About us

Paul Chandler

Paul was appointed Chair of Lord Crewe’s Charity in February 2025.

Formerly Chief Executive of Traidcraft, the fair trade organisation, and for nine years a non-executive director of The Co-operative Group, Paul has held numerous non-executive and trustee positions in charities, businesses and public sector organisations. He is currently Vice Chair of Chapter at Durham Cathedral and a member of the Church of England’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group.

Simon Riddell

Simon was appointed as a trustee in February 2023 and currently serves as Vice-Chair. Simon manages his family estate which consists of in hand farming, forestry, tenanted farms and let residential property; he is also a longstanding trustee of a small charity in Lancashire which uses income from property and investments to support local religious and other charities. His earlier career was in the Army and then in industry, including working for the US multi-national Procter & Gamble managing well-known brands such as Pampers.

The Venerable Dr Catherine Sourbut Groves

Catherine has served as trustee of Lord Crewe’s Charity since Feb 2022, as a nominated trustee by the Bishop of Newcastle, and as Archdeacon of Lindisfarne since 2020. She grew up in York, loves the North East and is additionally a trustee of Community Action Northumberland, Seahouses Hostel and the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance. Catherine previously served for 13 years as a parish priest in various contexts including urban deprived, rural and semi-rural. Prior to ordination she was a social scientist. She represents the North East on the National Exec of the College of Archdeacons of England and Wales and the Diocese of Newcastle on the Church of England General Synod.

Robert Hunter

Robbie was appointed as a trustee in May 2023. He is an investment director of Church House Investments, a private client investment management company. He has been on the board of a number of local charities and foundations including the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge, The Tweed Forum, Historic Houses and Kelso Racecourse and lives in Northumberland.

Nigel Clifford CBE

Nigel is the 40th Rector (or head) of Lincoln College in the University of Oxford. Lincoln College was attended by Lord Crewe as an undergraduate and then served by him as a Fellow and, ultimately, as its 18th Rector.

Lord Crewe’s will remembers the College, and the Rector is invited to serve on Lord Crewe’s Charity. However, the Rector’s role is one of a regular charity trustee, with responsibility to serve the interests of all potential beneficiaries.

Nigel is a trustee of a number of religious, medical and scientific charities associated with Oxford University, and serves on the Oxford University Council. His earlier career was in the public and private sector, including running Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Ordnance Survey.

He has a strong affinity with the region of the North East, as his wife is from Morpeth which they visit often.

The Venerable Libby Wilkinson

Libby became a trustee of Lord Crewe’s Charity in January 2025, as a nominated trustee by the Bishop of Durham.

Libby became the Archdeacon of Durham in August 2020 and had fifteen years of parish ministry experience prior to this role. Before ordination, she worked as a Business Analyst in the insurance industry. She holds other trustee responsibilities in addition to Lord Crewe, is a Canon at Durham Cathedral and, since 2021, has been a panel member for the Interim Support Scheme for Survivors of Church-Related Abuse.

Jonathan Ball OBE

Jonathan is currently Director of Charity Strategy and Funding at Greenwich Hospital, the Royal Navy’s oldest charitable foundation based in London, providing £11m annually in grants and project funding to the serving and former serving Royal Navy community and support organisations.

He originally served as a Church of England priest and Army chaplain, which included service with the Royal Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. On leaving the Army he was chaplain to the Bishop of Salisbury, then Chief Executive of The Royal Marines Charity for 10 years, leading a series of charity mergers to deliver a combined whole service delivery charity and membership association. He has chaired a tri-service military charity for wounded and injured personnel, and a nationwide network of military associations.

Oliver Knight

Oliver was appointed as a trustee in February 2026. His experience includes executive and non-executive positions for listed, private and charitable organisations of different sizes. He has founded an agricultural technology spin-out business from University of Edinburgh, acts as an independent advisor to North East Museums, runs a UK commercial property company and acts as trustee for Ford & Etal Estates – a mixed-use rural estate in North Northumberland spanning agriculture, forestry, residential and commercial property. Oliver was previously a senior executive at Lloyds Banking Group and a strategy consultant with Accenture. Oliver actively supports development in the North East through commercial and charitable organisations.

Our Clerk

Michael Orde was appointed clerk to the Charity in March 2022. His role is to undertake the Charity's administration and to advise Trustees on governance matters. Michael previously managed the Charity's property assets from 2011.

michael.orde@lordcrewescharity.co.uk

Our Trustees