Trustees

Lyn Wakefield Chairman

Lyn Wakefield was formerly Head of Human Resources (HR) with Business Link Leicestershire and Lincolnshire & Rutland.

She has also set up her own HR and project management consultancy practice, based in Lincoln.

Lyn Wakefield joined Linkage’s Board of Trustees in April 2005, she is a former Vice-Chairman and is currently Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

Colin Davies

Colin Davies is an engineer and Managing Director of Morris Vermaport Ltd, specialists in supplying, designing and distributing lifts.

Colin has previously held management positions within the National Coal Board, Express Lifts (GEC) Ltd and Anderson Strathclyde. He has a good knowledge of both the public and private sector and has over 30 years’ experience of operational and business management.

Roderick Tait

Until recently Roderick Tait was a Central Services Director with Connexions Lincolnshire and Rutland covering finance, HR, ICT, data, quality, research & evaluation, resources, health & safety, performance and planning. He has a professional practitioner background in careers/vocational guidance, including young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Roderick is also a part time ‘Additional Inspector’ for Ofsted and has held management roles within the public and private sector.

In September 2009, Roderick was appointed joint Vice-Chairman of the Board. He is currently Chairman of the Establishment sub-committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Brian Cardy

Brian Cardy worked in logistics management in the RAF and aerospace industry and set up his own consultancy in 1990 specialising in quality assurance, change management and health and safety.

He joined Linkage’s Board of Trustees in 2003, served as Vice-Chairman from 2004 to 2006 and is currently a member of the Establishment sub-committee.

John Cawley

Father of a current service user, John Cawley is a retired assistant head of the St Francis School in Lincoln (for students with physical disabilities) where he had particular responsibility for the development and design of the very successful 16-19 provision within the school and also had responsibility for the transition of students to both local sector and specialist residential colleges, which included Linkage.

John Cawley joined Linkage’s Board of Trustees in 2003 and is currently a member of the Core Services sub-committee.

Roger Harfoot

Father of a former student of Linkage College and current resident, Roger Harfoot is delighted to help Linkage as a Trustee in recognition of, and in gratitude for, the excellent quality of life that Linkage and its staff have given, and continue to give, to his son.

He established an IT consultancy following early retirement from British Gas over ten years ago and was a active member of Linkage’s Employment Advisory Group for some time and a Trustee since October 2005.

Roger Harfoot served as Vice-Chairman from September 2006 to September 2007. In October 2008 he was re-appointed joint Vice-Chairman of the Board.

He is currently Chairman of the Core Services sub-committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

John Goode

A local businessman who has been a school governor at the Priory School, Spalding, for the past 7 years; John Goode is the father of a former student of Linkage College.

John Goode has been a Linkage Trustee since October 2005.

Sheelagh Farrow

A retired special needs teacher with 40 years' teaching experience both nationally and internationally (Falkland Islands, Netherlands and Geneva); a special interest in diversity (linguistic, cultural, social, religious and educational); and an individual member of the National Association for Special Educational Needs.

Sheelagh joined the board in September 2009 and is currently a member of the Establishment sub-committee.

Michael Oliver

Michael Oliver is the father of Edward, a Linkage service-user. A former Army officer and a Solicitor since 1979, Michael spent many years at a very senior level within Boots, serving as Principal Legal Advisor from 1987 to 2000 and Company Secretary from 2000 to 2006. In semi-retirement, he is currently Company Secretary at Sports Direct International. He is also currently a member of the Core Services sub-committee.

Paddy McFarland

Paddy McFarland is an Oxford University trained Solicitor, a Senior Partner at Bridge McFarland Haddon Owen, a member of the Lincolnshire Panel of the Prince’s Trust and a Governor of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Horncastle.

He joined Linkage as a Trustee in 1980, resigning in 1992 so as to be able to continue without conflicts of interest as Linkage’s Company Secretary and Legal Advisor.

Dale Crombleholme

Dale Crombleholme is Linkage's Legal Advisor.