Site icon Capernwray

Our People

Senior Leadership Team

Brian Wickens

Managing Director

Brian’s personal connection with Capernwray began as a teenager in Northern Ireland, attending International Youth Weeks. This relationship developed and strengthened via the holiday programme over the subsequent years and culminated in his appointment as Managing Director in 2022.

Brian was previously Vice-President (Integration) at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare with a strong track record of strategic leadership and developing teams. 

Derek Burnside

Bible School Principal

Derek has been Principal since autumn 2017. He is married to Penny. He enjoys cycling, squash, swimming and table-tennis, and supports Manchester City.

Derek has guest-lectured at Capernwray and other Torchbearers schools since 2001. He has previously been an RE teacher, a UCCF Staff Worker, and was for 22 years on the staff / leadership team of Belmont Chapel, Exeter.

Forest Paget

Holiday and Volunteer Programmes Director

Forest is married to Rosie and they have four grown up children. Previous to Capernwray Forest led Association Le Pas Opton that delivers the Summer Programme for Spring Harvest in France. Prior to that he ran his own Theatre in Education Business, worked as an Engineer and as a Farmer. 

Forest loves to learn, he has been awarded degrees in Engineering, Business and Theology and is now learning French and German. When not working or reading Forest loves being physically active in God’s creation.

Heather Tallents

Human Resources and Administration Director

Heather first came to Capernwray as a teenager to the International Youth Weeks, where she first met the Lord and came to know Him personally. She has since returned as a volunteer on the Guest Team and as the IT Assistant, before joining the staff team in November 2018.Before Capernwray, Heather graduated with a Chemistry degree from the University of Bristol and enjoys dancing, singing and drinking tea with friends.

Jayne Pugh

Marketing and External Relations Director

Jayne has been at the centre of developing award winning campaigns and brands across a variety of sector, including charities, universities and government departments. As a senior marketer, brand strategist, leader and strategic planning, Jayne has spent her career at the crossroads of brand insights, digital marketing, research, culture, and public service, applying her skill toward creating a more purpose-driven world. Now she is excited to bring her skills and experience to advance the mission of Capernwray. Away from work she enjoys hiking, cycling, swimming and supporting charities with their marketing.

Mike Gregory

Finance and Operations Director

Mike manages the finances of Capernwray & plans some of the various projects that need undertaking. He enjoys getting out walking with his wife and 2 children, trying to be creative in the kitchen, swimming and playing board games with friends.

Mike grew up just a few miles away from Capernwray, before moving to Newcastle to study Economics and then Birmingham where he spent 10 years working in Finance for various companies. He is now back in a village near Capernwray and enjoying the beautiful scenery and absence of Spaghetti Junction.

Bible School Team

Adam Campbell

Outreach Coordinator

Adam is responsible for overseeing the Bible School’s outreach programme. He and his wife Beth moved to Capernwray in the summer of 2024 with their three boys.
Adam is originally from Scotland but grew up in New Hampshire in the United States. Before coming to Capernwray, Adam worked in politics and continues to have an active interest in the intersection of faith and politics. He loves to learn and has degrees in linguistics, psychology, and political science. Outside work, Adam enjoys spending time with his family, reading, travelling, learning languages, and watching sports, especially baseball, Formula 1, and sumo wrestling.

Harry Evans

Dean of Male Students

Harry looks after the pastoral needs of the male students, having originally arrived at Capernwray as a volunteer with his wife Mary. Prior to that he worked in the financial sector.

Harry grew up in Cheshire, and is happy to be back in the north after 10 years in exile. He can be found swinging rackets, laughing at bad jokes or enjoying a rainy walk.

Hester Martin

Dean of Female Students

Hester’s role focuses on the pastoral care of the female students, whilst also being involved in many aspects of student life and regularly teaching in the Bible school. She first walked through the old front door of the Hall as a 10-year-old. Capernwray holidays have been significant for her walk with the Lord, both as a guest and volunteer. Hester was a student at Portantorchas, the Torchbearer centre in Costa Rica, and also volunteered at Rio Vida in Spain. After graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London, she spent a year as an intern at Capernwray and has also since completed studies in theology at the University of St Andrews. Hester can often be found enjoying a long run or on a netball court.

