Chair of Cutteslowe Community Association (CCA): Ann Childs
I have lived in Oxford since 1982 and in the Cutteslowe area since 2000. I worked as a science teacher in local Oxford schools before volunteering for three years oversees in Sierra Leone, and on my return took up my current post as Associate Professor in Science Education at Oxford University. My main roles are educating the next generation of science teachers, supervising masters and and doctoral students in Education and doing educational research in science education.
I took on the role of chair of CCA in 2011. This has allowed me to develop real roots in Cutteslowe and to contribute to the community. It has been a privilege to contribute to the active and committed work that CCA does through its employees, volunteers, trustees, local councillors and many other key partners.
Treasurer and trustee: Don Anderson
I’ve been living in Oxford in the neighbourhood for the past seven years, and became a trustee of CCA in 2015. My Oxford connections go back to when I was an undergraduate, after which I worked as an economist in industry and then in finance. My wife Sue and I both worked in London where I first became involved in the voluntary sector, initially with a foster parent group in Camden and then as a trustee with a charity providing supported accommodation for teenagers and young adults, most of them being referred as a result of family breakdowns. Working for the community in Oxford was just another step, and a very fulfilling one it has been.
Trustee: Sue Buckley
I have been a Wolvercote resident since 1991 and a Trustee of CCA since 2017. My particular involvement has been with the Sunnymead Minnows Management Group and Stay and Play.
I initially taught French in Oxfordshire secondary schools, followed by ESOL for the Language Projects in Oldham, Stockport and Ashton-under-Lyne. On returning to Oxford I became a Special Educational Needs Coordinator in a city Middle School and then Comprehensive School until my retirement in 2010. I’m now also a volunteer Independent Parental Supporter for SENDIASS and an amateur flautist. Our three children all attended Cherwell School, and we have six grandchildren.
Trustee: Sarah Scheele
I have been a trustee for 10 years, since my arrival in Oxford. I served for some years on the finance and now on the employment sub committees. I have been involved with the safeguarding policies, and have been part of the team cooking the community lunch.
My interest in being a trustee was sparked by living in Romania for five years, where I was involved in distributing £700,000 a year in charitable donations, so I’ve seen it from both sides. My children were born and brought up in Belgium and Switzerland, and my very portable profession as a teacher allowed me to work wherever we lived.
Trustee: Shirley McCready
I have lived in the Cutteslowe/Sunnymead area since 1981 and have been a trustee of CCA for nine years. I’ve been involved in developments including incorporation of the charity, fund-raising and setting up the Sunnymead Minnows. Amongst other things I volunteer to cook community lunches.
My professional life has been in research and teaching Microbiology and Genetics and I have taught in the universities of California, Nigeria, Oxford and Oxford Brookes over a period of 45 years. My children were born and brought up in Oxford, and both attended Cutteslowe Primary School and Cherwell School.
Trustee: Hetty Baker
I moved back to Oxford five years ago having been away for 20 years. I became a CCA trustee in 2017, following my involvement in launching Sunnymead Minnows, our under five’s group. I was sad to see the closure of the local children’s centre, having used a similar centre when my children were very small, and wanted to do something to help. I now chair the Minnows Management Group. My career background is working for large financial services firms, specialising in IT Service Assurance. I also specialise in refereeing the arguments between my twins.
Trustee: Tenika Blake
Having lived in Cutteslowe (until recently) for 14 years, it was a pleasure to also work at the heart of the community, in the Centre before becoming a Trustee!
I greatly enjoy socialising, so bringing people together, whether it’s for learning or leisure has always been my favourite part.
Mental health awareness, personal development and self enquiry are close to my heart. Therefore I’m always working to support the importance of building healthy relationships and personal independence both in myself and those around me.
When I’m not deeply pondering the meaning of life, I wind down with a yummy cup of cacao, herbal remedies, aromatherapy, food, heading out in nature and/or some mindful meditation.
Trustee: Judy Davis
My background is in marketing and since returning to freelance work, I’ve become increasingly involved with supporting local Oxford social enterprises and community action groups. I first met the lovely CCA team in 2021 when the Centre hosted Creation Theatre’s summer production of Wind in the Willows in SunnyMead, and I have subsequently helped design a fund-raising campaign for Cutteslowe Community Larder. I was invited to join CCA as trustee in 2023, and look forward to contributing to building awareness of and support for the Centre.
Trustee: Noel Tuckwell
I have been part of Cutteslowe and Wolvercote community for most of my life.
I was born in Wolvercote and attended the local primary and secondary school. Later, my four children attended the same schools and they frequented the local youth Club in Wolvercote as teenagers as myself and my wife lived in Upper Wolvercote.
As a young person myself growing up in the community, I was involved in community events fundraising for the John Radcliffe hospital with a local charity called the ‘Water Rabbits’ of which my father was one of the founders.
I continued to be involved in community events later as an adult when I was employed by Oxfordshire County Council as a youth worker in Wolvercote Young People’s Club where I was also a trustee.
I have had various employments: as an ambulance driver and key support worker for children with terminal illness and special needs; family support worker in a Children’s Centre; running my own gardening business, and working in horticultural retail as a manager. In my role as manager of Cutteslowe Garden Project I worked closely with other agencies helping to organise community events.
While I no longer live and work in Wolvercote or Cutteslowe, I view the area as my home and feel passionate about the area and community.
Staff
Seniors Coordinator: Sylvia Barker
I began working with the Cutteslowe Seniors twelve years ago, initially combining this with working as a telephone charity fund-raiser. I can genuinely say that the Cutteslowe Seniors are the most feisty and up-lifting group of people it is possible to meet. We have lived through some tough times, but equally we have had such fun and enjoyed many good experiences together.
I was born in Australia but moved to the UK as a child. I trained at Kingston School of Art and St Bartholomew’s Hospital and worked as Senior Medical Artist at Radcliffe infirmary then John Radcliffe Hospital. In addition to producing illustrations for publication we specialised in making teaching programmes for undergraduate medical students and also the general public before branching out into children’s programmes for the Health Education Unit. Taking early retirement to study for a History of Art doctorate, I worked as a teaching assistant/art instructor in a school for children with special educational needs. I have also been a foster mother for nearly 50 years as well as bringing up my daughter.
Summer Playscheme coordinator: Fiona Greenwood
A former resident of Cutteslowe, I developed strong links with the community centre through participating in the activities provided. Before long I was volunteering at events such as the Christmas Fair, and organising aid drops for refugees in Calais. I’m a teacher and Forest School Leader, and in 2018 the opportunity arose to join the team as a Playworker on the Summer Playscheme. I thoroughly enjoyed my role, and returned the following year as Playscheme Leader. Post Covid, I worked as Summer Programme leader last year, and am looking forward to resuming the role again this year. I love the community in Cutteslowe, and my little boy has benefited greatly from the activities on offer at the centre. Working the centre gives me the opportunity to hang out with people I love, in a place I love – I feel very blessed!
Sunnymead Minnows Leader: Leanne McClement
I have been with Sunnymead Minnows since its creation in 2017 and set up sessions for under fives and their families, run in Cutteslowe Community Centre, Cutteslowe Primary School and the Pavilion in Cutteslowe Park following the closure of the North Oxford Children’s Centre. I was a regular visitor to the Children’s Centre with my own toddlers and ran drop-in toddler groups in Wolvercote for six years before coming to Sunnymead Minnows.
Before having my three boys, I worked as a librarian, a bookseller, a bookbinder and in publishing. I love the creative side of the job and enjoy seeing children happy and learning through play. You may have spotted me cycling around on my trusty cargo bike, and I love collecting vinyl records and writing poetry!