Development of The Horton has been led by registered charity Horton Chapel Arts & Heritage Society.
The board of trustees have been involved in every aspect of the project, supported by other volunteers, partners and specialist contractors.
Banner image above: visitors viewing the new performance space at Heritage Open Day 2021. (Photo credit: Mike Longhurst.)
Image left: trustees inspecting construction works.
WHO WE ARE
Kirstie Arnould
Trustee
Kirstie is a heritage professional, fundraiser, trainer and oral historian. A consultancy manager at the National Trust, she also led the Keeping Us in Mind oral history project to record the memories of people who lived and worked in the Epsom Hospital Cluster. The project was highly commended for the 2018 Institute of Historical Research Public History prize. Her book The Epsom Cluster: Voices from Europe’s Largest Psychiatric Hospital Complex, was published in 2019. Kirstie is a founding trustee of The Horton Chapel Project.
Hugo van Maasakkers
Trustee
Hugo has over 15 years' experience of transformational leadership in culture, heritage and hospitality, and is passionate about connecting people with culture and green space.
He has worked at places including the Science Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich, Stonehenge and Wrest Park. For the last six years Hugo has worked at the National Trust with multidisciplinary teams on a variety of projects in London and Surrey. Hugo is enthusiastic about the opportunities offered by The Horton in connecting with local communities.
Yemisi Mokuolu
Trustee
Yemisi is an independent producer and consultant in the creative sector. She is best known for her work supporting the growth and development of African creative content globally.
As a cultural manager, Yemisi has worked for the likes of: Amnesty International, Arts Council England, British Council, Goethe, Historic England and Institut Francais.
As a cultural manager, Yemisi has worked for the likes of: Amnesty International, Arts Council England, British Council, Goethe, Historic England and Institut Francais.
Ian Reeves
Trustee
Ian is a founding trustee of The Horton Chapel Project and was Chair for the first five years.
He is the director and co-founder of the Centre for Journalism at the University of Kent, a founding director of KMTV, author of The Newspapers Handbook and a former magazine editor and award-winning journalist.
He is the director and co-founder of the Centre for Journalism at the University of Kent, a founding director of KMTV, author of The Newspapers Handbook and a former magazine editor and award-winning journalist.
Rupert Salmon
Trustee (Secretary)
Rupert is a civil servant at the Department for Education working on recruitment and retention in schools. He has previously worked as head of equality, diversity and inclusion at BEIS, as a VSO English teacher in China, and as an archaeologist for the Museum of London. He is a member of the Surrey Archaeological Society. Rupert is a founding trustee of The Horton Chapel Project.
Kandia Appadoo
Trustee
A first-generation Mauritian-British woman born and raised in Epsom, Kandia has a background in brand strategy and marketing. With 15 years' experience working across different sectors, she has spent the last five with a sustainable agricultural company.
Kandia has strong links with The Horton's history as her parents worked at Long Grove Hospital. She is excited and proud that the heritage exhibition highlights her family's important experience and history.
Graham Saunders
Trustee
Graham is a social history graduate and a chartered surveyor. Partner in a large property consultancy firm and a resident of Livingstone Park for over 13 years, Graham has a keen interest in bringing the building and grounds back into use, combining his property expertise and history interests with an enthusiasm for local community engagement.
Steve Trimm
Trustee
Steve began his career working for the Conran Design Group on iconic London restaurants Quaglino’s and Le Pont de la Tour, Paris fashion house Lanvin and the 1992 World Expo in Seville. He has led creative projects around the globe for clients such as British Airways and now practices as a freelance designer and visiting lecturer.
A Surrey resident, he is the creator of The Horton brand identity and designer for the permanent heritage exhibition.
Sophie Wiles
Trustee (Chair)
Sophie began her career in the art world working for Christie’s International Auction House for 12 years, latterly as Business Director for Europe, Middle East Russia and India. She broadened her experience as Head of Operations for a new sports performance brand and as COO for a cancer research charity before returning to the art world to join Hauser & Wirth as Senior Director Operations UK.
