Our Key Staff & Trustees

Whether working in our properties or in our administration office, our key staff & trustees and volunteers share a common aim: to provide our residents with the best possible safe, secure, comfortable retirement. A large number have been with us for many years, providing dedication and valuable continuity. All undergo our thorough recruitment, vetting and development process to ensure that they are the best match for their respective roles.

Administration Team

Martin King
Director of Business & Ops

Martin joined Southern Oaks to project manage the completion of the Southern Oaks Nonsuch new build in Ewell Village in February 2020. The Southern Oaks Board of Trustees offered Martin the Director of Business and Operations position in October 2020.

Martin has over 28 years experience excelling as a Director, Owner Operator, Business Consultant, providing specialist Business Management solutions within both the public, private and charity sectors, covering Government, Banking, Insurance, Sales, Healthcare & Support Living Environments. Martin holds multiple OFQUAL, QCA qualifications covering Operations, Management, Care, Mental Health, and is a BIIAB Personal Licence Holder.

Martin’s expertise lies in delivering specialised business management, showcasing proficiency in Operational/Team Management, Sales, Leadership, Critical Thinking and Property Management.

Beyond his corporate and charity prowess, Martin is a former Royal Marine, dedicated to serving veterans by actively participating in charity initiatives aimed at raising funds for those that have served.

A favoured quote for each morning ‘Try not to be a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value’ – Albert Einstein.

Mandy Coe
Head of Finance

Mandy joined Southern Oaks as Finance Manager in January 2020. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and has over 20 years of experience in public sector finance, predominantly in the University sector. She has a broad range of experience including management accounting, payroll, project management, process improvement and new system implementations.

Sue Underwood
Finance Manager

Sue joined Southern Oaks as Finance Manager in March 2025.  She is an accounting professional and has over 30 years of senior manager experience in both private and public sector finance, predominantly in the not-for-profit sectors, Education and Charity.

Sue has a broad range of accounting experience including financial and management accounting, budgeting, payroll, new system implementations and process improvements.

Jo Taylor
Community Manager

Our Community Manager, Jo Taylor, ensures our house teams function smoothly and efficiently. Their many responsibilities include liaison with the House Team Leaders, resident welfare, Health and Safety, staff training and house maintenance.

Another vital role is to generate support for Southern Oaks within the local community and to recruit volunteers.

Barbara Merritt
Leasehold & Rentals Manager

Barbara joined Southern Oaks in March 2021 with the prime responsibility of managing the sales effort on the newly completed Southern Oaks Nonsuch development in Ewell. She successfully managed all aspects of the sales process and achieved full occupancy in May 2022. Barbara is now responsible for all aspects for both resales and affordable living rentals.

Prior to joining Southern Oaks, Barbara was an Estate Agent in the Richmond/Teddington area and worked on a number of new property developments. Before that, Barbara worked in event management and hospitality for 9 years delivering a comprehensive range of circa 145 client-based events per annum and multiple events for the renowned rock photographer, Denis O’Regan’s gallery in Chiswick.

Barbara’s career started in banking where she spent 13 years with HFC, a part of HSBC, working in multiple marketing & operations roles.

Bobbie Smith
Volunteer Coordinator

Bobbie joined Southern Oaks in 2022 as a part-time Receptionist/Administrator and was appointed as Volunteer Coordinator in May 2024. With over 30 years of experience in supportive roles, Bobbie has a diverse background that spans several sectors. She has served as an executive PA in Client Services within the Global Property Investment industry and worked as a Programme Manager for a prestigious coach training organization. During her time there, she became a trained coach in 2009 and volunteered for four years within a community in Islington.

Bobbie’s passion for well-being and communication led her to further her expertise in these areas. In 2015, she trained as a Health Coach with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and subsequently became a Reiki Master Practitioner in 2018, having been introduced to Reiki in 2001. That same year, Bobbie started her own small business dedicated to supporting others in their mental and physical well-being, which she ran until the onset of the Covid19 pandemic in 2022.

