Blundell's Staff and Governors
Senior Executive Team
The Head Mr B. Wielenga, BCom, Natal & Johannesburg, BEd (Economics)
Second Master Mr M.R.J. Radley, MA Oxon, MEd Cantab, PGCE (History)
Deputy Head (Academic) Mr C.H. List, BSc Durham, PGCE (Chemistry, Physics)
The Bursar Mrs A. Hedrich-Wiggans, MA Cantab, MSt Oxon, ACA
Head of Preparatory School Mr A.D. Southgate, BA Ed
Senior Leadership Team
The Head Mr B. Wielenga, BCom Natal & Johannesburg, BEd (Economics)
Second Master Mr M.R.J. Radley, MA Oxon, MEd, PGCE (History)
Deputy Head (Academic) Mr C.H. List, BSc Durham, PGCE (Chemistry, Physics)
Deputy Head (Co-curricular) Mr E.K.G. Saunders, BA Leeds, PGCE (Physical Education)
Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs N.J. Klinkenberg, BSc Swansea, PGCE (Mathematics)
Designated Safeguarding Deputy Mrs T.L. Winsley, BA Exeter (Drama)
Senior Master Mr A.J.R. Berrow, MA Oxon, PGCE (Religious Studies)
Director of IT Mr M.P. Dyer, MSc Dundee, PGCE (ICT)
Assistant Staff
bold = Head of Dept italic = House Parent: FH - GH - NC - OH - P - SH - W
Member of Staff Qualifications Role House Appointed
Armstrong Williams, BA Stourbridge College of A & T, Art GH 2012 Gil GDST
Baily, Graham BSc Aston, PGCE Biology, Chemistry W
BSc London, PhD Reading, Balsdon, John Biology OH/W 1998 PGCE
Barnsbrook, Hannah BSc Bournemouth, PGCE Sciences 2019 Barnsbrook, Luke BSc Gloucestershire, PGCE Biology P 2016
Barrowcliffe, Russell BA Newcastle, MA Physics
Batting, Georgina BEng Exeter, PGCE Head of Science
Bright, Lauren BA Exeter, PGDip Classics, English
Bright, Tricia BA Staffordshire, MSc, PGCE Economics & Bus. Studies NC 2011
Bucknell, Guy BSc Durham Geography OH 2007
Bucknell, Pippa BSc Durham Careers
Cachia, Mike LLB Leeds, MA, PCGE Mathematics
Candler, Amy BSc Loughborough, PGCE PE, Geography NC 2007
Business Studies, Candler, Tom BA Plymouth FH 2010 Economics, IT
Clark, Sue BA Hons UNISA Learning Support - 2015
Cook, Samantha BA, Portsmouth, PGCE French
Cox, Alison MA Bristol, PGCE Classics - 2016
Crease, Rachel BEd Plymouth PSHE, RS NC 2000
Elliott, Tom BA, Exeter Graduate Assistant
Flavelle, Catherine MA New Hall Cambridge, PGCE History 2017
Graphic Products (DT) & Francis, Cassie BA De Montfort, PGCE P 2014 Art
Frappart, Tom BA Plymouth, PGCE Design & Technology FH 2016
Gabbitass, Charlie BEd St. Paul’s PE FH 2000
Gill, Vicki MEd, PGCE Birmingham PE NC 2012
Gillman, Jasmine BA, Kingston, PGCE English
BA HED Rhodes, BEd Hons Gordon, Peter Mathematics FH 1995 UNISA
Gore-Lloyd, Emma BA Bristol, MA EAL SH 2016
Grant, Tom BA UWI, PGCE Art & Design P 2016
Griffiths, Tori BA London, GTP Classics, English - 2006
Hamilton, Charlie BA Anglia College of A&T, PGCE Geography FH 2001
Hatton, John BA Salford Spanish - 2017
Holman, Rob BA Lancaster History GH Holman, Sarah BA Exeter, PGCE Geography NC 2002
PE, Games & Head Tennis Hope, James BEd Marjons, Plymouth FH 2017 Coach
Hunt, Tim BD Cardiff, MTh Oxon, MRICS RS - 2001
Hunter, Flynn BA Gloucestershire, PGCE Art & Photography 2019
Isdell-Carpenter, English, Academic Head BA Wales, PGCE GH/W 2014 Rebecca of Sixth Form
Johnson, Andrew MA Oxon, QTS Music
Johnson, Simon BSc Bath, MA PGCE History, Politics FH 2015
