The Governing Body

Eamonn McGrath – Chairman

Eamonn is a past parent of the School and was appointed Chairman of the Governors in 2004. His association with Beech Hall started in 1995, when he and his wife Moira and their family moved to Prestbury from London, and his sons Thomas and Joseph joined the School as pupils. Eamonn was the Treasurer of the BHPA for several years. Eamonn is a chartered accountant and a partner in one of the major accounting firms based in Manchester.

Hilary Blackwell

Hilary has been a Parent Governor since 2001. Her daughter, Gabrielle, has attended Beech Hall since Nursery and is now in Year 10. Hilary’s background is in education, publishing and marketing. She is now self-employed and provides marketing and new business solutions to small companies. She also has special responsibility for Child Protection.

Nigel Follos

A former Chairman and Treasurer of the BHPA, Nigel is the managing director of a large drinks firm. He is married to Lindsey and their two children, Amy and Matt both attend Beech Hall. He also has a life-long affection for Aston Villa. He became a Governor in 2008 bringing with him skills and experience in business, human resources and marketing.

Gill Hudson

Gill joined Beech Hall in September 1984, when it was still a boarding school. She was initially employed as the Year 3 form teacher and an English teacher in the Prep School. However, with the expansion of the Pre-Prep. Department, she was appointed its Head in 1988 and remained in this position until her retirement in 2001. Gill’s teaching career spanned both the State and Independent sector. She has taught in Secondary, Junior and Infant schools in London, Essex, Norfolk and Worcestershire. She became a Governor in 2004 and has particular responsibility for the Curriculum.

Winston Hunter

Winston is a barrister with Chambers in Manchester and London. He is a Queen’s Counsel and also sits part time as a Judge. He lives in Over Alderley and has been a Parent Governor for the last 5 years. His connection with Beech Hall goes back 14 years when his eldest son, Daniel began in the Beech Hall Nursery, then known as the ‘Blue Room’.  His youngest son, Oliver, is a current pupil of the school.

Mark Mason

Mark is married to Jane and has two sons, Lee aged 21 and Scott aged 17. Both boys attended Beech Hall up to the age of 13, where they were extremely happy and benefited greatly from the school ethos. When Mark was approached to join the Board of Governors in 2005 in order to advise and organise the future development of the school he gladly accepted – this is his way of contributing to the future of the school that both Mark and his wife consider did so much for his family. He lives in Mottram St Andrew and has an Architectural Design Consultants practice in Alderley Edge.

Vincent Raymond Barker

Vincent is Head of Modern Languages at an independent grammar school in Wolverhampton. A Francophile, he has for many years run a successful exchange programme with a school near Nantes. He became a Governor in 2008 to advise on secondary school education. Married to Isobel, he has two daughters, one of whom suffers from cerebral palsy; he therefore also assists with accessibility issues.

Jim Small

Jim and his family moved to the North West in order to follow work commitments. Although his elder son, Oliver, has now left Beech Hall, his younger son, Joshua, is still in the school. Jim has served as a Director of a number of financial companies and now runs his own consultancy business providing services to financial institutions. He also provides educational services and advice to the Institute of Financial Services. He has been the Treasurer and a Governor of Beech Hall School Trust Limited since May 2005.