The Governing Council

Jerry Wooding OBE BSc CEng FRAeS Chairman of Governors

Educated at Luton Grammar School, Mr Wooding joined the British Aircraft Corporation in 1964 as a student apprentice and, after gaining a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at City University, spent two years as a Flight Test Engineer at the BAG factory in Warton. Following a lengthy career in the British Aerospace Industry Mr Wooding was awarded the OBE for 'Aviation Services in the Export Market' in the Queen's 1999 Birthday Honours list. In November 2000 Mr Wooding left BAE Systems to form his own business consultancy company with operations in both the United Kingdom and the Middle East.

Mr Wooding is married with two children who were both educated at Arnold School. Following his degree at the London School of Economics, Simon now works for Kroll in the City of London and Kate is currently studying Medicine at the Imperial College of Science and Medicine in London.

James Armfield OBE DL former High Sheriff of Lancashire Vice Chairman of Governors

Mr Armfield is a former Captain of the England Football Team and is now technical Consultant to the Football Association. He was awarded the OBE in June 2002; made Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire in December 2004 and was High Sheriff of Lancashire in 2005. An Old Arnoldian, and member of the Arnold Governing Council for over 25 years, he is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Central Lancashire and a holder of the Football Association and European Coaching Licence. In addition, Mr Armfield is a non-executive Director of Blackpool, Fylde & Wire Community Health Trust; Vice President of Lancashire Outward Bound, President of Age Concern and a Member of the Blackburn Cathedral Council. Mr Armfield is a well known BBC radio commentator on sport. Married with two grown up children (both Arnoldians) and a grandson currently attending Arnold Senior School, his interests include all sport, music, the church organ and gardening.

Michael Brennand Deputy Chairman of Governors

Michael Brennand was born in Blackpool and educated at Arnold. He is a director of several major packaging companies. He is married to Anna and their son Oliver left Arnold in 2004. Mr Brennand's interests include rugby, golf and other sporting activities.

David Aird LLB

Mr Aird was educated at Arnold between 1971 and 1978. He went on to read Law at Liverpool University and completed his Solicitor’s Final examinations at the College of Law, Chester. On his return to the Fylde coast, he took up a position with Blackhursts Solicitors qualifying as a Solicitor in 1985. He became a partner in 1988 and was appointed Managing Partner in 1999. He is the Honorary Solicitor to Blackpool and Thornton-Cleveleys Cricket Clubs and a number of other local clubs and organisations. He is married with one son who currently attends Arnold School. His hobbies include scuba diving, skiing, walking, an occasional round of golf and supporting Blackpool Football Club.

Alistair Baines BA BArch RIBA

Mr Baines was born in Blackpool and educated at Arnold School and then Manchester University, where he read architecture. He is married with 2 children. His interests include golf and walking.

Bill Beaumont CBE OBE

Mr Beaumont was educated at Ellesmere College and Salford College of Technology. He holds an Honorary MA from Manchester University and an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire. Mr Beaumont is a former England and British Lions Rugby Captain and was awarded the OBE in 1982. He is a member of the Rugby Football Union Committee. He is also the owner and MD of a large textile business. His three boys have all been educated at Arnold and his interests include sport and broadcasting.

Martin C Brook BA FCA ATII

Mr Brook was a pupil at Arnold from 1967 to 1974. He graduated from Liverpool University in 1977 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1980. For many years he was a partner in a local firm of Chartered Accountants before taking up his current position of Joint Managing Director of Smith Group UK Ltd in 1997.

Mr Brook has been married to Janet for 26 years and they have 3 children: Matthew and Christopher who were both educated at Arnold, and Sarah who still attends the school. Previously, Mr Brook has been a Governor of Blackpool Sixth Form College. He is a general sports enthusiast and his hobbies include tennis and walking.

Mrs Sarah Carr OBE

Mrs Carr attended St. Mary's High School and Lark Hill Convent, Preston. She qualified as a member of the Institute of Personnel Management in 1985 whilst working for her family business. Between 1989-2002, with her husband, she established and developed a large chain of children's day care centres (Kindercare) and Ashbridge Independent School, Preston.

In a voluntary capacity Mrs Carr works as Chairman of the board of trustees for the National Day Nurseries Association and as an advocate for Wyre and Fylde Advocacy Service. She is married to Stuart and they have four daughters, three of whom are Arnoldians. Mrs Carr was awarded the OBE in 2006 for her long service and dedication to children and families.