Jones, Belinda BA, MA Oxford Brookes Business Studies 2019
Jones, Manon BSc Kingston Mathematics 2019
Jones, Phil CELTA Kent EAL P 2013
Kingdon, Andrew BA, OU & Plymouth, PGCE Learning Support
Klinkenberg, Peter BEd Hons Exeter Registrar W 1997
Lacki, Elizabeth BA, MA, CELTA, DELTA Exeter EAL - 2016
Lambert, Adam MPhys Durham, PGCE Physics FH 2015
Leaman, Oliver BMus Prix Edinburgh, PhD Music GH 2014
Lecharpentier, Nick BA Caen, MA, PGCE French GH 2014
Lewis, Liam BSc Loughborough, PGCE Business Studies P 2015
Lodge, Matt BSc Exeter, PGCE Physics SH 2012
Mead, Andrew BSc Bath, PGCE Chemistry NC 2010
Menheneott, Leigh BEd St Pauls' Cheltenham, MBA PE, Proctor NC 2001
Mercer, Charlotte BA Cardiff, PGCE English
Milne, Rachel BA Wales, PGCE LAMDA - 2014
Milne, Becky MA Exeter, PGCE Cantab Classics P 2001
Moore, Richard BA Manchester, PGCE History and Politics 2017
Morrison, Douglas MEng Bristol Physics OH/W 2009
Mycock, Tim BSc Plymouth Chemistry OH 2016
Naylor, Oliver BSc Exeter, PGCE Mathematics
Nuttall-Owen, Beverley BSc Durham, PGCE Geography SH 2003
Olive, Charlie BSc Aberystwyth, PGCE Biology OH 2013 Partington, Emmie BSc, MSc Bristol, PGCE Geography FH 2016
Ratcliffe, Jonathan BSc Nottingham, PhD, PGCE Biology P 2016
MA Exhibitioner of Queen's Rivett, Paul Mathematics - 1978 College Oxon, PGCE
Robinson, Ingrid BSc Edinburgh, PGCE Mathematics
Rochfort, James Drama SH 2013
Roffe-Silvester, Henry MEng Nottingham Mathematics
Sage, Emma BA Durham, PGCE Classics GH/W 2014
BA Reading, MA Thames Valley, Scott, Isobel German, French GH 1999 PGCE
Shrimpton, Jeremy BA Bristol English NC 1988
Smart, Dylan BSc Birmingham, PGCE Biology, Chemistry P 2008
Soutar, Sara-Jane BA Lancaster, PGCE Learning Support
Spencer, Jayne BA MEd Newcastle, PGCE Drama GH 2016
Stanton, Louisa BA Sheffield, PGCE Spanish, French NC 2008
Taylor-Ross, Annabel BA, MA Nottingham, PGCE PSHE OH 2014
Thomas, Leah BA Southampton, PGCE English 2019
Tysoe, Oscar BA, DipABRSM Durham Music 2018
Uddin, Sal BSc Greenwich Chemistry 2017
Waters, Jonathan BA Leeds History 2018
Weaver, Emma BSc Cardiff, PGCE Psychology, RS GH 2009
Webster, Lucy BSc Exeter, PGCE Physics SH 2012
DT, Academic Head of Yrs Wheatley, Bruce MA Loughborough, PGCE OH 2004 7-11
Wheatley, Kate BA Swansea, PGCE French NC 1999
Whitfield, Polly BA Central School Speech and Drama 2018
Wielenga, Lara BEd Natal Learning Support, English SH 2013
Worthington, Tim BA Bradford, PGCE French and Spanish
Yang, Linda MBS Sunderland Mandarin - 2016
Youngs, Helen BTEC Somerset College of Arts Learning Support SH 2004
Blundell's Governors' Profiles
Co-optative Governors: Dr S B Ansell, Mr N. Arnold, Mr C.M. Clapp (Chairman), Mr N.J. Cryer, Mr N.P. Hall (Vice CHairman), Mr G L Howe, Mr P.M. Johnson, Mr M J Lovett, Mrs M. MacNeice, Mrs J.M.A. Mannix, Fr R. Maudsley, Rt Rev’d N. McKinnel, Mr I.R.G. Thomas, Mrs J.S. Thomson, Dr M.E. Wood
Representative Governors: Mr R.W. Thane
Dr S B Ansell BM BCh MA FRCGP
