lived in Downham Market since 1993. He has been a Downham Market Town Councillor since 1999 and a Borough Councillor since 2007. He was Mayor of Downham Market in 2005/06. Colin is the current Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. He worked for Sun Alliance Insurance Group as a surveyor and took early retirement in 1998. He was also in the Territorial Army for 23 years.
	Matthew Brown Born and raised in Caister-on-Sea, Matthew moved to Nottingham to study Civil Engineering at University. After graduation, he remained in Nottingham and worked in numerous financial roles for companies such as Vision Express and Capital One where he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant. In 2009, Matthew relocated to King’s Lynn with his wife and young family to take up the role of Head of Finance and Planning at the National Construction College.
	Steve Clark Steve lives in Stoke Ferry and has recently retired. He has spent his whole career in the housing profession and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. As well as working in local government as director of housing, he has taught housing qualifications and social studies at Southampton University and worked for a major practice of research and consultancy. Steve has previously been a board member of Swaythling Housing Society.
	Ian Pinches Ian is a local business owner and lives in Fincham, having moved from the Cambridge area around seven years ago. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Before establishing his own company, Ian gained over 10 years senior and director level experience in the housing association sector and has also served on the board of a London based charity established to give residents a voice in local planning matters. He has many years experience as a school governor, parish councillor, parochial church councillor and local fundraiser. Ian currently serves as a Parish Councillor in Fincham.
	John Fox John is a tenant at Walpole Cross Keys. He has 30 years’ experience as a teacher and latterly worked as a healthcare manager. He is now employed as a Facilitator/Administrator for Ingeus, a Government funded welfare-to-work provider. He also has extensive experience of serving on school governing bodies and as a parish councillor.