Ann Mills
My first career was in the Royal Air Force, working in Air Traffic Control. I left to raise a family and build our own home.
My second career was in Nursing, BSc Hons Kings College London. Voted Student Vice Chairman Representative, for Royal College of Nursing Union. Spoke at Congress, lobbied parliament, represented students across the UK.
I raised money for training Midwives in Underdeveloped Countries.
I worked in Acute Medicine/Surgical Wards and gained diplomas in massage and aromatherapy enhanced patients care improving nurse-patient bond. Lectured and wrote articles on healing, having articles published in Nursing Times and Complementary Medicine Journal to encourage nurses to participate in healing modality and was invited to teach student nurses in India.
I have travelled extensively across India, as well as volunteering to work in Assam and Bangalore.
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John Fleming
I joined Courtaulds Textiles as a management trainee. My speciality became operational efficiency. In various career moves, I took these growing skills into diverse sectors such as food and tobacco through eventually to automotive engineering. I ended up as a main board director for a FTSE 350 company becoming the Chairman and CEO of their North American operations.
I left the corporate world in 2004 to pursue a new direction in Mergers & Acquisitions consulting, targeting fast growing smaller businesses.
In parallel, we set up a small family firm renovating semi derelict rural farmhouses supporting my wife’s passion for interior design projects.
I gained a BA (Honours) from University of Delhi (more…)
Sarvesh Tyagi
I was born in Delhi, India.
I gained a BA (Honours) from University of Delhi and was awarded a masters degree from the University of Central England in Birmingham. I started my career in the Delhi Stock Exchange. After various moves in career, I ended as an entrepreneur. I have been involved in importing and exporting products from far east and in-house manufacturing mechanical components for over a decade.
I am also involved in the development of residential houses and an industrial estate in Midlands area.
Nicola Mayes
I have over 30 years experience as a pharmacist and a manager in the health service, in both the NHS and private sector when I bought and developed my own business. My initial degree was in Pharmacy but I then went on to complete both an MSc and a PhD as well as managing a wide range of healthcare services including dentistry, operational control, care home support and District Nursing. I am a mother of two, now grown up children and spent a lot of time whilst the children were growing up supporting local sports and leisure groups on a volunteer basis.
I love to travel, I enjoy interior design and house renovations. I like to keep active and enjoy puzzles and brain teasers to relax.
Des Mills
I gained a 1st Class Hons Manufacturing Engineering Degree from Brunel University together with a formal training in Systems Analysis. Middlesex University conferred an Honorary Doctorate in 2007.
I am the founding CEO of The Dezac Group, which specialises in the development of innovative beauty, fitness and health products. I led Dezac’s development of an environmentally friendly landmark manufacturing facility in the UK in 1999, for which the company won the Gloucestershire Business of the Year award in 2001 and Environmental award in 2002.
I have particular experience in improving overall business performance through my focus on processes and strategies.
I have also renovated and built numerous housing and office projects in the Cheltenham area.
Jennifer Maxwell
I met Ann Mills when we joined the WRAF many years ago.
Post WRAF I qualified to run a kindergarten, coached gymnastics for 7 – 15-year-olds, helped run an amateur football club and was a pupil mentor at the local secondary school. All this on a voluntary basis.
Meanwhile, I also managed my own business selling special occasion wear and school uniform until retiring in 2004.
I now give talks on my many travel adventures since becoming a widow.
Stephen Bradshaw
I was granted a joint honours degree in Physics and Education by Nottingham University.
I taught Physics to A Level in schools in Nottinghamshire until I retired.
Shortly before retiring, we purchased a semi-derelict house with a bit of land, just outside the city. We have renovated and extended it in a way that means we can live as sustainably as possible.