Jen Rundle

Bible School Admissions Officer

Jen helps with the administration of our Bible School and serves as the point of first contact for prospective students.Jen was a student at Capernwray in 1994-95 since then she has trained as an outdoor Education Instructor, worked in Air Traffic Control in the RAF and also graduated from Moorlands Bible College with a degree in Applied Theology.She and her son Jacob now live in the local area and has previously worked with us as an assistant to our housekeeper, and our Holidays Administrator.

Kim Lee

Student Studies Coordinator

Kim oversees the students’ assignments, and lectures on the topics of Prayer, The Father Heart of God and World Religions. During the holidays she helps in various ways on the Guest team. She enjoys reading, pottering in the garden, going to tea shops, and being out in God’s creation.

Kim was a Bible School student in 1993/94, where her relationship with God grew and He put Capernwray’s ministry on her heart. After six years of work and study, she returned to work on staff in 2000.

Mel Hollaway

Student Studies Coordinator Assistant

Mel works with the Bible School Team, helping Kim as the Assistant Student Studies Coordinator.  She enjoys supporting some of the students with their assignment work and marking assignments.  It is a joy to see the students growing in their knowledge of God and, primarily,  in their relationship with Him.

She grew up in Preston and has had a varied career – Church Administrator at CCF (Preston), support roles in schools and an FE college and has also taught ESOL for a number of years. Mel is married to Kevin. They have two grown up children and two delightful grandchildren.  She enjoys spending time with family, walking, swimming and reading.

Paul Robinson

Pastoral Care Volunteer

Vivienne Robinson

Pastoral Care Volunteer

Holidays Team

Marie Gildea

Holiday Bookings Administrator

Marie joined the Capernwray team in April 2023 and does the administration for the holiday bookings.  She has 16 years experience of Higher Education administration where she also gained a degree in Event Management. Marie has two grown up children and loves spending time with them when she can. She loves being outdoors in God’s creation and can often be found exploring countryside and climbing mountains.

Pascal Otto

Holiday Programme Coordinator

Pascal’s role is about focusing on how to convey to young people the relevancy of the Bible and how it equips them to follow the Lord. Additionally, he helps to plan, run and oversee the holidays, and staying connected to our guests and volunteers. Pascal enjoys growing out his beard, playing games and sports. In his free time, he also delights in baking and cooking for others or spending time with friends.

Pascal has been involved with Capernwray previously as a volunteer starting and student. He then completed a degree in Applied Theology, focusing on Youth and Community Work, with Moorlands Bible College, which he did as a placement-based student, heading up the youth work at a church in Sunderland.

IT and AV Team

Callum Short

IT and Health & Safety Assistant

Callum has been coming to Capernwray as a holiday guest since 2014 where he made his first real commitment to Christ. He studied Physics, Maths and Computer Science at A-Level before he attended both Winter and Spring Bible School in 2023/24 for a gap year, after which he stayed on as the IT and Health & Safety Assistant. Callum enjoys playing and listening to music, as well as reading and playing sports, he particularly enjoys playing board games and attempting to bake with his friends. He was born in Watford, though spent the later years of his childhood in Eastbourne, where he was greatly blessed and encouraged in his faith by the church he attended there.

Isabel Hughes

IT and AV Manager

Isabel grew up in the local area and enjoyed attending Capernwray open days. After completing a Computer Science degree, in Birmingham, she joined the staff team as the IT and AV manager. In her spare time Isabel enjoys knitting, baking and reading. As well as spending time with friends and family.

Administration Team

Fenella Deehan

Volunteers & Finance Administrator

Fenella moved from the Isle of Man to Lancaster when her husband Des became Pastor of Father’s House Church. She has previously worked in banking for over twenty years and brings a wealth of experience to her role. At Capernwray she assists with the administration of our finances and coordinates the recruitment of voluntary workers. In her spare time, Fenella loves spending time with her family and international travel, especially Italy.

Sam Lawson

Receptionist

Sam lives locally on a farm with her husband Dave, and they have three children together. In her spare time Sam likes to bake and go for a walk with the family dog.Sam works on our reception desk and will likely be the first person you see when you walk through our door or speak to when you phone us. So it’s just as well that she loves greeting and helping visitors, holiday guests and students.

