Governors | Blundell’s School | Senior

Mr Nigel Hall, MA FCA

Chair of Governors

A chartered accountant, educated at The Haberdashers’ Aske’s School and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, Nigel was the Finance Director of Arcadia Group PLC. He has since pursued a portfolio career as a non-executive director of several public and private companies. Nigel lives locally and has two grandchildren at Blundell’s Preparatory School.

Dr Sarah Ansell, BM BCh MA FRCGP

Vice Chair of Governors, Deputy Chair of Preparatory School Committee, Safeguarding and Welfare Governor

Sarah is a General Practitioner and Medical Educationalist, educated at both Oxford and Cambridge. Sarah has been appointed in July 2024 to the position of interim Primary and Community Care Dean for NHS England across the South West region, leading delivery of the future workforce of doctors, nurses and allied healthcare and clinical practitioners training to work in NHS General Practice. Her three children were educated at Blundell’s.

Mr James Beckly, BSc (Hons) MRICS ACIArb

James, a chartered surveyor educated at Blundell’s and Plymouth University, is the Senior Partner at Ward Williams, with over 25 years’ in the Property Sector and experience managing major developments globally in senior roles with Lendlease and Majid Al Futtaim. Committed to community Service, James is also a Governor at Marjon University and supports local initiatives via the Devon Community Foundation’s Beckly Fund.

Mr James Beckly, BSc (Hons) MRICS ACIArb

James, a chartered surveyor educated at Blundell’s and Plymouth University, is the Senior Partner at Ward Williams, with over 25 years’ in the Property Sector and experience managing major developments globally in senior roles with Lendlease and Majid Al Futtaim. Committed to community Service, James is also a Governor at Marjon University and supports local initiatives via the Devon Community Foundation’s Beckly Fund.

Mr Simon Crew, BSc (Hons) MEcon

Deputy Chair of Finance & General Purposes Committee

Educated at Exeter School, Simon has 20 years’ of leadership and strategic experience in financial services. As Head of Strategic Consulting at Benefex, Simon helps clients, including Independent Schools, shape employee benefits, risk management and insurance requirements. Simon previously served as a Governor and Chair of Finance at Holne Grange School.

Mr Graham Howe, FCA CTA

Chair of Finance & General Purposes Committee

An Old Blundellian and chartered accountant, Graham was a partner with South-West accountants Bishop Fleming before joining the board of The Pavey Group as Finance Director. He has served as a trustee of the Devon Community Foundation and the Church House Charity. Graham’s son was educated at Blundell’s also.

Rev Andy Hutchinson

Andy is an experienced educator, pastor and school leader who has served as Head of Chaplaincy at Monkton Combe School since 2015. With a background in teaching History, Theology, Philosophy and Ethics, he combines academic leadership with a deep commitment to pastoral care and spiritual development. Andy oversees the Christian life of the school community, supporting pupils and staff while helping to foster Monkton’s ethos of kindness, service, faith and belonging. He previously served as Curate and Associate Minister at St Giles’ Church, Derby, and began his career as a History teacher and Assistant Housemaster at Queen’s College, Taunton. A qualified teacher with a degree in Theology and Pastoral Studies, Andy is also a keen musician, sports coach and trustee, dedicated to helping young people grow in character, confidence and faith, as well as being an Old Blundellian. 

Olivia Pinkney CBE QPM DL

Olivia served as the Chief Constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary for 7 years, until 2023, and has led UK policing for children & young people, including youth justice. During her tenure, the Constabulary was consistently graded well by Inspectorates and nationally recognised for being an Inclusive Employer. Olivia now dedicates her time to roles which focus upon societal improvement. She shares her time between: Stonepillow, a Charity empowering homeless people to transform their lives; Senior Associate Fellow with The Police Foundation; Member of the Advisory Council of The Howard League for Penal Reform; advisor to senior officials; contributing to public sector leadership development through the Windsor Leadership Trust; and, within the private sector, she advises Accenture in their work supporting public safety. Olivia is an Old Blundellian.

Mr Michael Huntingford, ACA BSc

Chair of Education Committee and Sustainability Governor

Michael has worked within the offshore wind energy sector in the UK since 2001 and previously spent six years developing a large-scale agribusiness in Zambia. He is chair of a regional not-for-profit energy consultancy and is extensively involved in his local community in West Somerset.

Mr Leigh Menheneott, BEd, MBA

Boarding Governor and ECT Governor

A teacher and former Blundell’s Housemaster from 2001 to 2014, Leigh serves on the Board of Governors as the Common Room Representative. During his tenure at Blundell’s he made partnerships with local primary schools and built links for Blundell’s abroad in Laos, working with Blundell’s pupils to enhance opportunities for girls’ education. Leigh’s four children were all educated at Blundell’s and he has a grandchild at Blundell’s Preparatory School.

Mr Martin Reader

Martin brings extensive experience in leading schools to the Blundell's Governing body. Having been Senior Deputy Head at Reigate Grammar, he was Head of Wellington School in Somerset for eight years before being appointed as Head of Cranleigh School in 2014, where he served for a further ten. A strong advocate for the benefits of boarding education, he was Chair of the Boarding Schools’ Association in 2017-18 and is now the Chair of the BSA Foundation. Martin is a Director of Schools of Tomorrow, and a trustee of Go Chatter Studios and a boarding governor at Blundell’s School . He is an inspector for Independent Schools’ Inspectorate. Martin read English Language and Literature at University College, Oxford where he continued to take an MPhil in English Studies (1100-1500). He also has an MBA in School Leadership International from Hull University. 

Mrs Daya Rees, BA (Hons) CPE/Dip Law

Lead Safeguarding Governor

Daya is a practising barrister, specialising in Children Act cases. Educated Taunton School, UCL, The City University and the Inns of Court School of Law, Daya utilises her considerable experience in this field in her Safeguarding roles for both the Preparatory and Senior Schools. Daya’s two children were both educated at Blundell’s.

Dr Andy Smith, BSc MB ChB DCH DRCOG MRCGP

Chair of Governance Committee, SEND Governor and Health & Safety Governor

Former Executive Medical Director at South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust and highly experienced in emergency medicine & medical leadership, Andy was a General Practitioner for 23 years and now lectures at the University of Exeter Medical School. He continues to volunteer as a first responder for medical emergencies. Andy’s two children were educated at Blundell’s.

Mr Ian Thomas, AFPS STEP CFP

Chair of Investment and Philanthropy Committee

A Chartered Wealth Manager, educated at Universität Düsseldorf and the University of York, Ian has spent most of his career at at financial services companies including AXA, Fidelity Investments and JP Morgan. He is currently a Director at Moore Kingston Smith, advising employers on workplace pensions and employee benefits.

Mr Charles Maunder, LLB

Charles is an Old Blundellian and parent to two children who were educated at Blundell’s from the Pre-Prep through to the senior school.  Charles spent his career working as a solicitor in the City of London, most recently as a partner in Pinsent Masons LLP specialising in financial restructuring work.  Since May 2025, Charles has been working part-time as a consultant to Pinsent Masons while also pursuing other interests.

Professor Mark Wood, BA MA DPhil

Deputy Chair of Education Committee

A Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Mark was educated at Balliol College Oxford and appointed as a ‘GlaxoWellcome Fellow and Tutor in Organic Chemistry’ by Dyson Perrins Laboratory and Catherine's College Oxford, where he was a governor for 6 years. He is an Associate Professor in Organic Chemistry at Exeter University.