Meet the trustees:

James Stonor – Chairman

Chairman of the Blues Foundation, James grew up in and around Bedford and attended Bedford Modern School. James runs nationwide civil engineering firm, Stonbury where he is Group Chairman, as well as having several other business interests. 

James has also been a Director of Bedford Blues Ltd since summer 2016.

James hopes that we can use the platform of both rugby and the club to do good and James believes the Foundation is an opportunity to reach a diverse demographic of people that do not have the opportunity to benefit from, or have access to, the value that both rugby and sport in general has to offer.

Along with Gareth Alred, he has created the vision for the new Foundation and is excited by the launch of the new charity.

Mark Ormerod – Senior Independent Director

Mark read Sport and Recreation Management at the University of Sheffield and completed his MSc in 1995. Mark joined the Sports Council aged 25 and led research on the National Junior Sports Programme, developed Talent Identification systems, and set up the Active Partnership Network in the East Region.

After 17 years, Mark left Sport England to become the CEO of Leap in 2012. Key to his role is interpreting national sports policy into deliverable action at a local level and removing barriers to sport and physical activity.

Mark has been a long-time supporter of SportsAid, becoming a trustee in 2014 and Chairman of SportsAid East in 2017. He passionately believes in the transformational power sport has to improve lives.

Gareth Alred - Trustee

Joining the Foundation since inception, Gareth is the Chief Operating Officer at Bedford Blues having moved to the Championship Club in June 2014.

Gareth has a wealth of rugby off-field experience under his belt already, working in various commercial, marketing, operational and media roles at Newport Gwent Dragons, Doncaster Knights and Jersey Reds.

Born and bred in South Wales, Gareth is very passionate about rugby and the power it can play in the community. Still playing locally for Bedford Queens and coaching cricket in Sharnbrook, as well as his role at the Blues, Gareth believes in the positive impact sport has on a large and diverse group of people.

Victoria Brading – Trustee & Secretary

Victoria joined Deloitte in 2004 and has worked in a variety of roles within the tax function. Initially specialising in the US and UK taxation of high net worth individuals, qualifying within both the US and UK tax jurisdictions to become a ‘dual-handler’. Victoria is an Associate Director in the Global Employer Services practice supporting multinational clients with global tax compliance risk and global mobility strategy planning. 

Victoria has always had a love of sport and graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Sport & Exercise Sciences. She is a qualified personal trainer, fitness instructor and hockey and netball coach. Through many years of both playing and coaching competitive sport, she has witnessed first-hand the positive impact team sports can have on the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals. She has a particular interest in providing sporting opportunities to disadvantaged and under-represented demographic groups within the local community. 

Victoria is married to former Bedford Blues player Simon Brading and lives locally. She has two children, who both actively participate in various sports teams locally.

Simon Lousada – Trustee

Born and educated in Bedford, Simon is married to Susan and has two children and two grandchildren.

Returning to Bedford in 1985, Simon established his own business (FPS) in the service industry. With consistent year-on-year growth, the business flourished and employed many people locally before being sold in 2007. Following the sale, Simon invested in further businesses and property opportunities locally and nationally. Simon continues to be very active within a number of businesses.

In 2009 Simon worked with Mark Rutherford School and Bedford Park Rotary Club to establish a mentoring programme to connect students with local business and sporting people, including players from Bedford Blues. Simon played rugby at Bedford Queens for 20 years and now enjoys cycling and other forms of sport. He is also a trustee at two schools in Bedfordshire.

John Pearson – Trustee

Executive Director of Cancer Support Operations since February 2016, John is responsible for delivering Macmillan’s services across the UK to support people affected by cancer.

John has worked at the Royal Voluntary Service charity as the Chief Operating Officer. He spent many years in the commercial sector working in a variety of organisations including BP Oil, EE in telecommunications and Santander in banking.

John and his wife are passionate supporters of Macmillan, combining their love of sport and travel with raising money for Macmillan. Through running marathons, to climbing Kilimanjaro, they have raised over £200,000 for Macmillan to date. 

A season ticket holder at Bedford Blues, John loves watching rugby, playing golf and trying to stay fit!

Andy Smart - Treasurer

Andy is a Chartered Accountant and director at MURRAYOUNG. In this role Andy advises on a comprehensive range of accounts, taxation, business and support services to a wide range of individuals and small and medium sized businesses in the local area.

Andy has supported another local charity, Mission Direct and as well as being a trustee, Andy has travelled to Dominican Republic working on projects to provide basic housing to those living in impoverished rural villages, including refugees from Haiti and he has also helped raise funds to build two schools.

Andy is married to Julie and whilst they enjoy watching most sport, in recent years rugby has become their main focus. They are keen followers of Bedford Blues and are excited about the positive impact the Foundation has in the local community.

Ross Mckinley - Trustee

Ross is the Head of Education at the Premier League Charitable Fund, which uses football and sports to help children and young people learn the skills they need to achieve their potential, leading on all work within school settings. Ross is passionate about using the power of sport for good and particularly the difference this can make to the lives of young people who most need it.

Ross came from a coaching and programme delivery background having graduated in Sports Leadership (BA) at the University of Reading before working at Arsenal in the Community, delivering outreach programmes across north London. Despite working within the football world, Ross grew up playing rugby in Dorset and has loved the game ever since. Since moving to Bedford, Ross has followed the Blues regularly and most recently got his coaching boots back out, supporting the Bedford Junior Blues where his son plays.

Anna Donnelly - Trustee

Anna is the Client Services Director of Uniquely Education, a consultancy company that empowers schools, academy trusts, sponsors and local authorities to enhance their reputation and achieve their goals through bespoke marketing strategies, creative services, research and training.

She studied Business at Brighton University and whilst studying managed a large sports camp during the holidays which led to the completion of a PGCE in primary education. She enjoyed teaching in London for 5 years before moving into Education Consultancy.

Anna is passionate about making a difference in education and has been a school governor for over 8 years at two local primary schools and is currently the Chair of Governors of a secondary school in Luton. Outside of work she enjoys watching rugby, reading and running – just not all at the same time!

Susie White – PA to the Board of Trustees

Susie spent 10 years in the FMCG sector of LVMH and Estee Lauder as a Business Analyst in London, before relocating to Milton Keynes. Moving into corporate finance and assisting the MD was a springboard to working for Stonbury, becoming Assistant to the Chairman.

Susie hails from the north west of England and is hugely passionate about sport and exercise having a positive attitude on wellbeing and health.  She assists the Trustees at the Monthly Board.