Lydia Stones

Receptionist

Lydia lives in Lancaster with her husband Howie where they met as University students. In her spare time she likes reading, slacklining, crafting and searching charity shops.At Capernwray Lydia works as a Receptionist two days a week in partnership with Sam, our other receptionist. So if you give us a call she may well be on the other side of the phone! The other three days of the working week, Lydia is a student worker at Moorlands Church in Lancaster.

Samara Earl

MA Programme Administrator

Samara lives locally. She loves getting out into nature, being creative, singing and photography. Samara has spent most of her working life in the charity sector and has served as a trustee for a development charity operating in Kenya. She has studied International Development and Environmental Studies and has a heart for social justice and sharing the love of Jesus for those living in severe poverty.

Samara joined the staff at Capernwray in 2022 as Administrator for the Ministry Assistant programme, an opportunity for emerging Christian leaders to develop their gifts through serving and supporting the Bible School and holiday programme.

Marketing Team

Stephanie Schoenmann

Marketing & Design Manager

Stephanie left her home in Switzerland to study at Capernwray in 2020-21, after having previously worked in marketing. She joined the staff team in Spring 2022. In her free time she loves reading, creative writing and taking lots of pictures of sheep.

Housekeeping Team

Wendy Selby

Housekeeping Manager

Wendy is originally from the Northeast of England but has spent a large part of her life in Cambridge. She now lives on a small paddock with alpacas and hens.

Wendy previously worked in social work and health care, and has a heart for those who are marginalised. In her spare time she loves walking, scrambling, running, cycling and reading, coffee with friends 

Catering Team

Abi Danielson

Dining Hall Supervisor

Abi grew up in Virginia and completed her BM in Music Education in December 2021. She had heard of Capernwray her whole life as her parents met as students in 1992/93 and decided to come as a student for January 2022. She stayed on as a Ministry assistant 2022/23 and God called her to continue to stay at Capernwray as a staff member. She finds joy in her family and loves spending time at the piano, reading, or just relaxing on a couch watching a show.

Amy Slater

Head Chef and Kitchen Manager

Amy heads up our kitchen team and has been involved with the ministry of Capernwray for a number of years, before returning in 2021. She has worked in other Christian centres, such as Abernethy Trust and Oak Hall. She likes to sing, read and not cook at home. She lives locally in Carnforth with her dog Mabel, who she enjoys walking.

Hazel Edmunds

Senior Chef

Hazel is Scottish, and is one of Capernwray’s resident chefs. She loves baking sweet things. She also enjoys being outdoors and capturing life’s fleeting moments (landscapes and portraits) using her digital camera or old box Brownie with a rare 127 film. She has a BA in photography.

Joel Clarkson

Chef

Joel is the youngest member of our kitchen team, joining us as a chef in early 2024 after God kept placing Capernwray on his heart towards the end of 2023. Joel has a passion for youth work and regularly helps out in his churches youth groups, which he attended and came to know Jesus and where he also met his fiance Lauren. They are due to get married next summer!

Juliane Bernini

Dining Hall Manager

Juliane left Brazil three years ago after finishing her degree in public relations. She came to England on an exchange with a Christian holiday center in North Wales. Prompted by God to do something similar she volunteered for a further year at Capernwray. After then working in Oxford God brought her back to Capernwray to work as a permanent staff member in our Catering team.

Lisa Booth

Chef

Lisa joined our team as a Chef in 2023. She is married and has 3 children. She loves animals, cake decoration, lazy days with her family, paddleboarding, and outside cooking.

Buildings and Estates Team

Abby Collins

Gardener

Abby helps to look after the gardens at Capernwray. She grew up in Canada and moved back to England at the age of 15. She spent some time with YWAM before going to the University of Lancaster to complete a degree in Biological Sciences. She is married to Nathan, and in her spare time enjoys everything outside, camping, hiking, horse riding, wild swimming and summer BBQs.

Dave Carter

Building Projects Manager

Dave heads up our building and maintenance team. He studied at the Torchbearer centre on Thetis Island, Canada, before joining Capernwray as a full time member of staff.

