COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Come and say hi if you see us out and about in the village or at the pub
ALISDAIR CUMMING
Chairman
Appointed March 2023
Lived in the village since 2001.
Why I’m supporting this community Project… Kingstone is a fantastic village and from the moment we saw it we felt it was the place we wanted to bring up our family. The pub has been great for our family, all 3 of our children have worked in the kitchens or restaurant giving them invaluable work experience. We have many happy memories of times at the pub from the events like the hog roast on fete day to family evenings playing card games. I have missed the pub since it closed and passionately want it to reopen.
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About myself. In 2001 we moved from Birmingham to Kingstone about 3 months before our youngest daughter was born at home. All 3 of our children have attended Talbot first school and I was the chairman of Talbot School Association for a few years. I’m a professional engineer and currently manage the engineering for a large UK based International bus manufacturing company. I love to keep busy and if you don’t see me in the garden then I’m either fixing something in the house or we’re off visiting somewhere.
CARON HALL
Secretary
Appointed March 2023
Lived in Kingstone since 2002.
Living opposite the pub has meant that we have been regular users for as long as we have lived in the village. We have had so many great nights there, some with friends no longer with us. So we have some really special memories. I can’t recall all the events we have been to at the pub.
When we moved here the pub didn’t do food, so we have seen it grow into a thriving pub and restaurant.
We have seen many changes over the years but the saddest of all has been the pub closing. I fully support this community project to return a wonderful pub to this community and again enjoy all the great things that we have had in the past. “More than a pub” a community hub, offering something for everyone, young and old. A place to meet friends, have a chat, play darts, have a drink, something to eat, maybe even buy your daily newspaper. It has so much to offer and that is why we cannot let this historic building with all its heritage, become a development site.
“It is the beating heart of our village!”
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We built our house more than 20 years ago. Until recently we were; my husband Guy, sons Graysen and Callum. Gray went to Uni and has made his home elsewhere, but he worked at The Shrew, like many of his friends. Callum is Autistic and has been able to enjoy a comfortable place in the pub, where everyone knew him and he knew them. I have 2 crazy Labradoodles and two kittens but they’re not really pub goers.
ALLISON GROCOTT
VICE CHAIRMAN
APPOINTED MARCH 2023
Lived in Kingstone since 2011.
Why I’m supporting this project.
I feel passionately about the community I live in. I want to ensure Kingstone keeps a focal point that allows neighbours to meet up in a relaxed atmosphere. And a place to visit with friends and family. I think it’s important to have somewhere that provides employment opportunities to the youth in the local area. A pub hub would facilitate all these services as well as make Kingstone an attractive village to visit and live in.
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About me – I’m married to Neil, we have 2 children Sam 12 and Ella 7. Before moving into public sector employment I was a hairdresser. I’ve also worked for the British Army in Cyprus. I love socialising with friends have a passion for music and you’ll always find me on the dance floor at parties!
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BILL PEARSON
TREASURER
APPOINTED MARCH 2023
Lynn and I have lived in the village since 1985. And have raised our 3 boys here. They attended the village school and then, when they were old enough, worked in The Shrew in either the kitchen or behind the bar. (They did attend Oldfields and Thomas Alleynes inbetween). They have all left home now, but have all become shareholders of the KCS and enjoy meeting their friends in the village pub when the opportunity arises. I believe that the pub is an integral part of village life, and that we, as a community have achieved something special in gaining ownership of this important asset. Making The Shrewsbury Arms more than just a pub, is very exciting and I hope that we can all continue to pull together to make this vision happen.
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I am a retired Finance Director and spent most of my career in the financial services industry. I have volunteered to be the treasurer of the Society and will use my accountancy and financial knowledge for the benefit of the Group.
JOHN MILLER
ASSISTANT TREASURER
APPOINTED MARCH 2024
Why I’m supporting the community project: One of the reasons I moved here was the friendliness of the people I met in the pub on our very first visit. The selection of beers, the gin menu and the restaurant were also an attraction for when we had visitors. The village hall has an important place in village life and I am the Vice-chairman of the committee, but having a hub where people can drop in at any time, for a quiet drink, a change of scenery, to meet-up with friends or celebrate a special occasion will benefit the whole community.
