About Us Meet the Team Meet the Team Ben Pearce- Director Ben joined the West Horsley Place Trust in September 2020. He has a background in visual arts, heritage and development. He was previously Director of Paintings in Hospitals, a national arts-in-health charity, and Project Director at the Royal Academy of Arts (RA), where he led the 'Reveal, Celebrate, Explore' programme and oversaw the start of the RA250 redevelopments. Prior to this, Ben led a ‘London 2012’ Olympics host-boroughs project which led to the conservation of over 100 historic commercial buildings. Ben has a BA Hons in English Literature & Film from the University of Warwick and an MSc in Housing & Regeneration from the LSE. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; a Trustee of GEM (Group for Education in Museums) and the BGI, and a Non-Executive Director of the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance. He also serves on the Advocacy Committee for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). Clare Clinton - Arts, Heritage & Learning Manager Clare studied History and History of Art at the University of St. Andrews before going to work in the art world at Christie’s auction house and various art dealers in London, including CCA Galleries. She is a freelance writer and joined the West Horsley Place Trust in 2017 as Operations Manager. Clare has overseen numerous filming projects, building works and community events and now looks forward to opening the doors of West Horsley Place to the public in 2021 with an exciting artistic and cultural programme. Marcus Cribb- House & Operations Manager Marcus joined the team in March 2021. Having always worked in heritage, starting at the Tank Museum Bovington, he joined HMS Warrior 1860 after finishing a Masters Degree at Portsmouth University. From there he worked in the Events Management team for the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Most recently having managed Wellington Arch and Apsley House, home to the Duke of Wellington, he is looking forward to bringing his event and historic house experience to West Horsley Place, where away from the crowds of the capital, he is more at home in the countryside.Currently he lives in Kent, with his partner Katie, awaiting their new puppy. In his spare time he is in the Army Reserves, where he used to drive tanks, but now teaches recruits in London, between that he is a podcaster on History Hack and is currently commissioned to write a book on Crossing the Douro, one of the Duke of Wellington’s great victories. Marcus really looks forward to meeting the local community, welcoming the volunteers back and opening the house for visits as well as special events, in the near future Carolyn Farrell - Operations & Events Coordinator Over the years, Carolyn has worked in interior design, graphic design and her early working life was spent as a Court Stenographer which was an education in itself! For the past 10 years, she has worked in the events industry mainly focusing on weddings and other celebrations. She has seen more than 500 weddings now and marvels at how each one is unique. She loves the excitement during the planning process and the sense of exhilaration in the air on the Big Day. Suzie Winters - Executive Assistant Suzie joined the West Horsley Place Trust in August 2019. Prior to joining the team, she was PA to the CEO of a Country House Hotel and private members club. Before taking a career break to bring up her two children, she worked in London at The Art Fund and Sotheby's. Returning to the world of arts and heritage, close to her home in Surrey, is a wonderful opportunity and she is excited to be part of the evolving future of West Horsley Place. Matt Link- Estate Ranger