Bobbie is dedicated to continuing her personal and professional growth and is deeply committed to making a positive impact on others. She strives to be a supportive partner to both the volunteers and residents of Southern Oaks, helping them achieve enriched and fulfilling lives.

House Managers

Della Stewart
Senior House Manager

Della became House Manager in early 2018 having previously worked as a relief manager. She has made a positive contribution to the daily life for the residents of Old House who enjoy her company and her cooking.

Brenda Mendes
Manager at Purley Knoll

Brenda joined Southern Oaks in 2017. She enjoys spending time with residents. Equally, she works hard with the house team to ensure the residents are well cared for and to enhance their enjoyment of daily life at Purley Knoll.

Julie Glynn
Manager at Mulgrave Road

Julie has worked for Southern Oaks since 2020 and began her career as a Relief Manager.  She took on the role of House Manager at Mulgrave Road in December 2022 and soon bonded with the residents and enjoys her time spent with them.

Julie ensures that everyone enjoys her meals and takes great pride in seeing empty plates!  She is a dedicated House Manager, one who will always spend time to listen and ensure her residents happiness.

Sue Smith-Collins
Manager at York Road

My passion is in hospitality which I’ve worked in for over 30 years. Joining Southern Oaks in February 2025 as a House Manager is an honour. I love spending time with the residents ensuring they are cared for and given a balanced meal daily.

Doing activities with them weekly makes their day! I thrive in making York Road the best it can be for them and putting a smile on their faces is such a priority of mine.

Trustees

Nick Shore
Chair

Nick is chair of Southern Oaks, and has been a trustee since 2015. He graduated from the University of Kent with a BA in Accounting in 1974 and worked for Arthur Andersen from 1974 to December 2001 at various levels including partner dealing mostly with international personal tax. He became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1982.

Nick was a director and shareholder at Frank Hirth PLC from January 2002 and was based at the New York office between 2009 and 2012. He retired in April 2014 and currently acts as a Trustee for a series of related family UK trusts and works closely with Investec as investment advisors and sits on the Board of Althea, a US based international charity. A keen rugby fan, Nick was Treasurer of Old Caterhamians RFC between 1975 until 1993.

Clare Elliott
Finance

Clare joined Southern Oaks in 2025.  She is a Chartered Management Accountant with over 25 years’ experience in listed and private equity companies across sectors including financial services energy, utilities as well as biotech and pharma.  Her experience covers a broad range of finance areas with particular focus on Commercial Finance and Financial Planning & Analysis.

Doug Horne
Marketing & Comms

Doug is an experienced marketing and communications professional, with over 25 years’ experience,  having held senior marketing and business development roles within the professional services, financial services and technology sectors.

He was treasurer for The Avenue Primary School PTA between 2008 & 2011, a member of the Parent Focus Group at Wallington High School for Girls and has been a judge for the B2B Marketing Awards.

Doug is the trustee responsible for Marketing & Communication at Southern Oaks.

Dr Andrew Hoy
Resident Welfare & Volunteers

Andrew is a retired physician in palliative medicine. He is also a resident local to Southern Oaks Nonsuch. He continues as a volunteer in non-clinical work at St Helier Hospital and as a facilitator for communication skills for senior clinicians.

He was a founder member of the St Thomas’ Hospital palliative care team and edited a specialist palliative care journal for several years. He was the medical director of the Princess Alice Hospice for 25 years.

Andrew also servers on the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC).

John Mann
Property

John joined Southern Oaks in 2022 and is the Trustee who oversees matters relating to the Society’s properties.

He has been a senior manager in the Audit Commission,  various London local authorities, social housing providers, and consultancies working for the public sector.  John has wide-ranging experience of housing management, environmental health, regulatory services, and community safety, and has  managed national programmes to introduce new legislation, and assess the performance of  local authorities and other public bodies.

Yvonne McCabe
Company Secretary

Sue Moore
Programme Manager

Sue has a background in Health and Wellbeing, with extensive category management, commercial and change management experience within retail pharmacy.

She worked for Alliance Pharmacy and Boots the Chemists in their retail UK and international businesses for 30 years and for Alliance Healthcare in their wholesale business for 10 years.