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Bit more about myself: On retirement we backpacked around the world for a couple of years including three stays in Southern India doing voluntary work in rural communities. Returning to the UK we wanted to find a place where we could become part of a small community. Kingstone ticked all the boxes. Our children love bringing their families here to visit, however having got used to visiting the pub for the first couple of months we all really miss it.
ALEX SKITTERY
MEDIA COORDINATOR
APPOINTED MARCH 2024
Lived in the village since 2018.
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I live with my wife Rachel and 2 daughters. We moved to the area for work and getting involved in the community has really helped us make great new friends and feel involved! The pub is a great place to take the kids for a meal or our parents when they come to visit.
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I'm an engineer, so like getting involved in the practical aspects of the society - oh and I've been volunteered to do the newsletters and website too!
SIOBAIN MATHIE
GRANTS COORDINATOR
APPOINTED MARCH 2024
What is a village without a community?
Since 2018 I have been involved with the purchase and refurbishment of The Shrewsbury Arms along with over 200 other shareholders. It has been a huge community achievement through hard work and application to have our pub open and successfully run in partnership with our tenants. I have assisted with collation of grant application information.
I am a retired qualified accountant with over 30 years’ experience in engineering and construction companies, delivering Major Long-Term projects to time and budget. Our family have lived in Kingstone since 1997, and our children attended the local schools. Having moved away, they now come to visit, and we can again share the wonderful surroundings and village life with our grandchildren.
ALAN PROCTOR
GARDENING CLUB
APPOINTED MARCH 2024
The Proctor family ( Alan & Georgina) moved into a house in The Meadows cul-de-sac in 1983 and have enjoyed the peace and tranquillity of the Village ever since. Our two Sons have long flown the nest and live, with their families, in Jersey and Manchester respectively. All are Shareholders !
To us, the Shrewsbury Arms Pub has always been the focal point of the Village where friends and neighbours can meet up in very pleasant surroundings. Particularly since the acquisition of the Pub by the KCS, we have both been big supporters of the venture and were both heavily involved in getting the premises fit for purpose.
Georgina has spent many hours painting and refurbishing the Pub, and my main interest is the regular upkeep of the Pub garden areas, back and front, and presenting an appealing and attractive area for patrons to enjoy a Summer drink. I am ably supported by John Lancaster and Dave Parker, the latter is mainly responsible for the magnificent display of Summer bedding plants at the front of the premises.
Personal time spent on this venture is freely given as the support of the Pub provided to local residents and visitors is immeasurable. We have a superb Village asset and wonderful Tenants we are justly proud of !
LINDA STOCKHAM
WALKING GROUP
APPOINTED MARCH 2024
I have lived in the village with my husband, Mike, since 2010. We did not really know many people in the village until the pub was purchased by the KCS and that’s when we made so many new friends. Mike helped with the painting and I helped when possible to turn our wonderful village pub into something to be proud of! And that is why I decided I would like to be part of the committee.
A little bit about myself -
We moved here when I retired, for the first time, after working for Lloyds Bank for over 30 years in business banking. Retirement didn’t quite agree with me so I got a job in a travel company, finance section, for a further 10 years! Happily retired now. I have 2 girls and 3 grandchildren who keep me busy - oh and a crazy French Bulldog called Daisy, who you will probably know if you walk down the lane to the woods and pass our barn!!
JEAN HOLBECHE
HEALTH AND SAFETY COORDINATOR
APPOINTED MARCH 2024
We previously lived in Doveridge for many years and were actively involved in village life such as village hall committee, parish council and neighbourhood watch.
In 2019 we heard about the efforts to purchase The Shrewsbury Arms as a community asset and were keen to offer our support by becoming shareholders.
As a retired police officer I knew from experience that small village pubs are the beating heart of a community and must be supported otherwise we will lose them.
At the time we had no plans to live in Kingstone but in 2020 we made the decision to move to a smaller village and by luck, found the ideal property in Church Lane.
Since we moved into the village we try to get involved and support local events and organisations such as the parish council and KCS. Although retired, we are always busy and enjoy the love and support of a close-knit family of three grown-up daughters and six grandchildren.