Dave Gradwell

Building Projects Assistant

Dave is originally from Switzerland. He joined the Serving and Leadership Training (SaLT) programme in late 2022. After finishing his voluntary year, he joined the Building Projects team and is currently assisting Dave Carter. In his free time he likes to swim, read, spend time with friends and play games.

Dino Moncado

Maintenance Assistant

Dino joined Capernwray in 2008 intending to come for just one year and he’s still here now. Previous to coming to Capernwray Dino used to work in engineering as a fitter, then on the Bolton Market selling cooked meats. Dino is now working as an assistant in the Maintenance Team and also helps out by driving guests and students.

In his spare time he loves to draw, going for a walk and enjoying an occasional espresso!

James Rosendale

Gardens Coordinator

James splits his time between the sports team and grounds work. In the previous few years, James had been running his own gardening business with his Dad but found a strong and clear call to join the team at Capernwray.James grew up nearby in Preston knowing about Capernwray through his Church, Crown Lane Free Methodist Church, and through SportsReach, an organisation he is still heavily involved in. James loves football and plays as much as he can, managing teams in the SportsReach 5 a side and 11 a side leagues. And if not playing football, he will most likely be watching it!

Matt Burden

Maintenance Manager

Matt coordinates our maintenance work, having previously worked in a similar role at the Abernethy Centre in Scotland, and before that as Deputy Manager of the Westbrook Centre on the Isle of Wight. He currently lives on site with his family and in his spare time he likes to spend time with them, and also listening to music

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Paul Massey

Estates and Woodlands Manager

Paul was a volunteer during Bible School before returning later to join the staff team. He looks after the estates and grounds around Capernwray.

Sports Team

Stephen Baxendale

Sports Manager

Stephen is responsible for running and overseeing the sports programme at Capernwray. He grew up in the area and currently lives on-site. He has a degree in Modern Languages (Spanish & French) and Business from Newcastle University. He loves sport, especially football and table tennis. He also loves listening to music and dancing.

Volunteer Roles

Liz Wickens

Beehive Manager

Penny Burnside

Bookshop Manager

Board of Trustees

Alan Wadsworth

Trustee

Alan is the Pastor of Caton Baptist Church where he regularly receives our students on outreach placements. He has worked in a number of roles within churches, Christian organisations including Scripture Union, and has a Masters Degree in Theology.

Diane Moss

Trustee

Diane had a first career in central government but now works as an independent consultant in educational governance.  With her husband she has been bringing and sending groups of young people to Capernwray from her church in Kent for many years.

Helen Armbruster

Trustee

Born and raised in Germany, Helen now lives in London where she is working in the public sector, after a number of years within UK charities. She has spent time as a holiday guest at Capernwray, and also had the joy of attending Winter Bible School in 2021-22.

Jane Showell-Rogers

Trustee

Jane has worked with young people and young adults (in Christian agencies, networks and churches in the UK and overseas, and as a magistrate), in event planning and team-building. More recently she’s been very involved with a network focusing on the disproportionate impact of persecution on women and girls in many parts of the world.

Nicola Firth

Chair of Trustees

Nicola has a long and successful history in the Hospitality sector. She has a passion in managing people to see them grow in skills and confidence equipping them to succeed in their work and excel in customer service.

Noel Lavery

Trustee

Noel and his family have had a long association with Capernwray and have enjoyed many holiday weeks here.  Noel is a chartered accountant. He was latterly a Permanent Secretary in the Northern Civil Service until his retirement in 2019.  He is actively involved in his local church and with a number of charities.

Julie Burrows

Company Secretary

Regional Representatives – Ireland

Terry Morrison

Regional Representative

Terry worked in the public sector for many years. He has been involved in Christian youthwork and cross-community programmes inlcuding a long relationship with Capernwray. He is married to Mary and together they have children and grandchildren. Terry enjoys meeting people and encouraging others in their Christian faith.

Mary Morrison

Regional Representative

Mary also worked for many years in the public sector and she has a passion for inspiring young people and families in their faith, particularly in connection with the ministry of Capernwray. Mary loves meeting and encouraging other people; together with travel, especially to Thailand, the home of their adopted son.

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