Meet the team

Close

Gavin Crocker

Chair

Gavin is a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach who escaped the City having initially trained as a lawyer and ran his own international recruitment business for over twenty years. He set up businesses in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Gavin now enjoys helping clients using advanced hypnotherapy and counselling from his home in Surrey, without the pressures of commuting and managing large teams in different time zones.
Working locally has given him the chance to be more involved in the community and he was a governor of a local school for four years. This gave him a good insight into improving services with ever increasing costs and reducing public sector finance.
Gavin had stem cell therapy in Mexico in 2020 for primary progressive MS. He has had first-hand experience of different approaches to stopping MS. He is a regular user of the Samson Centre, particularly training at the gym because he has found staying fit reduces the neurological effects of MS.
He has found that stress makes his walking worse. The optimistic support the centre offers contributes to overall wellness. Hope may not be a strategy but it helps him walk! He aims to walk normally and one day to start running again. “You can’t do that” and “it won’t work for MS” make him even more determined to find ways to make it happen.
Gavin has diplomas in advanced hypnotherapy, counselling and coaching, a degree in Chemistry and qualified as a Barrister.

Close

John Hambly OBE

Trustee

Founding Trustee of the Samson Centre for MS. Chairman and fundraiser from 2003-9. Vice Chairman 2009-present

Vice Chair of the Guildford Waterside Centre from 2006-19

Attained a degree in Building Surveying in 1983. Worked in private practice, becoming a Partner at Scott Godwin Associates from 1993 until retirement through ill health in 2007.

Diagnosed with MS in 1999 which curtailed a 25 year rugby playing ‘career’. Coach and Captain of Actonians RFC from 1988-1993.

Member of St John’s Milford PCC from 2013-present, including the role of church governor at Chandler School, Witley.

Awarded an OBE for Services to People with Disabilities in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List

Married with four daughters

Close

Hilary Birkinshaw

Treasurer

Hilary is a qualified Management Accountant (ACMA) with over 25 years financial and management experience in large multinational companies. Her current role is Finance Business Partner for the Central Functions of Merlin Entertainments but her experience with the company includes the challenge of setting up and managing their charity activities, supporting children facing adversity. Having MS herself she is both a Trustee and a user of the therapies Samson Centre offers. A keen sports enthusiast she credits Samson Centre with keeping her as mobile and fit as possible but also with introductions to adaptive rowing and watersking which she regularly participates in. This in turn led her to 4 years as a trustee of the British Disbaled Waterski and Wakeboard Association.

Close

Liz Darke

Trustee

Liz has an emotional link to the Samson Centre as she was a close friend of one of the founding members and watched her battle with multiple sclerosis for over 15 years. Liz became a trustee of the Centre in July 2014. A born organiser, Liz has personally raised over £17,000 for the Centre since its inception. Before having two children, Liz was an account manager at a leading sports event management agency, focussing particularly on athletics, international ice skating and hockey. Prior to that, she worked in the public relations and advertising industry in South Africa. Since 2001, Liz has run her own direct selling greeting card business from home which has enabled her to work around family commitments. Liz is a big sports enthusiast and over the years has participated in horse riding, hockey, tennis, skiing and golf. Her current aim is to reduce her golf handicap!

Close

Tim Lodge

Trustee

Tim is a Paralympic canoeist based at the Wey Kayak Club. He also runs a business consultancy and a wellbeing business where he delivers programs and workshops on change, transformation and mental and physical wellbeing. Being born with a disability and becoming an athlete in his 40’s after a successful career in the city spanning 25 years has given Tim great insight to the power of sport and movement to improve physical limitations. The Samson Centre has always impressed and inspired Tim that with the right support and people sharing their stories anything is possible. It’s now time for him to be a trustee of the charity and help them to grow to support more people in the future

Close

Duncan Howe

Trustee / Lead Oxygen Therapy Operator

I have been involved with the Samson Centre right from the beginning. Being a member of Guildford Sub-Aqua Club who use the Waterside as their club house and boatshed I wanted to give something back. So I became an Oxygen operator , learning to become a 2nd and then a Lead Operator. I now carry out the practical training of new Oxygen volunteers.