A General Practitioner and Medical Educationalist. Educated at Sherborne School for Girls, she read Natural Sciences at Downing College, Cambridge before converting to medicine and completing her clinical training at Worcester College, Oxford. After 14 years as a partner in a GP practice in Bedford, she moved to North Devon in 2004 and has a portfolio career as a local practicing GP, GP Appraiser and GP Educationalist. As an Associate Dean for Health Education England, she has responsibility for the training of Primary Care health professionals in the South West. She recently completed a Masters in Clinical Education with a dissertation exploring resilience in doctors in training. Mother of three grown up children, all of whom were educated at Blundell’s.
Mr N Arnold BA (Hons), App Dip Crim (Cantab)
After a career in Policing and latterly in Counter Terrorism, he retired as the Chief Constable (acting) of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. He has been a trained Gold Commander for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Attacks and was a member of the international Cadre of Hostage Negotiators working for a time in Washington and Colorado. A former director of Courtenay Associates, advisor to the Ministry of Defence, member of the Department of Health Advisory Group, member of the North and East Devon Advisory Committee (responsible for the appointment and conduct of Magistrates in N&E Devon), a trustee and director of the Plymouth Drake Foundation and of the Devon Community Foundation. He is currently the Chair, director and trustee of Devon Communities Together (formerly the Community Council for Devon).
Mr C M Clapp FCA
Currently Chairman of the Governing Body. Educated at Blundell’s, a Chartered Accountant by profession and Licensed Insolvency Practitioner with Ernst & Young (1966 to 1999) and Senior Partner Baker Tilly, Bristol (2000 to 2006). Since retiring he has acted as a consultant to Veale Wasbrough Vizards Solicitors and served as local Chairman for Clydesdale Bank in Bristol and Duncan Lawrie Private Banking in the south west. He is also a director of Thurlestone Estates Limited, a company that owns hotels in Devon and Cornwall. He is a Vice President of The Old Blundellian Club. Mr N J Cryer BEng (Hons), MCIBSE
A chartered engineer by profession, with over 30 years’ experience in property and construction. Initially site based in contracting, Nick progressed into consultancy where he led high profile construction projects for some of the world's leading property companies including Canary Wharf Group, Hammerson Plc, Prudential and Lendlease, culminating in a position on the UK Board of WSP Group Plc. In 2002 Nick established a new regional office for global cost and project management consultants EC Harris LLP, leading consulting initiatives throughout the UK and Europe as a senior partner and latterly, in the role of Head of Commercial Development. In 2009 Nick formed the property and construction company Berkeley Place, focussing on the private residential market. In parallel, Nick attracted PE and VC investment to deliver his own development projects including a 135 bed student accommodation building combined with a Sainsbury's store in Plymouth. Nick is a trustee of various charitable institutions supporting their property and investment decision process.
