Unit Leaders and Volunteers 

Linda Chapman MBEAndy Blundell and Linda Chapman, our two Unit Leaders, have both worked for the D of E Award in Tonbridge as Field Officers for over 30 years, delivering high quality advice, support and training for young people wishing to complete their Gold Awards.  We also have a very experienced team of volunteer trainers, expedition supervisors, assessors and advisers to support you in your quest for Gold.  Some have been involved with the D of E Award for many years, while others have achieved their Gold Award relatively recently and are now working with the Tonbridge Gold team.  Seven members of the team hold the Mountain Leader qualification (ML) and five others are in the process of becoming mountain leaders.  Six others are basic expedition leaders (BEL), fourteen are minibus drivers (MiDAS), and six are D of E expedition assessors.  Most of the team have first aid qualifications.  Several are themselves Gold Award holders.  All our UK leaders and volunteers are subject to CRB checks through Kent Youth.

Andy Blundell is a retired headmaster and very experienced mountaineer and qualified Mountain Leader who specialises in expedition training and assessment.  He is also a qualified minibus driver.

Linda Chapman was awarded an MBE in 2011 for her work as a D of E Field Officer, advises on all the other sections and looks after much of the administration. 

Peggy Hill is responsible for Registrations and is your first point of contact when you join Tonbridge Gold.

Tom Allwood is an IT Manager at Weald of Kent Grammar School and a member of the D of E team there, involved at bronze, silver and gold level.  He holds a Basic Expedition Leader qualification.

Chris Blundell is a retired teacher and an experienced hillwalker who has been involved with Tonbridge DofE training and practice expeditions for nearly 20 years.

Sarah Bowes is mostly involved with training and assessing at the bronze and silver levels of the Award in Kent.  She has just joined the Tonbridge Gold team as a qualified minibus driver and to gain more experience in wild country.

Martin Davies is a medical student who has just joined the Tonbridge Gold team.  He is an experienced mountaineer and a qualified Mountain Leader.

Alice Du Preez is a trainee midwife and completed her DofE Gold while at Tonbridge Grammar School.  She is an experienced mountaineer and a qualified Mountain Leader.  Alice leads World Challenge trips to various parts of the world in her spare time!

Andy Hill is a surveyor and completed his DofE Gold while at Judd School.  He is an experienced mountaineer and is working towards his Mountain Leader qualification.  Andy is also a qualified minibus driver.

Gordon Hill currently teaches English to foreign students and is an experienced hillwalker.  He was involved as an expedition trainer and assessor at bronze and silver level before joining the Tonbridge Gold team.  Gordon is also a qualified minibus driver.

Chris Jesson is a geography teacher and completed his DofE Gold while at Judd School.  He is an experienced mountaineer, holds a Basic Expedition Leader qualification and is working towards his Mountain Leader qualification.

Mark Leach is an IT Manager at Barclays Bank and an experienced hillwalker.  He holds a Basic Expedition Leader qualification and is working towards his Mountain Leader qualification.  Mark is also a qualified minibus driver.

Bob Maddison is a retired lecturer and holds a Basic Expedition Leader qualification.  He is mostly involved with training and assessing at the bronze and silver levels of the Award but sometimes helps out at Tonbridge Gold with training and is a qualified minibus driver.

Dr. Kate Marks is Head of Mapping & Modelling (Flood & Coastal Risk Management) at the Environment Agency and is an experienced mountaineer who holds a Mountain Leader qualification.  She has been involved with the Award in Kent for a number of years.  Kate is also a qualified minibus driver.

Steve Parsons is the Premises Manager at Weald of Kent Grammar School and leads the D of E team there, involved at bronze, silver and gold level.  He holds a Basic Expedition Leader qualification and is an expedition assessor up to Gold level.  Steve is also a qualified minibus driver.

Alan Powell is a retired engineer and very experienced mountaineer.  He holds a Mountain Leader qualification and has been an assessor at bronze and silver level.

Jackie Powell is an experienced hillwalker and has been involved with Tonbridge DofE training and practice expeditions for many years.

Jo Rhoden completed her DofE Gold while at Tonbridge Grammar School.  She is an experienced mountaineer and is working towards obtaining her Mountain Leader qualification.

Derek Rowell is a retired physics teacher and deputy head.  He is a very experienced mountaineer and holds a Mountain Leader qualification.  Derek is also a qualified minibus driver.

Sue Rowell is a retired headteacher, formerly of Weald of Kent Grammar School.  She is a very experienced mountaineer and holds a Mountain Leader qualification.

Ian Rudd works for Kent Police.  He is an experienced mountaineer, holds a Basic Expedition Leader qualification and is working towards his Mountain Leader qualification.  Ian is also a qualified minibus driver.

Paul Shone is a former chairman of the Tonbridge D of E Panel.  He is an experienced hillwalker and has just joined the Tonbridge Gold team.

Terry Siney is a retired deputy head and very experienced mountaineer.  He has been involved in Gold expedition training in Tonbridge on and off for over 25 years.  Terry is also a qualified minibus driver.

Ken Taylor is a retired accountant and Gold Award holder.  He is a very experienced mountaineer and has been involved in Gold expedition training in Tonbridge on and off for over 30 years.  Ken is also a qualified minibus driver.