CHARITY TRUSTEES
Eight villagers have stepped forward to become inaugural charity trustees. These individuals having helpful links within the village and valuable skills that they can apply.
Thank you for taking an interest in us and what we do. We are all passionate about supporting the Charity which ultimately benefits the village and it's local community, along with lots of other great initiatives. Please take the time below to learn a little about us, along with why we wanted to support this wonderful cause.
Name: Ian Purvey
When did you move in to the village?
March, 2021
What do you like most about living in the village?
I feel I?m part of a community like no other. The village is filled with an eclectic demographic of welcoming and wonderful people. The inhabitants in this village have contributed to memories that I will recollect with fondness for the rest of my life.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I wanted to live close to where I work and was looking for a pretty, rural location. I was also searching for a village with a strong neighbourly connection.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
This community does not function without all of us contributing to its success and like anything in life, I can?t keep taking from it without giving something back. I want to support the village and it?s people, while also respecting the values that you all hold.
I want to be in the charity to help ensure the longevity of this community. It is the people that make this location special and without this village culture we have nothing. We are incredibly lucky to have each other and part of what makes us all good people is our consideration of our neighbours.
Through the charity, I want to ensure we remain true to our values and support others who need help as well as ourselves. This is a significant contributor to what makes us a village like no other.
Name: David McLindon
When did you move in to the village?
August, 2002
What do you like most about living in the village?
The village is a thriving community and a stunning location for people who come to the area. It's impressive how the influx of residents have revitalised the area.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
We moved from a small semi detached to a "project house" which was in severe disrepair and as such a house we could afford with 4 bedrooms in the area with a bus link to the schools for our children. Plus the area looked nice and a village seamed welcoming.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I have spent nearly half my life in Swalcliffe and seen it grow from a place where people arrived on a Friday night and were gone by Sunday morning, leaving a ghost village during the week. Now most people live here permanently with their families and the village is a wonderful place to be.
The charity's role in providing stability and support for growth is crucial for maintaining this positive momentum and I am glad to be a small cog in the story.
Name: Martin Collett
When did you move in to the village?
July, 2014
What do you like most about living in the village?
We stumbled across the village almost by accident back in 2014 and immediately knew it was somewhere we wanted to live. Since then, we have made a life here surrounded by the beautiful countryside and as part of a wonderful community.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I love the sense of community spirit and the way that everyone cares about their neighbours.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I've spent my professional career working to support rural communities. Being involved with the Charity lets me use this knowledge and my skills to benefit somewhere I care about.
Name: Steve Gandy
When did you move in to the village?
September, 2014
What do you like most about living in the village?
We were local to the area, having lived for the previous 10 years in Sibford Ferris. So, when the time came to move, and an opportunity arose to purchase a house close by in such a lovely village we jumped at it!
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I have been struck by the great sense of community in the village. The people are open, friendly and engaging. We have a diversity of backgrounds, professions and interests here which add to the social mix that makes the village a great place to be.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
When I first came to the village I was working and travelling a lot in the UK and overseas, so was not able to fully engage in the life of the village. Having stepped back from full time work I wanted to get more involved in the community but also be able to use the skills I had developed during my working life. I first became involved in the renovation of our Community Hall, then joining the Parish Council, now in the role of Chair. The creation of the Charity and transfer of the Community Hall into it has been led by Parish Council members. I am keen to maintain a strong positive link between the Charity and the Council, plus continue the ongoing work to develop our Hall.
Name: Peter Morgan
When did you move in to the village?
June, 2005
What do you like most about living in the village?
I wanted to move from London and found a nice small house with a lovely garden in a sociable village with a pub. I moved here in 2005 as a weekender and then moved fulltime in 2013. I moved to Sibford Gower in 2016 but returned to Swalcliffe in 2023, although to a different house.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
The village has a real sense of community and is very sociable.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I want to get re-involved wih the community after being away for a few years.
Name: Nico Borkmann
When did you move in to the village?