Mr N P Hall MA FCA
Currently Vice Chairman of the Governing Body and Chairman of the Finance & General Purposes Committee. Educated at The Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Elstree and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1980. He joined the fashion retailer The Burton Group PLC in 1984 and undertook a wide variety of financial and general management roles before becoming Finance Director of the company, by now renamed Arcadia Group PLC, in 1997. Following the sale of the company in 2002 he pursued a portfolio career as a non-executive director of several public and private companies including C&J Clark Limited, Unite Group plc and Pinewood Shepperton plc. He is married to Jill, has two grown up daughters, and has lived near Butterleigh, Cullompton since 1998.
Mr G L Howe FCA CTA
Educated at Tiverton Grammar School and Blundell`s, Graham qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Following a period with National firm Clark Whitehill in Cheltenham, he and his wife returned to Devon in 1985. A Partner with South West Accountants Bishop Fleming until 2008, he then joined the board of The Pavey Group as Finance Director. Following his retirement, roles include Trustee of the Devon Community Foundation and the Church House Charity. Living in South Devon, Graham has one son, also educated at Blundell`s, and enjoys golf, walking and rugby.
Mr P M Johnson MA FRSA
Currently Chairman of the Education Committee. Retired in September 2008 after 32 years working in independent education. He was a teacher, coach and Housemaster at Radley, Headmaster of Wrekin College (1991-1998) and Headmaster of Millfield (1998-2008). He was educated at Bec Grammar School and Oxford University where he gained an Army Scholarship, following which he spent five years as an officer in the Parachute Brigade. He has been a keen sportsman all his life and played rugby and cricket to a high level. He is a Privilege Member of the Rugby Football Union, an educational advisor to the London Chamber Orchestra, a trustee of Wells Cathedral, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a governor of two other schools. He is passionate about music, wine, gardening and books.
Mr M J Lovett BA (Ed) Hons
A former Headmaster of three preparatory schools including 12 years as Head of Truro Prep, and now an educational consultant and reporting inspector for ISI. He delivers training for prep school teachers in the South West and leads a development programme for future school leaders. Trained as a primary school teacher at Exeter University specialising in the teaching of science, he has also taught Latin, Spanish and physical education in Spain, Kenya and around the UK.
Mrs M MacNeice BCL, LLB, LLM, Barrister, BL
A barrister by profession – practising under her maiden name Martha Maher – with almost 30 years’ experience at the chancery commercial bar. She was educated in Ireland at University College, Cork and then at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and the Inns of Court School of Law. She was called to the bar of England and Wales in 1987 and has practised from the Western Circuit with chambers in Bristol. She is a member of the Honourable Society of Inner Temple and the Chancery Bar Association and has reported cases to her credit including leading cases in the spheres of partnership law and company/insolvency law. She has lectured widely on company/commercial law topics including most recently to the Channel Islands Law Societies. She is vice-chair of the Disciplinary Committee of a leading accountancy body. She is married to a lawyer, Rory, and has children at schools in the South West. She is passionate about horses and has the distinction of being the first lady barrister to have won the Bar Point to Point. Her extra-curricular interests also include gardening, poetry and of course, family.
Mrs J M A Mannix MA
Educated at Blundell’s and University of St Andrews achieving an M.A. in French. She has worked for Oxfam, NSPCC, and Wadham College, Oxford in Development Director and fundraising roles and has undertaken further development and fundraising projects for Wadham College, Brasenose College and the Ashmolean Museum. She has lived in both South America and South Africa and is fluent in French and Spanish. Fr R Maudsley
Associate Priest for St Andrews Tiverton. Working in Church schools in Devon since 2009, he has been involved in many changes and new initiatives as a full-time Education Officer, with responsibility for fifty of the one hundred and thirty church schools in the Diocese of Exeter. He has been Head Teacher of four church schools ranging from Haringey, Hertfordshire, Wiltshire and Barnet. His last headship was of a large community school in North London serving a wide multicultural community; alongside this headship experience he has supervised students and lectured on aspects of primary education at Middlesex University. As an Ofsted trained Inspector and School Improvement Partner, he has tried to balance the demands of academic achievement alongside the development of the whole child. As a trained S.I.A.S. Inspector he has carried out Statutory Inspections of Anglican schools in the London, Chelmsford and Truro Dioceses. He trained for the priesthood later in life and was ordained in St Paul’s Cathedral by the Bishop of London, serving his curacy in North London before moving to Devon in 2009. As a Blundell’s Governor, he has responsibility for Special Educational Needs and Religious Education.
