TALK Surrey CIO

Hi, I’m Rebecca and I joined Talk in 2026 as a trustee.  By background I am a psychological therapist and I have worked for over a decade in psychological and healthcare settings, including the NHS.  I currently work in cardiac psychology, supporting patients to manage the impact of their health problems. 

I am passionate about ensuring that people feel heard, valued and included.  Earlier in my career, I worked in neurorehabilitation, where I co-facilitated a communication group for people living with acquired communication difficulties.  Seeing the impact that being able to express oneself and connect with others had on participants was particularly rewarding and is a big part of what brought me to Talk. 

As a Trustee, I’m keen to contribute my healthcare and psychological knowledge in new ways, supporting Talk Surrey's mission to help people find their voice, build confidence and participate fully in their communities.

Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, hiking and running with my partner, and spending time relaxing with my cat.

In addition to being a Trustee for TALK I am also the Volunteer Group Leader at Knaphill TALK.

My background is in teaching and I retired from teaching modern languages at secondary school level in 2011.

As I have always been interested in language and communication, I looked online for opportunities to explore these areas further during my retirement years and discovered TALK!  Volunteering with TALK has allowed me to pursue my interests while giving me the chance to offer practical support in the community.

I began as a volunteer in 2014 and in 2016 took on the role of Volunteer Group Leader.  Then, in 2017, I became a Trustee for TALK and feel that, in my capacity both as a Group Leader and as a Trustee, I am well placed to understand and communicate the needs of those attending a typical TALK group in order to ensure that they receive the best possible support.

Since retiring I have started learning to play the piano and have joined a Spanish class as I love learning new languages and trying them out when I travel abroad.  In my spare time I also enjoy listening to classical music and reading / watching crime fiction.

I’m Fred, and I worked for 35 years in finance before retiring in 2016.  My first roles were in chartered accountancy and international auditing and corporate finance.  This was followed by 25 years in investment banking, fund management and private client wealth management.  Throughout my career, I was closely involved in the not-for-profit and charitable sectors, from the point of view of both auditing and management of funds.

I am delighted to have taken on the role of Treasurer for TALK Surrey, having previously held a Treasurer and Trustee role for a charity which focused on brain injury.  The dedication of the TALK volunteers and the personal support given to members is inspiring, and it’s great to be involved.

I live in Woking with my family, and I spend a lot of my time looking after the garden at our home in Ireland.

I was referred to TALK in 2023, attending the Ashford group weekly to help my ongoing recovery following a stroke 18 months earlier (during the COVID-19 years). 

The amazing team of Volunteers encouraged me to consider becoming a volunteer myself, which I did (reluctantly at the time) in January 2025.  On reflection now, this step greatly helped me with re-building my lost confidence, after the inevitable isolation a stroke recoverer feels after such a life-changing event; also giving me a purpose again after feeling so low & hopeless.

I've now become a member of a team once again, having always worked full-time since my graduation; made friends not only with fellow recoverers at TALK but also the Volunteers as well as the wider charity management team. 

In April 2026 I agreed to apply to become a Trustee, as the charity board feel I can provide valuable insights of the lived experience about the daily challenges of living with Aphasia, & am pleased this application was accepted in May!

I am looking forward to what the future of TALK holds at this exciting & positive time of change in it's 30 year history.

I work in the IT Data industry and thoroughly enjoy working with a variety of people and across a wide range of projects.  My drive and passion have always been focused on how people achieve their goals – whether that be at work or in their daily life.  I joined TALK as a Trustee as I wanted to use my skills and experience to support the running of the charity, so that people living withaphasia, and their friends and families, have access to the amazing support provided by TALK.

I really enjoy spending my time with my family and friends, sharing experiences, and creating memories.  I love being outdoors, exploring new places,  walking and on those rainy days I love a good book and listening to music - especially opera.  I live with my partner in Woking and make sure every day has a smile and laughing in it.  I believe there is nothing better for our wellbeing than the feeling of happiness, no matter how small.

I am 63 years old, married to my wife Ann, and we live in North Lincolnshire, close to Grimsby and Hull.  I have four children – three stepchildren and one of my own – and a busy home life shared with two dogs, a horse, and a flock of chickens.

After leaving school, I joined the military and served for 10 years before moving into a career in IT.  I also spent six years living and working in Saudi Arabia before returning to the UK to continue developing my career.

In 2013, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which has affected my speech and, at times, my ability to find the right words.  This personal experience has given me a real understanding of the challenges faced by people with communication difficulties.

I was introduced to TALK Surrey through Tanya, who I have worked with for many years, and I was immediately inspired by the vital support the organisation provides.  As a trustee, I am passionate about supporting the continued growth of TALK Surrey and the difference it makes to people living with communication challenges.

In my spare time, I enjoy photography and travelling whenever I can.

I’m Clive and have extensive business experience in market research and strategic planning, gained from working at Unilever, various ad agencies and from running my own business.  I have also held Trustee and Governor roles in the past and I’m currently a member of the Woking DoE Forum, a Committee member of a musical theatre company in Woking and Chair of Sport Woking.  I’m used to presenting and public speaking.

I was immediately struck by the work TALK does with communication as the aim, something I hope I can help with.  I was born and brought up in Somerset, went to the University of Birmingham and now live in Worplesdon with my wife.  We’ve got two grown-up children and four grandchildren. My main interests include music (classical guitar and musical theatre), and sport.  I used to play hockey, cricket and badminton; more recently though, I’ve taken up spinning which I really enjoy.  I also love walking, reading and travel.

I’m the Group Leader at our Walton Group.

As a speech and language therapist, I’ve been involved in supporting people with aphasia throughout my 40-year career. I worked in the NHS for about 18 years, in hospitals and in the local community.  I then became a lecturer at University College London, where I worked for 22 years, before retiring in April 2021.  As Director of Studies, I was responsible for the speech and language therapy training course.  I also carried out research into aphasia therapy.

I joined TALK in 2003 as a volunteer at the Walton group. For some years, I delivered training for our volunteers and provided professional advice to the staff and trustees of TALK.  I became a Trustee myself in June 2017 because I wanted to become more involved in developing TALK’s work.  My main role as a Trustee is to liaise with local speech and language therapists and other organisations that support people with aphasia.  I feel privileged to work for TALK, helping to provide the best support possible for our members.

I live in Walton with my husband.  We have two grown-up children.  I enjoy travelling, cycling, walking, reading, knitting and going to the theatre.  I recently took up stained glass and have started to sell some of my creations at Hersham Village Market to raise money for TALK.