Mrs Edna Speed MBE (Chairperson; Co-Founder and Signatory to the Memorandum and Articles of Association)

Edna founded Save the Family while working on the Lache estate in Chester over thirty years ago.  She is a retired head-teacher and currently works nearly sixteen hours a day as an unpaid volunteer as the Chairwoman of Save the Family.  She engages in numerous speaking engagements ranging from Churches and Businesses to Politicians and Radio / TV interviews.  Edna maintains regular contact with key supporters and exercises executive control over the day to day running of the organisation.  Her day typically starts with a briefing from both STF Centres and the Chester Office and in addition, her role has often included duties at Plas Bellin because of short staffing due to illness.  Edna maintains regular and close contact with the residents of the homes, providing support and encouragement to them while resident with STF and after resettlement in the community.

Dr Brian Rowe 

Brian worked as a general medical practitioner at Northgate Medical Centre in Chester for nearly twenty years. He has experience of clinical governance within the medical profession, of teaching undergraduate students and of postgraduate vocational training for general practice. Since 2002 he has worked in the field of Drug and Alcohol Dependence, conducting clinics as part of Chester Community Drug Service and also supervising medical care at a number of residential detox units in Chester and Birkenhead. He also provides some input to St Werburgh's Practice, the medical service for homeless people and hostel residents in Chester.

Brian lives in Chester and attends Saltney Methodist Church where he is a worship leader, a church steward and deputy organist. He is married to Katy, a family support worker with NCH and they have three grown up children.

Reverend Canon David Pryce Morris (Deputy Chairperson)

Canon David Pryce Morris was born and brought up on Deeside, attending Shotton CP School and Hawarden Grammar School. He worked in the Chemical Laboratory of the local steelworks for four years before moving to read Theology at the University College of North Wales Bangor and then St. Michael's Theological College, Llandaff. He was ordained in 1963 and served an eight year curacy in Colwyn Bay, then moved as incumbent of St. George (Abergele), Bodelwyddan, Connah's Quay and then Shotton.

He was Diocesan Children?s Officer from 1975 ? 87 and was also Chairman of the Church in Wales Children & Homes Committee during this time. From 1986-2003 he was Vice-chair of the North Wales Council of Drug Misuse. He was appointed Diocesan Communications Officer in 1990 - 2003 (and Diocesan and Bishop's Press Officer), serving for much of that as Chairman of the Church in Wales Board of Communication. He was also, until retirement a member of their Board of Finance and the Parsonage Board.

David served on the Boards of Governors of two High Schools and three Primary Schools, serving as Chairman of two boards and vice-chair of another. He also served on the Executive of Clwyd Voluntary Service Council from 1981-95

He was appointed Honorary Canon of St. Asaph Cathedral in 1996, then as Cursal Canon from 2000. He has served as County Chaplain to the Scouts and St. John Ambulance; he is a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John.

Mr George Speed (Co-Founder and Signatory to the Memorandum and Articles of Association; Chair of Board's Strategy Sub-Committee)

George is a retired Deputy Head Teacher of a large comprehensive school in Wrexham.  He has always undertaken a heavy workload for Save the Family from its earliest day's right through to the present.  He has been involved in many aspects of the work and in particular fund-raising, support for and assisting the staff, and undertaking speaking engagements, as there are always more than Edna can attend.  He has been instrumental in the activity holidays and camps organised by STF.  George also networks with other organisations, including those in other countries, when he sees that they can contribute to the life and work of STF.

Mr Colin Waker (Company Secretary; lead member for Health and Safety)

Colin is a consultant engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at which he is a member of the Nuclear Power Committee and its former Chairman. He has had a career spanning 36 years in the Nuclear Industry, latterly, until retirement in 2006, as a Superintending Inspector in the Nuclear Division of the Health and Safety Executive.

Colin is a Governor of Abbey Gate College near Chester with particular responsibility for health and safety and also serves on its Buildings and Education sub-committees. He is helping STF with its safety policy and risk assessments.

Colin is also a keen amateur musician, playing the violin with Chester Philharmonic Orchestra. He and his wife Jenny are active members of Waverton Evangelical Fellowship, especially with the church's music and worship group and with its Breakaway fellowships for retired members. Colin is also a lay preacher. Both Colin and Jenny enjoy sailing and walking.

Mr Magnus Macaskill

Magnus qualified as a solicitor in October 1959 and after National Service in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment was employed as a solicitor in Leicester and in Chester before moving to employment in private practice in North Wales. In 1972 he opened his own office in Buckley, specialising in criminal and family work but doing all the work normal in a general practice. He is accredited in family law by the Solicitor's Regulation Authority and the Legal Services Commission. He is a player with the Weaver Valley Accordion Band and a member of the Chester Caledonian Scottish Country Dance Society and the Caledonian Association. He is an active member of both the choir and Parochial Church Council at St Mark's Church Connah?s Quay.

Mrs Joanne Clague (Chair of Board's Finance Sub-Committee)

Joanne is a Chartered Accountant, having trained with Deloitte in Liverpool and qualifying in 2001. She is now Faculty Manager for the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Liverpool.

Joanne attended Marlowe Road United Reformed Church in Wallasey for thirteen years before moving to Heswall United Reformed Church where her husband Martin was appointed as the Youth Minister in 2004.  Joanne regularly leads worship and occasionally takes responsibility for Sunday evening services.  She is jointly responsible for the organisation of an annual week of 24-7 prayer and is part of the leadership team for an annual Alpha course delivered by the Church. 

Joanne is also a keen cellist and plays with the Wirral Symphony Orchestra and St Peters Chamber Orchestra.  Joanne values the opportunity to serve as a Director and to put her skills to use in an organisation that shares her Christian values and has a clear objective in serving others.

Rev Paul Epton (Chair of Buildings and Estates Committee)

Since 1973 Paul has been the minister of Wirral Christian Centre situated in a needy area of Birkenhead. He has grown a number of programmes to address the social issues within the community. This covers Residential Homes, Day Care, Nursery provision and a whole list of programmes running within the church setting. Today these programmes include schools and orphanages in various countries.