The Right Reverend Nick McKinnel
Studied Law at Cambridge and Theology at Oxford prior to ordination to a London parish in 1980. Subsequently Chaplain at Liverpool University, Rector of Hatherleigh and Rector of St Andrew’s Church, Plymouth. Made Bishop of Crediton in 2012. Bishop of Plymouth since 2015. He has been a school Governor in primary and independent schools for over 25 years, is currently on the Board of Governors at the University of St Mark & St John, Plymouth, and has been a trustee of Allied Schools as well as Medic Malawi and various church charities. He has acted as a Chaplain to the police, RNLI, 29 Commando Regt., ex-services associations and Plymouth College. He is married to Jan and they have four children, six grandchildren and live in Plymouth.
Mr R W Thane BA
Educated at Solihull School and Liverpool University, he gained his PGCE at Downing College, Cambridge. He then spent seventeen years at The King’s School, Canterbury where he taught Geography and was a Housemaster of one of the boys’ boarding houses. He moved to Blundell’s in 1997 as Second Master. During his teaching career he was an Independent Schools Team Inspector, worked with the Boarding Schools’ Association as a tutor and regional co-ordinator, and was a member of the HMC Deputy Heads Committee. Since leaving Blundell’s in 2012 he has worked as a Quality Assurance Officer with the Independent Schools Teacher Induction Panel visiting schools to support new teachers and their mentors.
Mr I R G Thomas BA (Hons), MCSI Educated at Universität Düsseldorf and the University of York prior to qualifying as a Chartered Wealth Manager. He has spent most of his career at large financial services companies including AXA, Fidelity Investments and JP Morgan, where he was responsible for the Nordic region and lived in Stockholm. More recently, he co-founded a pension and employee benefit consultancy, which operates primarily in the independent schools sector. He is married to Anna and they have two teenage children.
Mrs J S Thomson BA (QTS), MBA, FRSA
A passionate educationalist who, after graduating from Warwick University, began her career at Repton Prep School as a teacher of English, Head of Girls’ Games and Assistant Housemistress. She then moved to Aiglon College in Switzerland where she spent thirteen years running junior and senior girls’ boarding houses and before becoming Head of Middle School. Returning to the UK in 2008 to become Deputy Head at Christ’s’ Hospital School in Horsham until 2016 when she took on her current role as Head of Clayesmore School in Dorset. A keen sportswoman, she is married to Frank and they have two children, who are both at university.
Dr M E Wood MA
Currently a Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University of Exeter. He graduated in Chemistry (BA 1986, MA 1989) from the University of Oxford (Balliol College) and subsequently undertook PhD studies in Organic Chemistry at Oxford, under the supervision of Professor Sir Jack Baldwin. After graduating and a short period of postdoctoral research, he was appointed to the position of "GlaxoWellcome Fellow and Tutor in Organic Chemistry", a joint appointment with St Catherine's College (where he served on the Governing Body for six years) and the Dyson Perrins Laboratory, both University of Oxford. In 1996 he joined the former Department of Chemistry at the University of Exeter as a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, transferring to the newly formed School of Biosciences in 2005, where he was subsequently promoted to Senior Lecturer. In addition to teaching, he has maintained active research in synthetic, mechanistic and biological organic chemistry and is a Chartered Chemist (CChem) and Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC).