© bbforum.org.uk
Who runs the Forum ?
The Executive Committee is responsible for organising activities to meet members’ needs, for promoting the
Forum and for liaising with relevant bodies. It endeavours to maintain flexible & low cost approaches wherever
possible.
Committee members for 2011-2012
Dr Ann Dent - (Chair)
For over 30 years, Ann has worked with adults & children in palliative care and bereavement, in service provision,
education and research. With two others she helped to set up the first adult hospice in St Petersburg, Russia.
She has been a research fellow at Bristol & Bath Universities, conducting national and regional studies in Bristol,
on support given to families after the sudden death of their children, and being a lecturer on the MSc Dying &
Bereavement course in Bath. She was chair of the consultant panel of the Child Bereavement Network, and the
Bereavement Research Forum. She helped to set up branches of Cruse in Bristol & Swindon. Ann is a patron of
the Compassionate friends and Cruse Bereavement Care, Bristol. Although now retired, she is currently a fellow
of the Norah Fry Research Centre, Bristol supporting researchers in a Confidential Inquiry into people with
learning difficulties who have died. Ann has written many papers on dying and bereaved children and has co-
authored several books on child death.
Gabrielle Wilson (Hon Secretary)
Very briefly: my career (if it can be called that!) has spanned both the private and public sectors.
Apart from seven years teaching office skills, most of my working life was spent in healthcare administration and
management. This included working for the British Medical Association (Regional Manager for SW region, the
Institute of Healthcare Management (Business Manager for Wales) and Compass Healthcare (managing a team
of peripatetic occupational health nurses). My specialist subject is organising and running training seminars and
large residential conferences.
In more recent years (winding down) I have worked part-time in mental health (in a secure psychiatric hospital)
and finally in local government as Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to Wrington Parish Council. Nowadays,
my time is taken up with various voluntary roles in the community and helping out with the care of five
grandchildren.
Fiona Hetherington (Hon Treasurer)
Fiona is the director of Rhythms of Life UK Ltd a counselling and training organisation for people dealing
with grief, loss and change. She is qualified to post graduate level and has qualifications in business,
teaching and counselling. Previously Fiona was employed by The Jessie May Trust, a children's hospice at
home charity who provide respite care for life limited children. She worked as their Bereavement Support
Worker for several years, supporting the children and families of children who were life limited. Within this
role Fiona provided internal and external bereavement training. Within her training role she devised some
innovative bereavement tools. Fiona worked with the families to support them pre and post the death of
their child. She also supported The Jessie May Trust nursing staff in their work with the families.
In teaching Fiona enjoyed the challenge of working outside of mainstream education, with young adults who
have had emotional difficulties. Working with these young adults Fiona became very interested with how
change, loss and grief affected learning and people's ability to deal with everyday life. This interest resulted
in her training as a counsellor and moving to work in the bereavement field.
Gill Gill
Gill has been involved in providing bereavement care to parents and families experiencing loss in pregnancy or in
the neonatal period.
The Revd Dr Jonathan Pye
Currently Principal of Wesley College, and Honorary Research Fellow in Medical Ethics in the University of
Bristol. Also Associate Lecturer in the University of Cardiff, teaching Healthcare Chaplaincy.
Long experience and interest field of bereavement, has lectured in UK, Canada, Australia and South Korea. Own
doctoral and research interest is in peri-natal death but has also written on grief and loss surrounding dementia.
Has been a hospital and University Chaplain and taught in the Medical School in Leeds prior to coming to Bristol,
also worked as a befriender trainer for The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
He was a founder member of the Leeds Bereavement Forum and has been associated with similar bereavement
education and care in Brisbane, Australia.
The Revd Dr Victor Barley
Victor was a consultant Clinical Oncologist in Bristol for 25 years, specialising in the treatment of Gynaecological,
Head and Neck, Colorectal, Lung and Skin cancer. He was Clinical Director and General Manager of the Bristol
Haematology and Oncology Centre from 1988 – 1996, and helped to pioneer Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy.
In 1996 Victor set up the Avon Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer Services, a collaboration of 8 Trusts and 3 Health
Authorities, a model subsequently adopted nationally in Cancer Networks. Victor retired from clinical practice in
July 2003 and was Clinical Advisor in Oncology to the National Patient Safety Agency from 2002 - 2004. He is
currently Associate Priest in Chew Stoke and Nempnett Thrubwell, Chief Medical Officer of the Reinsurance
Group of America, Chairman of the League of Friends of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Chairman of the Bristol Music
Club and a trustee of Penny Brohn Cancer Care.
Christopher Griffiths
"I was born in, Cardiff, South Wales, in the late 1950's but have spent most of my life in the Bristol area of the
South West of England.My professional life has been mainly spent in the public sector where I have managed
education administration and IT training. I am qualified as a trainer and have delivered training both in an IT and
Staff Development context. I have also been trained in counselling skills in order to assist and help people in
non-threatening life situations.
