Meet The Team

Trustees

Rob Close

Chairman

Retired in 2010 having been CEO of a special service Bank. Awarded the OBE for services relating to the Euro. Trustee of the Percival Guildhouse since March 2016. Trustee Director of the Barclays Bank Pension Fund. Treasurer of the Barby Church Trust. Recently joined Rugby Rotary. Very active in Northamptonshire Archaeology. I enjoy spending time with my children, grandchildren and friends, reading, travelling, the Arts, running, gym, cycling, skiing and watching Rugby.

Clare Turnbull

Secretary

A love of Italian drew me to the Guildhouse and still does. I retired in 2017 after a 45-year career in journalism, corporate communications and public relations. I worked for seven years in the 1980s as chief reporter of the Rugby office of the Coventry Evening Telegraph, going on from there to head up PR and Communications for a major business organisation and later for an international law firm. Italian apart, I also love Art (viewing not doing), music (all forms),cinema, theatre and sport .

David Thomson

Treasurer

Appointed as Honorary Treasurer, Trustee and member of the Executive Committee in March 2016. Retired after 50 years as a practising Chartered consultant in Rugby in 2015. Treasurer of other local activities and director of national charity. Previously governor of local secondary school. Interests include watching cricket and golf, investing, travelling and family activities.

Peter Reaney

Reciprocal Trustee

I joined the Executive Committee in October 2015 as the reciprocal trustee for the Westham House Fund, of which I am Treasurer. I took early retirement from my role as Head of Communications with CSWP after 34 years in public service (mainly in the Careers Service). School Governor for 25+ years and have been Chair of Governors at Rugby High School for 10 years. Interests include football (supporting Burnley FC, my home town), cricket (supporting Lancashire CCC) listening to/watching music (classical and popular), history (reading and visiting historic sites), quizzing (watching, participating and writing).

David Dove

Trustee

I was elected an Honorary Vice President of the Guildhouse after retiring as the Chairman of Trustees of 15 years and standing down from the Executive Committee in 2021. In 2023 I took on the role of Chairman of the Centenary Committee which is engaged in planning the celebrations for the 100th anniversary in 2025 and re-joined the Executive Committee in December 2024. I took early retirement from after 36 years with Royal Mail and joined the Percival Guildhouse in 2003 to study French. Interests include rugby (spectating), golf (playing badly) and motorcycling (dry weather only).

Sue Maguire

Trustee

Sue is a 3rd generation pharmacist and did additional training to work as a clinical pharmacist in the NHS. She has also had a wide variety of experience in organisations such as the National Childbirth Trust, Community Health Council, ethics committees and NHS research funding. She grew up in a family of Scouts and Guides and has volunteered with most age groups. Her final full time post was teaching British culture in a Shanghai university.

Admin

Sarah Gall

Centre Manager

I joined the Percival Guildhouse in 2015 as Centre Manager. Originally as a Business Graduate I had a career in Retail Management working for Sainsbury’s, Aldi and the Kingfisher Group. After having my family I began to work in the Work Based Learning Vocational Sector both within Further Education and Coventry University. I continue to work part time in a Quality Assurance role at Loughborough College and Coventry University. I am passionate about lifelong learning and last year achieved my Master’s Degree in Leadership and Management.

Fiona Pedley

Administrator & Book Keeper

Having completed a degree in French with Management Studies, 13 years as an HR professional in the Electricity Industry and a seven year child-care career break, I joined the Percival Guildhouse team in 2008. I knew I would enjoy working here as I had already experienced the wonderful atmosphere of the Guildhouse as a student in PGH pilates classes. Being part of the PGH Admin team is extremely rewarding, very supportive and always fun. For me, the personal interaction with tutors and students is a highlight of the job. I am also Clerk to the Trustees of the Westham House Fund, a charity which has close links to PGH. I’ve never lost my love of learning so, in my spare time, I continue to study French at PGH and also fit in some pilates.

Lorraine Rosser

Administrator

After studying Art & Design in Leamington and Bournemouth, I went on to work in a diverse range of roles and for the last six years have worked at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum as a Visitor Centre Assistant (so my face may be familiar to some of you). I still have a keen interest in arts and crafts, creating jewellery and resin art pieces in my free time and can sometimes be spotted at a local craft fair. I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and becoming a valued member of the Percival Guildhouse team. In my first few weeks here everyone has been so welcoming and friendly, it’s been a pleasure to be here and hopefully I can play my small part in the continued success of this vital asset to the community.

In House Team

Tatjana Sentereva

Paul Wilkins

History