Sophie joined the board inspired by prospect of developing an arts, heritage and community space in an iconic local venue which is round the corner from her home.
Gayle Young
Trustee (Treasurer)
Gayle has established several small businesses with her husband over the last 25 years, working as the financial lead managing everything from strategic planning to daily cash flow. Gayle also works as a Leadership Development Professional providing training and executive coaching, specialising in mental health and stress management. Outside work you will find Gayle supporting her children on the sports pitch or volunteering as a crisis counsellor.
Maria Reeves
Manager
Maria is one of the co-founders of The Horton, serving five years a trustee 2016 to 2021 and taking a leading role in management of the renovation project. A creative consultant and arts manager, Maria was previously venue manager at Ropetackle Arts Centre, West Sussex, head of marketing for the International Youth Arts Festival, and festival director then chair, of MGSO4 Epsom & Ewell Arts which she co-founded. A former national newspaper journalist and writer, Maria’s work has been widely published. She lives in Epsom and is committed to creating opportunities for all.
Skye Dearlove
Visitor Assistant
Skye has been with The Horton since we opened and has moved from a placement to a full-time member of staff. She is involved in all venues activities from the café-bar to creative play sessions and even a spot of plumbing.
Skye especially loves meeting our youngest visitors and is looking forward to putting her ideas into action as the programme grows.
Ellen Ferguson
Learning
Ellen is a creative strategist and educator with a passion for amplifying young voices in the arts. She leads The Horton Young Creatives programme.
Having begun her career as a primary school teacher, Ellen has gone on to design and lead innovative learning programmes and events for clients such as The Design Museum, The Department for Transport, Google, MGSO4 Epsom & Ewell Arts, Hopscotch Consulting and Little Inventors.
Having begun her career as a primary school teacher, Ellen has gone on to design and lead innovative learning programmes and events for clients such as The Design Museum, The Department for Transport, Google, MGSO4 Epsom & Ewell Arts, Hopscotch Consulting and Little Inventors.
Elin Joseph
Marketing
Elin is our part-time Marketing Manager. She has over 15 years of experience in arts marketing and has worked at organisations big and small, including the RSC, National Theatre and LW Theatres. Most recently she worked on the launch and re-opening of Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London's West End. Elin lives down the road from The Horton and is excited to be spreading the word about an exciting cultural offering in her home town.
Leanne Gale
Administration
Leanne is our part-time Administration Assistant.
She has worked with a wide range of community groups from young children to older people, as well as those with additional needs and mental health issues.
She is trained in secretarial administration, safeguarding, advice and mindfulness mediation.
Leanne lives locally and is looking forward to working with The Horton's volunteers and expanding the volunteering programme.
The project is also supported in specific areas by a number of former trustees:
Claire Harris (finance) and Janice Heyes (events).
Heritage partners:
Jeremy Harte (Bourne Hall Museum) and Julian Pooley (Surrey History Centre).
Volunteer heritage researchers:
Roger Cayzer, Sheila Cumming, Jane Derrick, Jill Duffin, Georgia Kitty-Harris, Lara Kirkland, Kevin McDonnell, Roger Miller, Ian Mole, John Mumford, David Shand, Amanda Spavins, Louise Taylor, Steve Tyrrell and Katherine Wood.
Thanks also to the contribution of former trustees:
Nick Barry, Lionel Blackman, George Cardwell, Sarah Dewing, David Gulland, Phil Humphrey, Sean Kelly and Julian Waters.
Funders:
The Horton Chapel Project has been funded by: National Heritage Lottery Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Power to Change, Community Foundation for Surrey, Viridor Credits, #IWillFund, Surrey County Council Member’s Allocation, Tesco, Toyota, Co-op Community Causes, Tru Vue and private donations. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have facilitated match-funding from Section 106 contributions from the companies who redeveloped the former hospital sites.
Renovation:
Architectural design and conversion of the building is being led by Crane Associates.
Design of the new cafe-bar space by Highly Creative Minds.
Branding and exhibition design by Steve Trimm.
Exhibition build by Limelight Designs.