Sue founded the Alphega Pharmacy franchise concept in the UK, which has since grown to 1000+ independent retail pharmacy members. Now retired, she continues to advise individual independent pharmacy businesses.

In addition to being a Society Trustee, Sue supports our management reporting and change programmes.

Jackie O’Neill
Residents’ Support

I have had extensive experience as a professional in healthcare both at operational and board level in specialised and acute Trusts.

As part of my portfolio as an Associate Director I was responsible and accountable to the board for safeguarding adults, children and the strategic lead for domestic violence and deprivation of liberties, working in close partnerships with the three local authorities and the police.

Being an advocate for older people and ensuring support, compassion and empathy were essential skills in my role, as some of our most vulnerable adults coming into the Trust led very complex lives with physical health, social and mental health problems.

I have held volunteer roles throughout my career and when choosing charities, I am always attracted to roles which are people centred with outcomes to improve their healthcare, lifestyle or wellbeing.

Dr Malcolm Wakerley
Archivist

Dr Malcolm Wakerley FRSC OBEO, worked as a chemist in the nuclear industry, consultancy and Government and was mainly concerned with protecting the public from nuclear and radioactive wastes. After September 11, he was also heavily involved with project management of Government research related to protecting the public from chemical and biological wastes.

He became involved with Abbeyfield Epsom some 15 years ago, when his mother became a Resident at the Old House in Ewell. He joined the house committee and soon became House Chairman. Upon joining up with Abbeyfield Cheam to form Southern Oaks Nonsuch (formally Southern Oaks Nonsuch), he also took on the role as one of the vice-chairs of the enlarged Society.

He has been involved with the Old Schools Lane project from initial negotiations with The Abbeyfield Society to the current day and participates in the development sub group liaising with our partner Epsom Sports Club.

Malcolm also servers on the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC).

what we stand for

Our mission and values

Our charity, communities and residents have all benefited from a long association with Abbeyfield, a leading UK provider of retirement housing and care options. As a member, we gained invaluable experience in setting up and operating housing for people in later life in Surrey and South-West London.

Now an independent registered charity, we have our own objectives focused on our structured growth and development – enabling more people to enjoy a happy, comfortable, safe and sociable retirement but still underpinned by the core ethos of our former parent.

our mission

We provide affordable resident-centred communities where people can enjoy later life as they wish – supported, free from worry and with their everyday needs met.

As an independent not-for-profit charity, we aim to maintain sustained and controlled growth by developing further thriving communities based on the same ethos.

Southern Oaks values are to be caring, to be open, to be honest and respectful

our values

Caring
We lead with kindness, empathy and understanding.

Open
We act with honesty and openness in everything we do.

empowering
We equip and support our employees and volunteers in delivering outstanding services that enrich residents’ lives.

collaborative
We work together as one team, creating a sense of belonging for residents, staff and volunteers.

Inclusive
We embrace diversity, welcoming and supporting team members regardless of age, background, identity or ability and treating them fairly and equally.

what we stand for

Our mission and values

Our charity, communities and residents have all benefited from a long association with Abbeyfield, a leading UK provider of retirement housing and care options. As a member, we gained invaluable experience in setting up and operating housing for people in later life in Surrey and South-West London.

Now an independent registered charity, we have our own objectives focused on our structured growth and development – enabling more people to enjoy a happy, comfortable, safe and sociable retirement but still underpinned by the core ethos of our former parent.

our mission

We provide affordable resident-centred communities where people can enjoy later life as they wish – supported, free from worry and with their everyday needs met.

As an independent not-for-profit charity, we aim to maintain sustained and controlled growth by developing further thriving communities based on the same ethos.

our values

Caring
We lead with kindness, empathy and understanding.

Open
We act with honesty and openness in everything we do.

empowering
We equip and support our employees and volunteers in delivering outstanding services that enrich residents’ lives.

collaborative
We work together as one team, creating a sense of belonging for residents, staff and volunteers.

Inclusive
We embrace diversity, welcoming and supporting team members regardless of age, background, identity or ability and treating them fairly and equally.

To find out more or to arrange a visit to one of our properties, please get in touch.