October, 2018
We moved to Swalcliffe in October 2018 as weekenders from London. With the beginning of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 we permanently moved to this village with our two daughters Carla and Paula. Our son Anton stayed in London rescuing his brewery business "German Kraft"
What do you like most about living in the village?
Living in Swalcliffe with it's surrounding beautiful countryside and special community is most enjoyable. The people make the village and we are thankful to have so many brilliant and entertaining people within our village.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
We knew the area very well because from 1995 to 2002 we owned a weekend cottage in Hornton. The search of a house for the future life after London concentrated on this area for several years. When we saw Langsat House, we immediately decided that this is the house and bought it in 2014. It was rented out until October 2018. The location within a lovely village and the short walk to the pub over the graveyard where additional and contributing factors in favour!
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
Helping to improve the community to become an even more desired place to live, drives me to be a trustee. The charity will financially support community initiatives, motivate villagers to volunteer in its fund raising and other activities surrounding our village assets.
Name: Kate Foley
When did you move in to the village?
January, 1986
What do you like most about living in the village?
As a Londoner, I can truly say that belonging to such a small and tight knit community has been a real privilege and a wonderful place to bring up a family.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I first moved to Swalcliffe in 1986 as a weekender and became a full resident in 2001.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I've been involved in organising many village events over the years and have been a Governor at Sibford Primary School, I'm also the Chair of the village hall committee. I see the role of Trustee as another way of investing in the future of our village to create a legacy for future residents and their families.
Name: Laura Holloway
When did you move in to the village?
March 2021, during lockdown
What do you like most about living in the village?
The people! There is such a great and wide ranging mix of characters and backgrounds, and we have been made to feel so welcome and included since we arrived here.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
We were looking for a rural location that still offered an easy commute to work. When we came to look around our now neighbour told us that every day in this beautiful countryside would feel like being on holiday, and she wasn't wrong!
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
Having initially become involved as a volunteer on the Christmas Market committee, I saw the role as trustee with the charity as a great opportunity to support all of the people who do so much for this village and to help ensure that we build sustainable foundations and operations to continue to invest in the future of our amazing village.
CHARITY TRUSTEES
Eight villagers have stepped forward to become inaugural charity trustees. These individuals having helpful links within the village and valuable skills that they can apply.
Name: Ian Purvey
When did you move in to the village?
March, 2021
What do you like most about living in the village?
I feel I?m part of a community like no other. The village is filled with an eclectic demographic of welcoming and wonderful people. The inhabitants in this village have contributed to memories that I will recollect with fondness for the rest of my life.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I wanted to live close to where I work and was looking for a pretty, rural location. I was also searching for a village with a strong neighbourly connection.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
This community does not function without all of us contributing to its success and like anything in life, I can?t keep taking from it without giving something back. I want to support the village and it?s people, while also respecting the values that you all hold.
I want to be in the charity to help ensure the longevity of this community. It is the people that make this location special and without this village culture we have nothing. We are incredibly lucky to have each other and part of what makes us all good people is our consideration of our neighbours.
Through the charity, I want to ensure we remain true to our values and support others who need help as well as ourselves. This is a significant contributor to what makes us a village like no other.
Name: David McLindon
When did you move in to the village?
August, 2002
What do you like most about living in the village?
The village is a thriving community and a stunning location for people who come to the area. It's impressive how the influx of residents have revitalised the area.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
We moved from a small semi detached to a "project house" which was in severe disrepair and as such a house we could afford with 4 bedrooms in the area with a bus link to the schools for our children. Plus the area looked nice and a village seamed welcoming.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I have spent nearly half my life in Swalcliffe and seen it grow from a place where people arrived on a Friday night and were gone by Sunday morning, leaving a ghost village during the week. Now most people live here permanently with their families and the village is a wonderful place to be.
The charity's role in providing stability and support for growth is crucial for maintaining this positive momentum and I am glad to be a small cog in the story.
Name: Martin Collett
When did you move in to the village?
July, 2014
What do you like most about living in the village?
