The Royal Medical Foundation Board
Biographies
Mr Martin Beames
Martin Beames attended Epsom College and Leicester University before qualifying as a solicitor in 1991. He has worked in several different areas including matrimonial and criminal litigation. Following this, he moved into Wills and Probate both in law firms and in a commercial role in the private sector before moving back into practice, where he continues to advise on Estates, Inheritance Tax and related matters.
Dr Helena Blake
Dr Helena Blake has been a Consultant Radiologist since 1984. She has been actively involved in teaching, training and clinical work at a number of hospitals and has been a member of many hospital committees. She served on the RMF Grants Committee for a number of years before joining the Board.
Dr Jeremy Bolton
Dr Jeremy Bolton attended Epsom College before studying medicine at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and University College Hospital Medical School, qualifying in 1968. After training in Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital he was appointed Consultant Psychiatrist at St George’s and Springfield Hospitals in 1979, retiring in 2009. Between 2001 and 2009 he was an Associate Dean with the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Postgraduate Deanery. He was Master of the Worshipful Company of Barbers from 2009-10 and has been on their Court since 2004. He has been a member of the key financial and investment committees of the Barbers for a number of years and is a Member of Council of the Royal Medical Foundation of Epsom College and also a Governor of Epsom College.
Dr Hywel Bowen-Perkins (Finance Director)
Dr Hywel Bowen-Perkins is a local GP and old Epsomian. His four sons have also been pupils at the school. He is a school Governor and also a member of Council. His hobbies include sailing and more specifically restoration of his “Dunkirk Little Ship” Elvin.
Mr Richard Bruce
Richard Bruce was educated at Epsom College between 1965 and 1970. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Law from Bristol University. He was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and was appointed a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2002. He is the author of a text book on the general principles of English law and was a member of the Centre for Social Justice working party which published its policy report on family law ‘Every Family Matters’.
Mr Timothy Davies
Tim Davies attended Epsom College before obtaining an HND in Business Studies in Leeds. He joined BOC Ltd in 1975 where he spent his entire working life of over 40 years in a number of differing marketing and commercial roles. Since retiring in 2016, he has been actively involved in his hobby of steam railways.
Mr Andrew Pianca
Andrew Pianca attended Epsom College 1964-69 before becoming a chartered accountant with Crowe Clark Whitehill, chartered accountants, from 1977-2016. In 2003 he was appointed Chief Executive, serving until 2013 when he became Chairman until his retirement in March 2016. He was a leading specialist not for profit audit and advisory partner, advising many independent schools and other large charities including the RCP, RCS, RCGP, RCOG and RSM. He wrote two books on charity financial management and reporting. Post retirement he continues to lecture and advise within this sector. He is the Treasurer of the Royal Medical Foundation of Epsom College, Chairman of the ICAEW Chartered Accountants’ Trustees Limited and a trustee of the Chartered Accountants’ Livery Charity.
Mrs Karen Thomas (Chairman)
Karen Thomas is a children’s orthopaedic surgeon. She manages a clinical network providing specialist services to a large area of SW London, Surrey and West Sussex. She is a Vice-Chairman of the Council of the Royal Medical Foundation of Epsom College and also Vice-Chairman of the College’s Board of Governors and has children attending the school. She was elected Chairman of the RMF in 2017.
Dr Alastair Wells
Dr. Alastair Wells was educated at Epsom College from 1973-78 and then studied medicine at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine. Subsequently his medical training took him in 1987 to a GP practice in Merstham Surrey where he is a partner. He used to be the Hon. Secretary of the Surrey Benevolent Medical Society. He has been a Governor of Epsom College since 2004 and was elected as Chairman of Council of the Royal Medical Foundation of Epsom College in 2016. He was Chairman of the RMF from 2013 to 2017.
Mrs Emma Winfield (Secretary to Council)
Emma Winfield trained as a lawyer, specialising in pensions law, before working for NEST Corporation as a pensions policy expert and then a senior compliance manager. Following a career sabbatical to spend time with her family, Emma worked as a compliance and legal manager in the education sector before becoming Clerk and Secretary to Trustee bodies advising on governance and compliance as well as company secretary for a number of organisations. Emma became Secretary to the Council of The Royal Medical Foundation of Epsom College in 2022.
Mrs Helen Jones (Caseworker)
Helen Jones is an experienced caseworker who has worked in the charitable sector for many years. She has been caseworker for the RMF since 2007 and is the first point of contact for all RMF applicants. She is an affiliate of the Institute of Money Advisors and Citizens Advice Bureau trained. She is able to advise on the Welfare Benefit system as well as having the counselling skills to offer a sympathetic ear and emotional support.
