Ashford Leisure Trust

 Ashford Leisure Trust - Our Trustees

  Mick Hubert – Chairman

Mick served as an Ashford Borough Councillor for 12 years and has a strong interest in building and maintaining community spirit.  Although now retired, for most of his working life he was a trade union representative and a national officer for his union. Mick brings his wide experience of life and an enthusiasm for social inclusion to the Ashford Leisure Trust Board. He works with the trust to help deliver its aims and objectives by providing leisure services for Ashford residents and visitors alike.

Mick and his wife Lesley have lived in Ashford for over 40 years.  They have 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren.  Although his interests are not now as sports based as they used to be, Mick is still an active musician and continues to enjoy the performing arts, swimming and watching athletics.

 Sarah Vant – Vice Chair

Sarah was born and grew up in the Ashford area and, having moved away for a few years for university and work, she returned to the Ashford area in 2000. She now lives in Brabourne Lees with her partner, two children and dog.   Sarah has worked for her own company as a freelance consultant since 1998. Although her qualifications and background are mainly in the IT and Telecommunication field, in practice, assignments tend to be very varied and have included a spell as a Best Value Inspector of Local Authority provided Leisure and Tourism services. Sarah hopes her practical skills in IT and local authority leisure services operations will assist the trust to develop the centre to benefit the whole community.

 Clare Singleton

Clare Singleton spent fifteen years working in the recruitment industry, where her roles encompassed sales, training and recruitment as well as leading her own staff Kent based teams. Her passion to deliver the highest levels of customer service has been transferred to her own business; REVIVE Holistic Therapy, which she started six years ago. Her work with the Trust draws heavily on her commercial business experience gained in service industries.  She has been a trustee for five years and has a particular interest in the sales and marketing aspects of the Trust’s activities.

 David Waterfield

David has lived in Ashford for the last 14 years. He has been in banking since leaving school over 20 years ago and is currently a Branch Manager with Santander. David has been a Santander Union Representative for the last 10 years and has been an Executive Board Member for the last 3 years representing London and the South East. David has a vast wealth of experience in Retail Management which includes customer service, people and performance management, risk and control and sales. David originally applied for the Trustee role in order to be able to contribute to the improvement of local services and has been a Trustee for the last three years.

Ian Kirkland

With a degree in English ad Philosophy in 1972 from York University, Ian qualified as a solicitor in 1979, working as a lawyer with four local authorities before arriving at Ashford Borough Council in 1990 and becoming Borough Secretary and Solicitor in 1995.

From 1998 he was Ashford’s Director of Community Services responsible for Sports and Leisure, Parks, Contracts and Administration, Environmental Health, Partnership Working and Community Safety until retirement in April 2009. He currently chairs the governing body of Homewood School and Sixth Form College in Tenterden and the Friends of Willesborough Windmill.

Ian spends his spare time running the music group at his local church in Ham Street and trying to play folk music on a variety of instruments.

Aline Hicks 

Cllr. Aline Hicks was elected to Ashford Borough Council in May 2007 and has lived in Ashford since 1983. Aline joined Ashford Leisure Trust in July 2011 after resigning from her position at Kingsnorth Parish Council where she had direct involvement with Ashford Leisure Trust in the negotiations for the funding of Kingsnorth Recreation Centre and was also instrumental in locating the Parish Office at the centre.

Aline has two children and three delightful grandchildren.  She is interested in youth development and is also a governor at the local primary school.  Aline is very pleased to take up the banner for Ashford Leisure Trust which gives so much opportunity for sport and recreation to the borough.  The fact that the Trust is a not for profit charity means that every penny is re-invested in the operation of our sporting and leisure activities.