We stumbled across the village almost by accident back in 2014 and immediately knew it was somewhere we wanted to live. Since then, we have made a life here surrounded by the beautiful countryside and as part of a wonderful community.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I love the sense of community spirit and the way that everyone cares about their neighbours.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I've spent my professional career working to support rural communities. Being involved with the Charity lets me use this knowledge and my skills to benefit somewhere I care about.
Name: Steve Gandy
When did you move in to the village?
September, 2014
What do you like most about living in the village?
We were local to the area, having lived for the previous 10 years in Sibford Ferris. So, when the time came to move, and an opportunity arose to purchase a house close by in such a lovely village we jumped at it!
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I have been struck by the great sense of community in the village. The people are open, friendly and engaging. We have a diversity of backgrounds, professions and interests here which add to the social mix that makes the village a great place to be..
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
When I first came to the village I was working and travelling a lot in the UK and overseas, so was not able to fully engage in the life of the village. Having stepped back from full time work I wanted to get more involved in the community but also be able to use the skills I had developed during my working life. I first became involved in the renovation of our Community Hall, then joining the Parish Council, now in the role of Chair. The creation of the Charity and transfer of the Community Hall into it has been led by Parish Council members. I am keen to maintain a strong positive link between the Charity and the Council, plus continue the ongoing work to develop our Hall.
Name: Peter Morgan
When did you move in to the village?
June, 2005
What do you like most about living in the village?
I wanted to move from London and found a nice small house with a lovely garden in a sociable village with a pub. I moved here in 2005 as a weekender and then moved fulltime in 2013. I moved to Sibford Gower in 2016 but returned to Swalcliffe in 2023, although to a different house.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
The village has a real sense of community and is very sociable.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I want to get re-involved wih the community after being away for a few years.
Name: Nico Borkmann
When did you move in to the village?
October, 2018
We moved to Swalcliffe in October 2018 as weekenders from London. With the beginning of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 we permanently moved to this village with our two daughters Carla and Paula. Our son Anton stayed in London rescuing his brewery business "German Kraft"
What do you like most about living in the village?
Living in Swalcliffe with it's surrounding beautiful countryside and special community is most enjoyable. The people make the village and we are thankful to have so many brilliant and entertaining people within our village.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
We knew the area very well because from 1995 to 2002 we owned a weekend cottage in Hornton. The search of a house for the future life after London concentrated on this area for several years. When we saw Langsat House, we immediately decided that this is the house and bought it in 2014. It was rented out until October 2018. The location within a lovely village and the short walk to the pub over the graveyard where additional and contributing factors in favour!
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
Helping to improve the community to become an even more desired place to live, drives me to be a trustee. The charity will financially support community initiatives, motivate villagers to volunteer in its fund raising and other activities surrounding our village assets.
Name: Kate Foley
When did you move in to the village?
January, 1986
What do you like most about living in the village?
As a Londoner, I can truly say that belonging to such a small and tight knit community has been a real privilege and a wonderful place to bring up a family.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
I first moved to Swalcliffe in 1986 as a weekender and became a full resident in 2001.
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
I've been involved in organising many village events over the years and have been a Governor at Sibford Primary School, I'm also the Chair of the village hall committee. I see the role of Trustee as another way of investing in the future of our village to create a legacy for future residents and their families.
Name: Laura Holloway
When did you move in to the village?
March 2021, during lockdown
What do you like most about living in the village?
The people! There is such a great and wide ranging mix of characters and backgrounds, and we have been made to feel so welcome and included since we arrived here.
Why did you choose to live in the village?
We were looking for a rural location that still offered an easy commute to work. When we came to look around our now neighbour told us that every day in this beautiful countryside would feel like being on holiday, and she wasn't wrong!
Why Do you want to support the Charity?
Having initially become involved as a volunteer on the Christmas Market committee, I saw the role as trustee with the charity as a great opportunity to support all of the people who do so much for this village and to help ensure that we build sustainable foundations and operations to continue to invest in the future of our amazing village.