Trustees
Gail Millar is the founder and Executive Director of Befriended as well as being the Older Person’s Specialist for the Salvation Army covering London and the South East Region. Gail was previously the pioneer of Torch Holiday & Retreat Centre where she worked as the General Manager for 20 years. Gail is passionate about “making a difference” especially to the lives of older people. Gail is married to Stuart and they have five children and eight grandchildren. Gail and Stuart attend The Point Church and live in the village of Hurstpierpoint.
Stuart Millar is married to Gail. Stuart was born in Scotland and currently works as an Application Specialist in the field of Food Science. After working in a number of different laboratories before this, including 20 years at the University of Stirling, Stuart moved to Hurstpierpoint in 2008 when he and Gail were married. Stuart was brought up in the Church of Scotland and spent a number of years as an Elder in his local Church just outside his home town of Dunfermline, where he was also actively involved in Cub Scouts. When not travelling with work, Stuart enjoys music, computers, looking after his home, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Will Kemp is Minister in Charge of The Point Church, a local Anglican network church for Mid Sussex that meets in Burgess Hill. Will moved to Mid Sussex with his wife Caroline and their three boys in August 2004, to ‘plant’ The Point. Will is a member of the Burgess Hill ministers group, he leads the local New Wine leaders group and is a governor at St Lawrence Church of England Primary School in Hurstpierpoint. Will was ordained as a Minister in the Church of England in 1999, and worked for a church in London before moving to Mid Sussex. He is a lifelong supporter of Watford Football Club, and still plays football on a Monday night with a few other dads!
Tafrina Styles is one of the Befriender visitors. She initially trained in Hotel Catering and Institutional Management and ran her own Catering Business for several years. She then retrained as a teacher and spent 15 years teaching at a Church of England 11-18 comprehensive school in Crawley. She took early retirement and now works at Chailey Heritage as a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. She is married to Martin and they have two daughters. Tafrina attends Sheddingdean Baptist Church in Burgess Hill and is involved in the worship group as well as being the Treasurer and a Deacon. She is part of a Ukulele Variety Act band that performs regularly to those who are elderly and/or living with dementia, the lonely, those who have mental health issues or have special needs. Tafrina and Martin dance Argentine Tango, Ballroom and Latin American and take part in medallist competitions across the South East and have competed at the Grand Finals at Blackpool for the last five years.
Lizzie Lamont moved to Hurstpierpoint from London in 2016. She works part time for Holy Trinity as their Administrator and also works with a GP practice for the homeless in Brighton, and a number of other small projects, largely supporting them with their administrative functions. Lizzie is also a Trustee of Tower Hamlets Mission in London. Prior to living in Hurst Lizzie worked with Oasis Charitable Trust and continues to sit on a number of small Oasis Community Hub boards. Aside from these things she enjoys her allotment, hospitality, being out in the countryside, and spending time with her young niece and nephew in Brighton each week.
Diane Watts is a Baptist minister who is currently leading the national Faith and Society team for the Baptist Union. Prior to that she worked in community engagement for the Diocese of Chichester, having led a Baptist church in south London. Before training as a minister, Diane taught History and Politics in a boys’ school. She is married, with two sons and lives in Brighton.