Who We Are
The Open Spaces Society has its headquarters in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. It has over 2,600 members throughout England and Wales.
It has a volunteer network, with members called 'local correspondents'.
Vice-presidents
There are 10 vice-presidents: Lord Clark of Windermere, Paul Clayden, Roger de Freitas, Richard Mabey, Edgar Powell, John Riddall, Bernard Selwyn, Margaret Smith, Anne Wilks and Pat Wilson.
Trustees
There are 12 trustees
Rodney Legg (Chairman)
Chairman since 1989, Rodney has been a charity trustee for 35 years, including two decades for the National Trust. He has successfully claimed 640 acres of open country which are now on official maps. A professional walker, with 800 published routes, he is a prolific West Country historian and photographer.
Phil Wadey (Vice-chairman)
Phil has been vice-chairman since 2005. He is well experienced in rights-of-way legislation and successfully took a law degree part time to further his skills. Phil brings trustee skills in employment law, risk management and process development from his role as a middle manager in industry.
Diane Andrewes
Diane was a parish council footpath officer for eight years, and is a member of the Hampshire County Council Solent Access Forum and former district councillor and parliamentary candidate. Particular Open Spaces Society interests include village greens, public paths and public hards.
Chris Beney
A chartered engineer, Chris is chairman of a rights-of-way association, a local correspondent, secretary to the Hertfordshire Countryside Forum's rights-of-way group and a Ramblers' Area committee member. He sees the society's strength in its wide coverage of public access - alleyways, paths, greenways and all open spaces.
Tim Crowther
Tim has been an Elmbridge Borough Councillor (Liberal Democrat) since 1999, taking many opportunities to speak out on open space, common land and access matters. A member of the Surrey Countryside Access Forum he is a lifelong walker, seeking out underused paths and creating his own long-distance routes.
Don Lee
Manchester born, Don is at the sharp end of footpath preservation. He appears on behalf of the society in magistrates' courts and at public inquiries to save rights of way and to expose those landowners, councils and compromisers who are discomfited by our robust policy. He campaigns to retain useful urban footpaths which are too often neglected and maligned.
Peter Newman
Peter is a bookseller, and local correspondent for North Herefordshire. He fought a successful High Court case against Hereford and Worcester County Council, to force it to remove obstructions from several paths. He runs a scheme in West Herefordshire to open up rights of way, putting in stiles, bridges and signs.
Peter Turtill
Pete has always been active in rights of way issues. He is exercised by his home town, Ipswich, not having a definitive map, and faces daily battles with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council. He is also a member of Ramblers' Association and of Suffolk Rights of Way Limited.
Jackie Warr
Jackie has been a member of the society since 2000. She is an enthusiastic user of footpaths and other rights of way, both on foot and less regularly on horseback. Jackie is a solicitor by profession (now non-practicing) and has also worked in the financial services industry.
John Willson
John is a member of the Chilterns Conservation Board, chair of Chiltern Commons Network, a member of the Chiltern Society from its conception and founder of its rights-of-way group. He claimed 11 definitive rights of way in fenced woodland. He is active on his parish council and the Downley Common Preservation Society
Staff
There are five members of staff who work at our office in Henley-on-Thames.
Kate Ashbrook - General Secretary
Kate, a campaigner, became general secretary of the society in 1984. A former member of the Countryside Agency board, she is chairman of the Ramblers' Association and the Campaign for National Parks, president of the Dartmoor Preservation Association and Member of the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Managers. She is a member of Natural England's stakeholder group on public rights of way.
Nicola Hodgson - Case Officer
Our case officer is Nicola Hodgson, who helps members with queries and problems on common land, town and village greens and open spaces.
Formerly a solicitor in private practice, Nicola was instructed by Sunningwell Parish Council in Oxfordshire, whose application for a village green application went all the way to the House of Lords with a ground-breaking judgment in favour of the applicants.
Nicola is committed to ensuring that people's rights to enjoy the countryside are upheld, and is an active member of the Youth Hostels Association and National Trust. She enjoys walking and cycling and spending time with friends and family.
Moira Holloway - Accounts & Membership
Our financial administrator is Moira Holloway from Caversham, Reading. Married with a young daughter Hannah, Moira worked as a shipping co-ordinator in Theale, at a stud farm near Newmarket and as secretary to a leading horse-vet, and has had many other varied jobs.
She enjoys cycling, walking and outdoor activities, which is just as well as her other passions in life are food and cookery.
Julie Jiggens - Publications Secretary
Our publications secretary is Julie Jiggens from Woodley, Reading. She lives with her two daughters Emma and Katie. Julie has worked for the society for 18 years.
She previously worked in the accounts department for the Prudential Assurance Company in Reading
She enjoys swimming, reading, gardening, walking her dog and meeting up with family and friends.
Ruth Walker - PA/Office Manager
Our office manager is Ruth Walker. She lives in Theale with her husband.
Ruth has worked at Asda since leaving education, and more recently has worked for two years as office administrator at a large care home complex in Birmingham.
She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, walking, canal boating, music and reading.