Meet the team

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Robin Kendall

Chairman

Chairman (since Sept 2019)

Trustee (since Jan 2019)

Robin retired from a career in energy and natural resources sector banking to concentrate on the important things in life, including travel, fly fishing, yoga, football and volunteering.
He has lived extensively overseas, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, India and the US, which taught him that there are often many ways of getting something done.
He was previously a trustee of a pension fund and volunteer for the Samson Centre. He has a law degree from the University of London and an MBA from Manchester Business School.

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John Hambly

Vice-Chairman

Founding Trustee of the Samson Centre for MS. Chairman and fundraiser from 2003-9. Vice Chairman 2009-present

Vice Chairman of the Guildford Waterside Centre from 2006-19

Attained a degree in Building Surveying in 1983. Worked in private practice, becoming a Partner at Scott Godwin Associates from 1993 until retirement through ill health in 2007.

Diagnosed with MS in 1999 which curtailed a 25 year rugby playing ‘career’. Coach and Captain of Actonians RFC from 1988-1993.

Member of St John’s Milford PCC from 2013-present, including the role of church governor at Chandler School, Witley.

Awarded an OBE for Services to People with Disabilities in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List

Married with four daughters

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Colin Griffin

Trustee

I am the carer for my wife who has been a member at the wonderful Samson Centre for over 10 years. We have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. We have lived in Guildford for over 30 years and are involved in a number of charities and community activities connected with schools and churches, including being a school governor, chair of trustees of a mental health drop in centre, and a trustee of an organisation providing practical support to families living through hard times. I have a Maths degree and have enjoyed many overseas holidays, including cruising.

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Hilary Birkinshaw

Treasurer

Hilary is a qualified Management Accountant (ACMA) with over 25 years financial and management experience in large multinational companies. Her current role is Finance Business Partner for the Central Functions of Merlin Entertainments but her experience with the company includes the challenge of setting up and managing their charity activities, supporting children facing adversity. Having MS herself she is both a Trustee and a user of the therapies Samson Centre offers. A keen sports enthusiast she credits Samson Centre with keeping her as mobile and fit as possible but also with introductions to adaptive rowing and watersking which she regularly participates in. This in turn led her to 4 years as a trustee of the British Disbaled Waterski and Wakeboard Association.

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Liz Darke

Trustee

Liz has an emotional link to the Samson Centre as she was a close friend of one of the founding members and watched her battle with multiple sclerosis for over 15 years. Liz became a trustee of the Centre in July 2014. A born organiser, Liz has personally raised over £17,000 for the Centre since its inception. Before having two children, Liz was an account manager at a leading sports event management agency, focussing particularly on athletics, international ice skating and hockey. Prior to that, she worked in the public relations and advertising industry in South Africa. Since 2001, Liz has run her own direct selling greeting card business from home which has enabled her to work around family commitments. Liz is a big sports enthusiast and over the years has participated in horse riding, hockey, tennis, skiing and golf. Her current aim is to reduce her golf handicap!

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Caroline O’Flanagan

Oxygen Therapy Coordinator

Caroline started her career as a computer programmer in Bristol, London and Amsterdam. She later moved to a family timber importing business where she introduced computers and ran the payroll. After retiring in 2015, Caroline joined the Samson Centre initially as an oxygen volunteer, covering the office whilst Jackie was on holiday. She now works two days a week as Oxygen Therapy Coordinator. She enjoys being active – bootcamp, Pilates and walking with her two dogs and with friends. She also enjoys cooking and reading. She is married with two children – Tom who works in London and Imogen who is studying Product Design at Sussex University.

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Julia McDonald

Oxygen Therapy Coordinator

Julia joined the Samson Centre in March 2021 and is delighted she did. What a wonderful place to be involved with. After 16 years of full-time employment, mainly in television production, Julia became a stay-at-home mum to her two boys.  They are now teenagers and no longer require her around quite so much!   A homebody, Julia likes spending time with her family, walking, watching films, reading and trying to be a gardener!  During the winter months she helps out at the local ski centre as an instructor.

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Sara McGowan

Lead Physio

Sara joined the team at the Samson Centre in 2015 and has been the lead physio now for 4 years.  Sara specialised in neurology and rehab early on in her career and has had a variety of different jobs in hospitals, as a community physiotherapist and in higher education teaching physiotherapy students. When not at work, Sara likes to keep active by walking the dog in the lovely Surrey Hills. She is a certified Pilates Instructor and also practices yoga, both of which are often incorporated into her physiotherapy practice. 

