THE ARTS SOCIETY NADDER VALLEY
HELEN OBORNE
Chair
Helen moved to Swallowcliffe from Cambridgeshire just before lockdown. She joined the Arts Society to meet fellow enthusiasts. She sang and acted when young, and really wanted to go to Art School, but ended up reading Archeology at Durham. She became a Management Consultant in London, then did an Interior Design course, moved to Cambridgeshire and took up decorative painting, so she brings a wealth of Arts knowledge and experience to our committee. Helen was elected Chair in April 2024.
CLAIRE WITHAM
Vice Chairman and Study Day Organiser
Claire lives in Tisbury, retiring here after a 33 year career in teaching, 18 of which was as a head teacher. She has always been interested in many aspects of the arts and in particular Sculpture, abstract art, Picasso and Degas, particularly his ballerinas for their wonderful sense of movement.
CLARE BARHAM
Membership Secretary
Clare moved back to her roots in Cranborne Chase in 2011 and retired in 2014 after a career in education, including developing national education policy. She is now enjoying addressing her own, woefully poor, Arts education, including through holidays spent browsing galleries and various creative activities. She also enjoys volunteering in several capacities in Tisbury, including as Chair of Governors of the local primary school. Having served as Chair of the Society between April 2021 and April 2024, we are delighted that Clare has volunteered to remain on the Committee and apply her knowledge of our valued members as our Membership Secretary.
WANNIE JONES
Secretary
Wannie was elected to the committee in April 2021 and has lived in Tisbury for five years. Having enjoyed the varied lectures and with a life long interest in the Arts she is keen to see the Society flourish and to meet like minded people locally.
NICK OBORNE
Treasurer
Nick is of local stock, brought up in Horningsham, the Longleat estate village, and educated at Sherborne. Having lived for many years near Cambridge, retirement has given him the opportunity to return home to the West Country, moving to Swallowcliffe in 2019. The Nadder Valley Arts Society gives Nick and his wife, Helen, huge pleasure and has brought them many friends.
JOHN GRINSTEAD MBE
Website and Social Media Administrator
John has lived in Tisbury for five years and was elected to the committee in April 2021. Knowing what he likes without knowing an awful lot about art, he joined the Arts Society as a way of learning more about the Arts whilst meeting new people from the area.
LESLEY GRAYSON
Programme Secretary
Lesley came to the Chalke Valley four years ago as she wanted to move to an area she knew through her Father. She was a Picture Researcher/Editor in art card and book publishing for 20 years and is particularly interested in architecture and contemporary ballet. As Programme Secretary, she works with the Committee to research and schedule a varied and interesting programme of lectures, bringing some of her knowledge and interests to bear.
KATE PRIOR
Committee Member
Kate has lived in Tisbury since 2005 but in the area a lot longer. She was a member of another local Arts Society for a few years and loved the lectures so when the Nadder Valley Society was formed she took on the role of Programme Secretary. Having spent two years esatblishing an exciting and varied lecture programme, she has now rejoined the Committee as our Study Day Organiser.
JULIA KILLICK CBE
Volunteer Coordinator
Julia has lived in Tisbury for over ten years having been moved here by The Prison Service to run HMP Guys Marsh in Shaftesbury. She remained here even though she moved to run HMP Holloway for her final tour of duty before retiring in 2015. Her work with prisoners highlighted the incredible impact the Arts, in all its forms, can have by creatively engaging women especially, and to find alternatives to crime. She has thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of lectures and the warm and friendly welcome, particularly as bar person and wants new members to feel equally welcome.
DEBBIE COCKREAN
Ex Officio - Young Arts
Debbie took on the role of Young Arts Representative towards the end of 2019. Having retired from the education world she is now a part-time manager of one of Wiltshire’s mobile libraries. She is also
Chair of Trustees for the charity Home-Start South Wiltshire. Her spare time is usually enjoyed with family, walking, gardening or exploring all the different Arts!
SEAN MORAN FRSA
Ex Officio - Visits & Holidays
Sean helped to launch the Nadder Valley branch of the Arts Society in December of 2017 and served as the Inaugural Chair of the Society until April 2021. After a career in banking and consulting, Sean moved to Tisbury in 2014 where he is involved in a number of local community and charitable organisations. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and serves on their Finance and Charity Committees. He is a Freeman of the City of London, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a London Blue Badge Guide (a retirement hobby). Sean loves travel, history, and exploring all that the Arts has to offer.