I am a Member of the Institute of Civil Funerals and I have been fully trained to officiate at a civil funeral service. I
also sit on their Executive Committee. Having experienced the funerals of many family members and friends, and
been disappointed by their often impersonal and routine-like nature, I am committed to delivering a funeral service
which will be meaningful and memorable to those attending and be a fitting tribute to the deceased."
Mike Campbell
Mike represents the Bristol and District Area of Cruse Bereavement Care, and is a volunteer on their Executive
Committee. His interest in bereavement stems from personal experience and his mother's founding of the first
ever Cruse branch in Sussex, back in the 1960's when she was widowed.
He has lived in Bristol since 1972 when he started his social work and probation training at Bristol University. He
is now retired having worked in the private (selling Marley Tiles!), voluntary (with NACRO). and public sectors.
For over twenty years he worked for the Avon Probation Service before moving to Bristol City Council where he
was social services training manager for ten years. Before retiring in 2010 he worked as freelance social care
consultant.
Apart from volunteering his interests are music (he tries to play the trumpet), seeing films, competing in triathlons,
and regularly visiting France, as well as staying in close contact with his children and grandchildren in France and
the USA.
Blanka Robertson
Blanka Robertson is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Lead for the Public Health Directorate, NHS Bristol.
Originally trained as a social worker, Blanka has worked for over 9 years for various Local Authorities in England
and abroad. After completing her psychology training she worked for the South Gloucestershire Primary Mental
Health Service, delivering psychological therapies to adults with depression and anxiety. In 2007 Blanka has
joined the Bristol NHS where she continues to lead the Bristol strategy for promoting positive mental health.
Blanka’s professional interest lies in public mental health, specifically in combining effective preventative
measures and good quality treatment interventions as means of improving mental health and wellbeing of
individuals and communities. Blanka’s work includes commissioning, development and managing the delivery of
targeted preventative programmes covering a wide range of areas relating to mental health.
Lesley Russ
Lesley Russ (RGN, RNMH, BSc (Community Nursing), MSc (Public Health) lives and works in Bristol. She has
over 30 years experience of working in Health and Social care, both in this country and overseas. Her specialist
area of interest is in working with people with Learning Disabilities.Lesley currently holds 2 senior positions. She
works for 30 hours a week as the Public Health Specialist in Learning Disabilities and Autism for NHS Bristol. Her
other role, for approximately 3 days a month, is as Lead Nurse for the Confidential Inquiry (CI) into Deaths in
people with Learning Disabilities. This role involves her liaising with family members and friends of people that
have been bereaved and in supporting the team of CI nurses who meet with and support the bereaved, as
required.
Linda Morgan
Who runs the Forum ?
The Executive Committee is responsible for organising activities to meet members’ needs, for promoting the
Forum and for liaising with relevant bodies. It endeavours to maintain flexible & low cost approaches wherever
possible.
Committee members for 2011-2012
Dr Ann Dent - (Chair)
For over 30 years, Ann has worked with adults & children in palliative care and bereavement, in service provision,
education and research. With two others she helped to set up the first adult hospice in St Petersburg, Russia.
She has been a research fellow at Bristol & Bath Universities, conducting national and regional studies in Bristol,
on support given to families after the sudden death of their children, and being a lecturer on the MSc Dying &
Bereavement course in Bath. She was chair of the consultant panel of the Child Bereavement Network, and the
Bereavement Research Forum. She helped to set up branches of Cruse in Bristol & Swindon. Ann is a patron of
the Compassionate friends and Cruse Bereavement Care, Bristol. Although now retired, she is currently a fellow
of the Norah Fry Research Centre, Bristol supporting researchers in a Confidential Inquiry into people with
learning difficulties who have died. Ann has written many papers on dying and bereaved children and has co-
authored several books on child death.
Gabrielle Wilson (Hon Secretary)
Very briefly: my career (if it can be called that!) has spanned both the private and public sectors.
Apart from seven years teaching office skills, most of my working life was spent in healthcare administration and
management. This included working for the British Medical Association (Regional Manager for SW region, the
Institute of Healthcare Management (Business Manager for Wales) and Compass Healthcare (managing a team
of peripatetic occupational health nurses). My specialist subject is organising and running training seminars and
large residential conferences.
In more recent years (winding down) I have worked part-time in mental health (in a secure psychiatric hospital)
and finally in local government as Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to Wrington Parish Council. Nowadays,
my time is taken up with various voluntary roles in the community and helping out with the care of five
grandchildren.
Fiona Hetherington (Hon Treasurer)
Fiona is the director of Rhythms of Life UK Ltd a counselling and training organisation for people dealing
with grief, loss and change. She is qualified to post graduate level and has qualifications in business,
teaching and counselling. Previously Fiona was employed by The Jessie May Trust, a children's hospice at
home charity who provide respite care for life limited children. She worked as their Bereavement Support
Worker for several years, supporting the children and families of children who were life limited. Within this
role Fiona provided internal and external bereavement training. Within her training role she devised some
innovative bereavement tools. Fiona worked with the families to support them pre and post the death of
their child. She also supported The Jessie May Trust nursing staff in their work with the families.