Mrs Gillian Connolly BSc MA

Mrs Connolly was educated in Sheffield and then at Birmingham University where she read Pure Mathematics. Following a number of years teaching at secondary level she took up a commission in the Women's Royal Army Corps. Whilst serving in the army she completed an MA in Management, and then retired after marrying Christopher, a serving Royal Navy Officer and Old Arnoldian. Their son Alexander attends Arnold and Gillian's interests include gardening, hill walking and renovating the family home.

Simon Dawkins BA MA

Simon Dawkins was Headmaster of Merchant Taylors School, Crosby from 1986-2005, during which time he chaired the NW Division of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC), and sat on both the HMC membership committee and the HMC/GSA academic policy committee. He was a member of the HMC schools inspection team for a number of years and is a Freeman of the Merchant Taylors Company. Educated at Solihull School, he took his first degree at Nottingham University, a PGCE at Queen's College Cambridge and a master's degree (in management) at London University. Before moving north, he taught in London, first at Eltham College and then at Dulwich, where he was Head of Economics and a boarding house master. In his youth Mr Dawkins played rugby ( English Universities and Warwickshire) but now confines his sporting activities to tennis, golf and the local swimming pool/gym.

Andrew Grime BEng MBA CEng MICE FCIWEM

Mr Grime attended Arnold School from 1959-1972 and went on to read Civil Engineering at the University of Liverpool, being awarded the final year structural engineering prize. A career then followed in the water industry and, continuing his academic career, he gained an MBA with distinction from the University of Westminster in 1989. Mr Grime?s father and grandfather were both Governors of Arnold School and Presidents of the Old Arnoldians' Association. Continuing this long family association with Arnold School, Mr Grime was President of the Old Arnoldian AssociationÂ in 2004-5. He was previously a director of St Albans and Hemel Hempstead General Hospitals and a Trustee of Arnold School Development Fund. He is now a director of Chester & District Housing Trust as well as being managing director of Weetwood - a national firm based in Cheshire that specialises in flood risk management. His interests include all sport, particularly squash, and he has one daughter.

Mrs Alison Jack Cert Ed

Mrs Jack is both a teacher and parent with strong connections with Arnold School. She has been a practising teacher for over 25 years - for 12 years specialising in pupils with special needs. Prior to this she has had experience as a Headteacher of a Nursery Unit and has lectured to NNEB's. Mrs Jack's two sons both attended Arnold and she is married to Rt Hon Michael Jack, the Conservative MP for Fylde.

Peter Maguire

Educated at Preston Catholic College, Mr Maguire qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1978 and for over 25 years has been a director and part owner of Inenco, a leading firm of energy consultants based in St Annes. He is married to Alison, who is a teacher, and they have one son, who is currently at Arnold. Mr Maguire is a sports enthusiast and regularly plays tennis, golf and hockey.

Philip Owen ACIB

Mr Owen was educated at Arnold between 1970 and 1981. He serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Old Arnoldians Association and in 1997 was elected President of the Association having been Treasurer for ten years. Mr Owen has worked for Barclays Bank for almost 25 years and is currently Senior Corporate Manager for the Fylde Coast. He is married with two children who both attend Arnold. His hobbies include swimming, walking, travel, the cinema and Blackpool North Round Table.

Mrs Ray Pigott OBE LLB

Mrs Pigott was educated at Albyn School for Girls, Aberdeen High School for Girls and the University of Aberdeen where she obtained a degree in Law. She qualified and worked as a solicitor in Scotland and upon her marriage moved to Lancashire. She became involved in the organisation of the Conservative Party at local, regional and national levels, including being Chairman of the North West Women and Chairman of the Fylde Conservative Association. Mrs Pigott has wide experience of business and is a director of a civil engineering and two property companies. She has been a non-executive Director in the NHS for over twenty years and is the Chairman of the Wyre Primary Care Trust. Her daughter, Caroline, was educated at Arnold School and is currently studying Business & Management at the University of Glasgow.

John Taylor LLB (Honorary Solicitor to Arnold Schools Ltd)

Mr Taylor was Head Boy of both the Senior and Junior Schools. He is now a local solicitor and partner in Coope, Purvis & Taylor. He was President of the Old Arnoldian Association in 1996 and Honorary Secretary between 1987 and 1997. Mr Taylor is married with 2 children who both attend Arnold. He is the Honorary Solicitor to Blackpool Amateur Swimming Club, a member of Blackpool Waterloo Polo Team and a season ticket holder with Liverpool Football Club.

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