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Vicky Bassett

Deputy Lead Physio

Vicky joined the Samson Centre in 2017 as Deputy Lead Physiotherapist.  She has specialised in working with people with neurological conditions for over 15 years, across hospital and community settings and enjoys problem solving and finding innovative ways to motivate people to engage in therapy.  Outside of work Vicky is frequently found looking after and riding her horse, walking her dog, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

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Maria Garcia

Physio

Maria joined the Samson Centre in May 2021 having previously worked as a Neuro Physiotherapist across Community, NHS and private settings for over 15 years.  Maria enjoys exercise based therapy, encouraging people to incorporate exercise into their daily life.   Outside of work, between her 3 children’s activities, Maria enjoys being in Swinley Forest, walking or running or going to bootcamps.

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Emma Rousell

Physio

Emma has worked as a physiotherapist for over ten years in hospital, rehabilitation and community settings both in the UK and overseas. Throughout her career she has followed her interest in working with people with neurological conditions. She has three young children who keep her busy outside work, but also likes to find time to keep active through walking, yoga and badminton, to explore new places whenever possible, and to enjoy quiet moments whilst gardening or baking.

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Mike Chalmers

Gym Instructor

Mike joined the Samson Centre in 2014 as a gym instructor after graduating with a BSc Hons degree in Sports Science. He has experience working within a commercial gym delivering personal training sessions and classes to a whole range of people, conducting educational rehabilitation sessions for hip and knee osteoarthritis and mental health. He also operates his own self-employed business as a home personal trainer when he is not working for the Samson Centre.

Recently Mike has become a very proud Father to his daughter Arabella who he adores. In his spare time Mike practices what he preaches and regularly attends the gym to keep fit and healthy, enjoys researching health and wellness related topics, spending time with family and friends, cooking and listening to music.

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Rachel Tasker

Gym Instructor

Rachel joined the Samson Centre late August 2018 and has worked part time with us ever since. Rachel is a qualified personal trainer with a personal interest in rowing and Olympic-style Weightlifting. Rachel has previously worked at the Nuffield Health gym in Guildford and has vast experience working with a wide range of individuals. Her special gift is finding the ‘can do’ in most situations and being a part of the friendly supportive team here at the centre.

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Alison Clayton

Rehab Assistant

Alison first joined the Samson Centre in 2012 as an Oxygen volunteer, having spent many years as a teacher and a few more at home with her three children.  This was such a positive experience that it helped inspire Alison to retrain to work in a healthcare / rehabilitation setting. She attained a Diploma in 2014, followed by several qualifications from St. Mary’s University including Sports massage, dry needling and several other soft tissue therapies. She joined the Samson Centre as a Rehabilitation  Assistant in 2017. Since then she has studied Strength and balance courses, and Tai chi for rehabilitation. Outside of the Centre Alison enjoys running, horse riding, travelling and learning Spanish.

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Davinia Simpson

Rehab Assistant

Davinia joined the Samson team in September 2019 as a Rehabilitation Assistant. She has two children and a dog called Rusty who she enjoys long walks with regularly. Davinia has a background in Health, Nutrition and fitness. In 2017 Davinia won a Beacon of hope award for her charity fund raising for the National Lymphoma Society.She has most recently qualified as a Gym instructor and is a keen fitness enthusiast.

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Paul Dimmock

Fundraiser

Paul, has been involved with the Waterside Centre since 2002, assisting the management team to secure the capital funding for the original  building. He is an active member and coach of the Wey Kayak Club. 

In April 2020, Paul began supporting the Samson Centre part time securing external funding and increasing awareness with public agencies and securing long term private sector partnerships. In addition to his fundraising activities, Paul combines his Kayak Coaching skills to support the growing group of Samson Centre enthusiasts with the Thursday “Samson Kayak Ergo” session.

Paul has supported a range of organisations, securing funding in the University and Local Government sectors, his funding efforts have assisted with both capital and revenue projects to promote the sport and physical activity agendas. Paul has been a Trustee of the London Sport Forum for Disabled People and closer to home with Active Surrey.

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Jackie Payne

Centre Manager

Jackie joined the Samson Centre in 2009 as Centre Manager and still loves working at the Centre even after 12 years! She previously had a career in HR, training and project management in the financial services industry. Jackie made the decision in 2009 to move into the charity sector and it was the best decision she made. Outside work, Jackie enjoys walking, swimming, Pilates, singing and working on her allotment. She has a daughter who also works in the charity sector and a son currently studying for a Master’s degree in London.