In teaching Fiona enjoyed the challenge of working outside of mainstream education, with young adults who
have had emotional difficulties. Working with these young adults Fiona became very interested with how
change, loss and grief affected learning and people's ability to deal with everyday life. This interest resulted
in her training as a counsellor and moving to work in the bereavement field.
Gill Gill
Gill has been involved in providing bereavement care to parents and families experiencing loss in pregnancy or in
the neonatal period.
The Revd Dr Jonathan Pye
Currently Principal of Wesley College, and Honorary Research Fellow in Medical Ethics in the University of
Bristol. Also Associate Lecturer in the University of Cardiff, teaching Healthcare Chaplaincy.
Long experience and interest field of bereavement, has lectured in UK, Canada, Australia and South Korea. Own
doctoral and research interest is in peri-natal death but has also written on grief and loss surrounding dementia.
Has been a hospital and University Chaplain and taught in the Medical School in Leeds prior to coming to Bristol,
also worked as a befriender trainer for The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
He was a founder member of the Leeds Bereavement Forum and has been associated with similar bereavement
education and care in Brisbane, Australia.
The Revd Dr Victor Barley
Victor was a consultant Clinical Oncologist in Bristol for 25 years, specialising in the treatment of Gynaecological,
Head and Neck, Colorectal, Lung and Skin cancer. He was Clinical Director and General Manager of the Bristol
Haematology and Oncology Centre from 1988 – 1996, and helped to pioneer Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy.
In 1996 Victor set up the Avon Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer Services, a collaboration of 8 Trusts and 3 Health
Authorities, a model subsequently adopted nationally in Cancer Networks. Victor retired from clinical practice in
July 2003 and was Clinical Advisor in Oncology to the National Patient Safety Agency from 2002 - 2004. He is
currently Associate Priest in Chew Stoke and Nempnett Thrubwell, Chief Medical Officer of the Reinsurance
Group of America, Chairman of the League of Friends of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Chairman of the Bristol Music
Club and a trustee of Penny Brohn Cancer Care.
Christopher Griffiths
"I was born in, Cardiff, South Wales, in the late 1950's but have spent most of my life in the Bristol area of the
South West of England.My professional life has been mainly spent in the public sector where I have managed
education administration and IT training. I am qualified as a trainer and have delivered training both in an IT and
Staff Development context. I have also been trained in counselling skills in order to assist and help people in
non-threatening life situations.
I am a Member of the Institute of Civil Funerals and I have been fully trained to officiate at a civil funeral service. I
also sit on their Executive Committee. Having experienced the funerals of many family members and friends, and
been disappointed by their often impersonal and routine-like nature, I am committed to delivering a funeral service
which will be meaningful and memorable to those attending and be a fitting tribute to the deceased."
Mike Campbell
Mike represents the Bristol and District Area of Cruse Bereavement Care, and is a volunteer on their Executive
Committee. His interest in bereavement stems from personal experience and his mother's founding of the first
ever Cruse branch in Sussex, back in the 1960's when she was widowed.
He has lived in Bristol since 1972 when he started his social work and probation training at Bristol University. He
is now retired having worked in the private (selling Marley Tiles!), voluntary (with NACRO). and public sectors.
For over twenty years he worked for the Avon Probation Service before moving to Bristol City Council where he
was social services training manager for ten years. Before retiring in 2010 he worked as freelance social care
consultant.
Apart from volunteering his interests are music (he tries to play the trumpet), seeing films, competing in triathlons,
and regularly visiting France, as well as staying in close contact with his children and grandchildren in France and
the USA.
Blanka Robertson
Blanka Robertson is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Lead for the Public Health Directorate, NHS Bristol.
Originally trained as a social worker, Blanka has worked for over 9 years for various Local Authorities in England
and abroad. After completing her psychology training she worked for the South Gloucestershire Primary Mental
Health Service, delivering psychological therapies to adults with depression and anxiety. In 2007 Blanka has
joined the Bristol NHS where she continues to lead the Bristol strategy for promoting positive mental health.
Blanka’s professional interest lies in public mental health, specifically in combining effective preventative
measures and good quality treatment interventions as means of improving mental health and wellbeing of
individuals and communities. Blanka’s work includes commissioning, development and managing the delivery of
targeted preventative programmes covering a wide range of areas relating to mental health.
Lesley Russ
Lesley Russ (RGN, RNMH, BSc (Community Nursing), MSc (Public Health) lives and works in Bristol. She has
over 30 years experience of working in Health and Social care, both in this country and overseas. Her specialist
area of interest is in working with people with Learning Disabilities.Lesley currently holds 2 senior positions. She
works for 30 hours a week as the Public Health Specialist in Learning Disabilities and Autism for NHS Bristol. Her
other role, for approximately 3 days a month, is as Lead Nurse for the Confidential Inquiry (CI) into Deaths in
people with Learning Disabilities. This role involves her liaising with family members and friends of people that
have been bereaved and in supporting the team of CI nurses who meet with and support the bereaved, as
required.
Linda Morgan