Meet the Team
Staff
Gail Millar
Founder and Chief Executive
Gail Millar is the founder and the Chief Executive of Befriended.
Gail is also an Anna Chaplain, a Bereavement Counsellor, author of Grief Conversations, creator of award winning Compassionate Conversations ( a three week bereavement course) and a lay minister.
Gail was previously the Older Person’s Specialist for the Salvation Army and prior to this the pioneer of Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre where she worked as the General Manager for 20 years.
Gail is passionate about “making a difference”, especially to the lives of older people.
Gail is married to Stuart and they have five children and nine grandchildren. Gail and Stuart attend Holy Trinity Church and live in the village of Hurstpierpoint.
Joanne Bunce Kingaby
Finance Co ordinator
I’m absolutely delighted to have joined Befriended as Finance Coordinator, where I’ll be looking after donations expenses and all things finance! My career has taken me from international banking to education and local government, so I’m bringing a range of experiences to my new role. It’s a real privilege to be part of such an amazing and worthwhile charity, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
Outside of work, I’m a boat-dweller, newlywed and proud dog mum to Benny and Luna! I love living by the sea, getting lost in a good book, heading out for walks with the dogs and, whenever I can, packing a bag and heading off to explore somewhere new. I’m really looking forward to meeting friends of Befriended, joining in with activities, and getting to know the wonderful people who make Befriended so special.
Sally Allison
Volunteer Co ordinator & administrator
After a wonderful 10 months as Befriended’s Activities Coordinator, I am delighted to begin my new role as Volunteer Coordinator and Administrator. I look forward to supporting our fantastic volunteers and helping Befriended run smoothly.
With our 10th anniversary approaching, we have an exciting year of special events and activities ahead. I feel honoured to be part of a charity that brings people together, builds friendships and helps to end loneliness and isolation among older people in our community.
Our volunteers are at the heart of Befriended. In my new role, I hope to grow our team while ensuring everyone feels welcomed, valued, supported and connected. I will also strengthen our administration, helping us welcome more people into the Befriended family and reach more of those who remain isolated at home.
Together, we can create a community where everyone feels valued, supported and never alone.
Trustees
George Baxter
Chairman
George Baxter (Chairman) was born in Sussex in 1952. After school he completed an HND in Business Studies and initially joined the family motor business. When the business was sold, he moved into construction with Wimpeys, who later sponsored his architectural training, allowing him to travel widely. After qualifying, George worked for several architectural practices, including designing and building a new church in South London, before establishing his own practice, which he ran successfully for nearly 40 years.
George became a Christian in his early forties after a long period of exploring faith. About six years ago he sold his practice and set up Gould Baxter, with offices in Haywards Heath and London.
George and his wife Vicki have four children and four grandchildren who all live locally. He mentors with Sussex Pathways, serves as a trustee of the Village Trust charity shop, and holds a private pilot’s licence. He became Chair of Befriended Trustees about 4 years ago and considers it a privilege to support its work.
Rev Will Kemp
Trustee
Rev Will Kemp is the Vicar of St Andrew’s Church, Burgess Hill. Will has lived in Mid Sussex with his wife Caroline since 2004, and has been a friend and supporter of Gail Millar (CEO of Befriended) ever since. Will was part of the prayer group that first conceived the idea of Befriended and has always had a deep concern for lonely and isolated people. Will is a member of the Burgess Hill ministers group, and Will was ordained as a Minister in the Church of England in 1999 and worked for a church in London before moving to Mid Sussex. He is a lifelong supporter of Watford Football Club, and is far too competitive at most things! He brings experience of linking with local churches, charity trusteeship and managing volunteers to the Befriended team.
Dave Chewter
Trustee
Dave owns and runs his own business, Parkers Van Hire, as well as various construction projects. Dave is married to Liz and has three grown-up children and 6 grandchildren. Dave attends a Church in Wivelsfield.
Julia Crook
Trustee
Julia was born in Gloucester before moving to Worcestershire where she spent her formative years. After graduating in Economics from Lancaster University Julia joined a UK bank in 1989 where she has worked for nearly 35 years across a range of departments. Julia is married to Mark and they have two grown up sons and live in Hurstpierpoint. Julia attends St Andrew’s Church and is involved with the cafe team and women’s ministry. In her spare time Julia enjoys volunteering with Befriended at the monthly tea parties, spending time with friends, walking, trying to keep fit, yoga and skiing.
Pat Johns
Trustee
Pat is a retired teacher having taught at Oakmeeds School (The Burgess Hill Academy) for 34 years, starting as a PE teacher and later managing the careers, work experience, examinations office and teaching Health and Social Care. Some of her interests are playing golf, and she was Sussex Ladies County Captain from 2019-2022, and walking her dog Pip. She attends Holy Trinity Church and is a Church Warden there. She was drawn to Befriended when she saw and heard the benefits the tea parties and others activities have on people’s lives and witnessed the work of God’s hand in this charity.
Susan Fleet MBE HonGMS
Trustee
Susan Fleet MBE is a semi-retired business leader, singer, speaker and charity concert producer. During her 40 years as Managing Director of one of Southern England’s longest-established PR companies, she promoted a wide range of businesses and organised numerous high-profile Royal visits. She also founded Lea Graham Entertainment, supplying performers to prestigious venues across the region.
Susan has produced charity concerts since 1970, raising substantial funds while entertaining audiences in the UK and internationally. She has performed in operas and musicals, recorded television commercials and released two albums. Her latest, Dedication to a Songbird, celebrated Dame Vera Lynn’s centenary and supported Dame Vera Lynn’s Children’s Charity.
Susan’s association with Dame Vera began in 1976, and she later served as her Personal Assistant. She remains committed to preserving Dame Vera’s remarkable legacy.
Awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to music, charity and fundraising, Susan is also a patron of St Peter & St James Hospice. Having recently discovered Befriended, she looks forward to staging a fundraising concert with her New Zealand friend Vicki Lee on 24 October.
Emma Lambert
Trustee
Emma grew up in Devon and worked with Youth With A Mission – a Christian missionary organisation for 25 years in the USA and UK. She mostly worked in the area of operations, events and personnel and likes to use her administrative skills for charitable causes. She moved with her family to West Sussex a few years ago and worked as an administrator at a care home where she organised for Befriended to come and take services and visit with the residents. She saw how much difference it made to the lives of the residents. Emma now is the safeguarding administrator for the Diocese of Chichester and advises on DBS, policies and safeguarding compliance. She is married with two adult daughters.
Ingrid Marson
Non voting Trustee
Ingrid Marson has been helping Befriended with marketing for the last year after meeting Gail at Befriended’s Compassionate Conversations course. She is delighted to now be helping with the governance of the charity. Ingrid is an expert in public relations and marketing - she ran a charity PR agency for over a decade, and continues to work as a Freelance PR Consultant.