Board of Trustees

BAMBER GASCOIGNE

Bamber Gascoigne is best known as the original host, for 25 years from 1972, of University Challenge. He is a historian and novelist and has been a trustee of the National Gallery and Tate and a director of the Royal Opera House.

He unexpectedly inherited in 2014 West Horsley Place, a house of great beauty and historical importance but in need of up to £10 million to bring it and its surrounding buildings back to a state of good health. He subsequently founded the West Place Trust and gave to it the buildings and the entire 380-acre estate.

ANGELA KIDNER

Angela Kidner trained and practiced as an interior architect, working on modern and heritage buildings, and as a lecturer in 3D Design at Kingston University. In 2000 she became Chair and later Projects Manager of the Environment Trust, working on Lottery-funded projects in partnership with many heritage and environmental organisations. She is now an independent Heritage and Design Consultant, with a particular interest in the natural environment.

ADRIAN LAJTHA (CHAIR)

Adrian Lajtha worked for Accenture, the global technology and professional services company, for almost 40 years before retiring in February 2016.  Adrian held many senior roles at Accenture, including serving as the company’s CEO for its global Financial Services business and working with the board on long-term strategy, leadership development and talent management.

Adrian joined Bamber at (almost!) the very start of the West Horsley Place adventure and has served as the Trust’s Chairman since early 2016.  He also serves as Chairman of the board of governors of Cranleigh School and Cranleigh Preparatory School, where he has been a trustee for the past 20 years.  Adrian is also a ‘B’ member of the board of the charity Youth Business International, a charity focused on helping to tackle youth unemployment and to equip young people around the world with the skills and support to set up and build their own businesses.

GILES REID

Giles Reid works in the consulting and finance world, on the board of Grayce Ltd.  Grayce is a Private Equity backed consultancy firm working with some of the world’s largest firms on change & transformation.  Giles has lived in Horsley since 1977 and first visited West Horsley Place in 1982 and has been passionate about the house and estate ever since.

PATRICK ROBERTS (TREASURER)

Patrick Roberts has been the Bursar and Clerk to the Governing Body at Cranleigh School since 2003. He was educated at Pangbourne College before attending Sandhurst and leading a varied Army career culminating in command of a regular infantry command. He was awarded an MBE for services in Bosnia. 

Patrick is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is a Governor of Pangbourne College and Trustee of West Horsley Place Trust. His interests include sailing, walking and history.

MARILYN SCOTT

Marilyn has worked in museums, galleries and heritage attractions for over 25 years. She is currently Director of the award-winning Lightbox in Woking Surrey, winner of The Art Fund Prize in 2008. She project-managed The Lightbox from feasibility study to opening of the building in 2007, having raised £7.2m for the construction and fit-out. Marilyn has worked in national museums, at both the V&A and Science Museum and for The National Trust. She is currently a Trustee of The Geffrye Museum and Brooklands Museum, Weald and Downland Museum and The Mary Roxburghe Trust and a Council member for AIM. She is a mentor to a number of small volunteer-run museums seeking accreditation and a mentor for The Museums Association AMA scheme.  Marilyn has wide experience in the consulting field and her areas of specialism include fundraising, income generation and sustainability, strategic and business planning and managing volunteers. She also has extensive experience of managing organisations within a charity framework and works with Trustees to improve and enhance governance.

Marilyn also has international experience and works as a consultant for The British Council advising museums and galleries on business models and staff development. She has recently worked in Russia, China, Slovenia, Taiwan, Georgia and Pakistan.  

AMANDA DE HAAST

Amanda studied at the Scottish Hotel School, Strathclyde University, followed by many years in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry working both in hotels and incoming travel. She has held numerous voluntary roles whilst living in Guildford which continued when she moved to Horsley in 2007. She is currently Chairman of the West Horsley Wheel of Care (Good Neighbour/ Voluntary Driver Scheme awarded Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2015) and Chairman of Grace + Flavour, Horsley’s Community Kitchen Garden and Allotments.

ANN FINLAYSON