Chris Earnshaw (Chairman)
Chris has lived in Lichfield for more than 40 years and was appointed a Trustee of Lichfield Municipal Charities in 2021. Chris followed a career first in Public Finance and then in IT for 45 years. Following retirement, Chris now serves on Schools Admissions Appeals Boards for three Local Authorities: Staffordshire, Birmingham and Walsall. In his spare time, Chris enjoys travel, reading, photography, setting quizzes and running.
Kevan Lomas (Vice Chairman)
Kevan was appointed as a trustee in 2024. He is married with four sons and two grandchildren. Lichfield is important to the family; he and his wife were born here, attended local schools and raised their own children within the city. Kevan has worked in the education sector throughout his working life. He was one of the youngest headteachers in Staffordshire when he secured his first headship and went on to lead several schools as well as spending over a decade as a as a senior school improvement adviser.
In 2022 Kevan took early retirement to spend more time with his family and participate in a wide range of other interests including travel, photography and gardening. He enjoys restoring classic cars, walking with his dog and engaging in a wide range of DIY projects,
Kevan still works as an associate executive principal for a local academy trust, supporting headteachers and other senior leaders to improve the quality of teaching and learning. He hopes that his experience of working across a diverse range of communities and his familiarity with the city will enable him to make a positive contribution to the work of this charity.
Hugh Ashton
Hugh was brought up in Stafford, before moving to Cambridge, and then to Japan, where he lived and worked as a technical writer and journalist for 28 years before returning to Lichfield with his wife Yoshiko in 2016. He was elected as a City Councillor in 2019, representing Garrrick Road, and re-elected to represent Chadsmead in 2023. He was also elected as a District Councillor in 2023, to represent Stowe Ward, of which he is a resident and became Vice Chair of the Planning Committee in 2024.
He has served as secretary of the now defunct Lichfield Mysteries Community Arts and also represents the City Council on other bodies. In the spare time available to him he writes Sherlock Holmes mysteries and other stories.
Colin Ball
Colin is a retired member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, having worked over a 40 year period in a number of housing associations in a wide variety of roles. Colin has also served on the Board of three housing associations. Colin is both a Lichfield City and Lichfield District Councillor, along with carrying out a number of volunteer activities (Lichfield Foodbank, Fusion Credit Union).
Colin is also a Trustee with Curborough Community Association, appointed by Lichfield City Council to that role. Colin enjoys walking, reading and going to the theatre. Colin has lived in Lichfield for over 18 years.
Judith Fox
Judith moved to Lichfield in 2020 to be close to family. Judith is a regular volunteer in Beacon Park, at Lichfield Garrick and at The Hub. She is also a Friend of Lichfield Historic Parks and a Friend of Lichfield Cathedral.
Previously Judith volunteered for many and various local and national charities and community groups around the country. Professionally, Judith has broad experience in public and private sectors, initially as a mathematician. Latterly, she worked for 10 years in Wakefield Library Service in the heart of the community.
William Henwood
William has lived in Lichfield since 1991 and was appointed a Trustee of Lichfield Municipal Charities in 2015. William is a retired local authority manager, with 40 years’ experience working in adults’ and children’s social care, and with the National Health Service. He is qualified leadership coach, with clients across the Midlands. William is a volunteer Champion with Staffordshire Healthwatch, He is also a member (and currently Chair) of the Friends of Lichfield Historic Parks.
Emma Newbould
Emma was appointed a trustee in 2024 having returned to live in the City of Lichfield several years ago . She is now semi-retired but brings a wealth of experience to her role following a career in education in both the state and public sector, and an earlier career in banking. She now dedicates time to furthering her own personal learning in a variety of areas and also enjoys walking, cycling, gardening and supporting local theatre, live music and comedy.
Thomas Roach
Tom was appointed as Trustee in 2016. He is married with two daughters who between them have four energetic grandchildren, and he has lived in Lichfield since 1990. Tom has nearly forty years experience working in human resources and has headed HR departments across a number of sectors including financial services, IT consulting, medical devices and an independent school. Tom has been a magistrate since 1996. Outside of work, he has an eclectic mix of interests from food and drink, travelling, reading, music and running.
John Russell
John has been a trustee of the Charity since joining as Mayor in September 1985. He served on the City Council for eleven years. John is a retired stockbroker and he sits on a number of charities in Lichfield and Birmingham. John hopes that, with his years of charity experience and his business and financial background, he can make a positive contribution to the Charity.
Nicholas Sedgwick
Nick was born and lives in Lichfield. Nick is a semi retired advisor in strategic planning for housing delivery and construction industry. He was a past Sheriff of Lichfield and Chairman of Lichfield District Council. He has been a Board Member and Chairman of the Lichfield Festival for 30 years. He is Chairman of the Hub at St Mary’s and Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Smiths.
Carl Stokes
Carl has worked for over forty years for multi-national companies in the food industry and has run his own sales and marketing company. Carl has now turned his hand to writing, having published four thrillers with a fictional detective, based in Lichfield. Resident in the City of Lichfield for the last thirty years, Carl joined the trust in 2007 and has served in the past as Chairman.
Deborah Sullivan
Deborah moved to Lichfield (from South London) in 1989 to take up a post as an MFL teacher at Nether Stowe School, teaching German and French. Her career spanned 34 years at the same school, undertaking a variety of roles, including teaching literacy and numeracy to SEND students and in later years, RE and History at Key Stage 3. For the ten years prior to retirement (in July 2023), she was also Assistant Head, with responsibilities as Safeguarding Lead and SENDCo, giving her an in-depth understanding of some of the challenges faced by families and individuals in Lichfield. Interests include rambling (since March 2024) and long-distance walking – having completed 9 marathon walks in the past 7 years, raising over £2500 for CRUK. She recently joined Action Challenge to undertake their Ultra Challenge fund-raising walking events (ranging from half marathons to 25km). Other hobbies include theatre, concerts and visiting historic places of interest through the National Trust and English Heritage.