Meet The Team...

Darren has spent a career working with groups and leading a wide range of activities. As the CEO he leads the charge in driving forward the work of the Charity, as well as drinking copious amounts of coffee. Those of you who know him will agree he likes to talk about his favourite subject…PAACT! When not at the Forts he can be found on adventures with his young family!

Lisa started as a saddle clubber, soon becoming part of the instructor team. Working her way up to Yard Manager, Centre Manager and now Head of Operations. Her role has changed over the years with less time patting ponies. If she’s not behind her desk you’ll find her running round the ramparts herding up her sheep & stopping the goats getting into mischief!

Jodie is another home-grown member of the team; getting her good old gramps to bring her several times a week for lessons with Lisa! She came through the saddle club, an apprenticeship, became Equestrian Coordinator and recently has been promoted to Centre Manager. Outside of work you will find her out and about in her pink panfa!

Duncan has had a varied career across many leading industries. He brings a wealth of experience to the challenges of maintaining two Victorian Forts.  Duncan is driven by passion to enable everyone to enjoy these Forts whilst safely engaging in exciting activities. He has many tales of his career underground as a Cornish Tin Miner!

Sarah Benson loves Forts. Actually Benson loves many things to an obsessive level; don’t get her started on the Vulcan Bomber or Red Arrows, Lego, Boba Fett, air shows, steam trains, tunnels, viaducts, dams, dogs, cats or cake as she simply won’t shut up. Known to express herself through the medium of dance, she is the one that keeps the office and paperwork in check.

Charly heads our finance department and is strongly committed to the future of the Charity. She is a valued member of the team who always gives a straight and sometimes too honest answer! When she is not number crunching she can be found training dogs or googling Tom Hardy, because sometimes the life size cut out in her office just isn’t enough.

Lydia’s background in hospitality makes her the perfect person to organise our corporate and private functions. Her attention to detail keeps us on our toes at all times. As Outreach Officer, she is passionate about the role the Charity can play in the community. Not one to sit still long with a teenage family she is a keen food and drink explorer and lover of all things sparkly.

Chelsey has recently graduated in Outdoor & Adventurous Education Degree at the University of Chichester.

Her favourite activities at Fort Purbrook are bouldering and archery. Outside of work Chelsey loves to spend time with her family, her pets and her plants, and trying new and different challenges.

Sara is a very chatty and bubbly person who loves being outdoors whether it is horse riding, swimming, climbing or going on extremely long walks. Sara buzzes with energy and is always trying to push herself whether it be performing music or theatre – and does it all with an infectious smile!

Ben spends his time looking after both Forts and the land that surrounds our wonderful buildings. He keeps everything looking good and working correctly. When he’s not tinkering with building projects, fixing horse fences or cutting the large amounts of grass, he enjoys watching rugby and playing with his young family.

Chris joined the team as our Caretaker. He feels very privileged to be able to work in such a historically important building and look after it to the best of his abilities for future generations. He loves being part of the Charity and looks forward to restoring more of the Fort. In his spare time he enjoys restoring old tools and is an avid gardener.

Equestrian Instructor

Fort Widley Receptionist

Equestrian Instructor

Lisa has worked at Fort Widley for over 10 years! Lisa runs the horse camps; that’s not camps for horses but camps for riders! She also loves taking part in sponsored horse rides, cross country, show jumping and if that wasn’t enough she has recently started out in dressage.

Cara has worked at the centre since 2018, but has been coming up to the school for 14 years with her own children. She has 1 pony, 4 horses and 1 donkey called Eeyore.  Cara also belongs to Rogate Riding Club, and takes part in show jumping, dressage, x-country and sponsored rides.

Equestrian Instructor

Apprentice Equestrian Instructor

Activity Instructor

Activity Instructor

Apprentice Activity Instructor

Activity Instructor

Apprentice Equestrian Instructor

Activity Instructor

Activity Instructor

Activity Instructor

Activity Instructor

Activity Instructor