Meet the Committee
Image credit: Friends of Foots Cray Meadows
‘Run by the community, for the community.’
The Friends of Foots Cray Meadows (FFCM) is a dedicated volunteer group committed to enhancing the Foots Cray Meadows, in line with our Aims and Objectives.
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The committee members elected at our 2024 AGM are:
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Executive Officer posts:
Co-Chairs
Michael Heath and Jacky Turner
Treasurer, Membership Admin & Thames21 Lead
Ray Hudson
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Secretary
Jan Harmer
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Committee posts:
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Conservation Manager
Sid Wilkinson
Website Manager
Harry Jenkins
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Media Lead
Will Robertson
Events Management and Membership Initiative
Steve Brown
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Committee Members
Margaret Dodd
Lesley Grant
Raj Gajebasia​
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We are always keen to work with new volunteers and supporters. If you are interested, please get in contact.​​
Meet the Committee Members
​Michael Heath, Co-Chair
It’s almost twenty years since Bexley encouraged a friends group for Foots Cray Meadows. Attending the public meetings, thinking it was time to get involved, I expressed an interest! I became the chair of the Friends and in 2011 joined Thames21 as River Keeper for Bexley, a post I held for five years. This opened a flood of opportunities for the Friends and the River Cray. Last year I stood back, but I hope I can continue to bring my experience in these roles to the successful Friends in supporting the meadows as a valuable natural open space, the communities who love and use this precious amenity and to protect the natural environment which sits on our doorstep.
Jacky Turner, Co-Chair
I have been a user of Foots Cray Meadows for over 40 years and been an active member of FFCM since I retired from the NHS in 2015. I was responsible for setting up the QR post project, which went live in 2023. It was designed to improve the experience of visitors, using mobile phone technology to highlight the history and wildlife aspects of the meadows in nine different locations across the site. I bring considerable organisational skills to the committee and a whole lot of enthusiasm to make the best of the wonderful open space that is Foots Cray Meadows.
Ray Hudson, Treasurer, Membership Admin & Thames 21 Lead
I am a retired telecoms manager, having originally started work as an engineering apprentice. Educated at the local grammar school — incidentally, the same one as fellow committee member Will Robertson — I have lived continuously in and around Sidcup since my childhood. Assisting the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows is my way of helping to protect and maintain the area, at the same time keeping fit with a range of outdoor activities.
Jan Harmer, Secretary
I have lived in the area for 40 years and, being a dog walker, I have enjoyed walking these lovely meadows as well as being lucky to have them on my doorstep. I have been a volunteer for FFCM for many years helping plant whips in various parts of the meadows and watching them grow. I became a member of the committee back in the early 2000s and I am currently secretary for the group.
Sid Wilkinson, Conservation Manager
I have lived close to the meadows since 1961, when I moved from St Paul’s Cray. I started working for Bexley Council in early 1966 and retired after 54 years. The meadows has always been a part of my working life with Bexley. The roles I have had include tree surgeon, grounds maintenance officer and, after the great storm of 1987, the tree officer in charge of clearing up the devastation that occurred throughout the borough. I have been a member of the Friends group since its early days and am the group’s conservation lead. Given my past, I regularly liaise with the London Borough of Bexley on behalf of FFCM. I am actively involved in maintaining the meadows with the Thames21 river action group and I take part in all events run by the Friends group.
Harry Jenkins, Website Manager
I grew up near the meadows, but only started really appreciating them during the pandemic as my source of open space and nature. Since then, I have gotten myself involved with FFCM as a way to give back. I bring my professional experience in digital communications to my work on the FFCM website, including the QR code trail. If you have any thoughts or suggestions for the website, we would love to hear them!
Will Robertson, Media Lead
I am a journalist and writer with a career on national daily newspapers spanning more decades than I care to remember. Educated at the local grammar school, I have lived continuously in and around Sidcup since arriving in Kent as a toddler with my parents from our native Scotland. Buying a home next to Foots Cray Meadows 20-plus years ago allows me immediate access to appreciate this wonderful stretch of open parkland. My work with the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows is a small contribution towards trying to safeguard this expanse for others to also enjoy its many attributes.
Steve Brown, Events Management & Membership Initiative
I moved to The Grove in 2013 and joined FFCM two years later. My background is in sales and marketing and have had lots of experience organising courses and exhibitions, as well as leaflet design and distribution. My role with FFCM includes event manager for the Fun Dog Show and the main organiser of the FFCM Speaker Sessions that began running at the Bothy (next to St James Church) in 2024.
Margaret Dodd, Committee Member
As a founder member of Friends of Foots Cray Meadows in 2006, I was delighted to agree to join Bexley Council in protecting this magnificent area of lake and meadow land. I lived in Riverside Road backing onto the Royal Park area. Walking several dogs over a number of years, I thought it would be a good idea to have a Fun Dog Show. I organised the first show in 2012, sending donations to Foal Farm Rescue Centre. When the Blue Cross pet charity introduced the 'Paws for Tea' fundraising events, FFCM began hosting an annual tea party with the bakers on the committee making cakes, etc, in return for generous donations from the public to go to the charity. I also arranged the first FFCM Bat Experience, which proved popular and we continue to hold towards the end of each summer. I have also taken notes of meetings/AGMs for the secretary to be typed and distributed.
Raj Gajebasia, Committee Member
For 40 years, I have lived near Foots Cray Meadows. For the last 20 years I have walked and enjoyed the open-air space every day. The meadows provides a host of green spaces with a variety of trees and grasses. The River Cray flows through the meadows thereby facilitating swans, geese and ducks. I became a member of FFCM 17 years ago and I very much appreciate the information provided when the committee meets and opens the Information Centre on the first Saturday of each month, thereby encouraging and welcoming local residents.