I have been self employed for the last 15 years running my own driving school that specialises in trailer training, D1 Minibus & D1E Minibus and trailer categories.

My passion is Scuba diving and I have dived all over the world – from Bognor reef, Scapa Flow, Ice diving in Russia, The Great Barrier reef, Indonesia, Galapagos Islands and Selsey Bill.

Close

Caroline O’Flanagan

Oxygen Therapy Coordinator

Caroline started her career as a computer programmer in Bristol, London and Amsterdam. She later moved to a family timber importing business where she introduced computers and ran the payroll. After retiring in 2015, Caroline joined the Samson Centre initially as an oxygen volunteer, covering the office whilst Jackie was on holiday. She now works two days a week as Oxygen Therapy Coordinator. She enjoys being active – bootcamp, Pilates and walking with her two dogs and with friends. She also enjoys cooking and reading. She is married with two children – Tom who works in London and Imogen who is studying Product Design at Sussex University.

Close

Julia McDonald

Oxygen Therapy Coordinator

Julia joined the Samson Centre in March 2021 and is delighted she did. What a wonderful place to be involved with. After 16 years of full-time employment, mainly in television production, Julia became a stay-at-home mum to her two boys.  They are now teenagers and no longer require her around quite so much!   A homebody, Julia likes spending time with her family, walking, watching films, reading and trying to be a gardener!  During the winter months she helps out at the local ski centre as an instructor.

Close

Sara McGowan

Lead Physio

Sara joined the team at the Samson Centre in 2015 and has been the lead physio now for 4 years.  Sara specialised in neurology and rehab early on in her career and has had a variety of different jobs in hospitals, as a community physiotherapist and in higher education teaching physiotherapy students. When not at work, Sara likes to keep active by walking the dog in the lovely Surrey Hills. She is a certified Pilates Instructor and also practices yoga, both of which are often incorporated into her physiotherapy practice. 

Close

Vicky Bassett

Deputy Lead Physio

Vicky joined the Samson Centre in 2017 as Deputy Lead Physiotherapist.  She has specialised in working with people with neurological conditions for over 15 years, across hospital and community settings and enjoys problem solving and finding innovative ways to motivate people to engage in therapy.  Outside of work Vicky is frequently found looking after and riding her horse, walking her dog, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Close

Maria Garcia

Physio

Maria joined the Samson Centre in May 2021 having previously worked as a Neuro Physiotherapist across Community, NHS and private settings for over 15 years.  Maria enjoys exercise based therapy, encouraging people to incorporate exercise into their daily life.   Outside of work, between her 3 children’s activities, Maria enjoys being in Swinley Forest, walking or running or going to bootcamps.

Close

Emma Roussel

Physio

Emma has worked as a physiotherapist for over ten years in hospital, rehabilitation and community settings both in the UK and overseas. Throughout her career she has followed her interest in working with people with neurological conditions. She has three young children who keep her busy outside work, but also likes to find time to keep active through walking, yoga and badminton, to explore new places whenever possible, and to enjoy quiet moments whilst gardening or baking.

Close

Mike Chalmers

Gym Instructor

Mike joined the Samson Centre in 2014 as a gym instructor after graduating with a BSc Hons degree in Sports Science. He has experience working within a commercial gym delivering personal training sessions and classes to a whole range of people, conducting educational rehabilitation sessions for hip and knee osteoarthritis and mental health. He also operates his own self-employed business as a home personal trainer when he is not working for the Samson Centre.

Recently Mike has become a very proud Father to his daughter Arabella who he adores. In his spare time Mike practices what he preaches and regularly attends the gym to keep fit and healthy, enjoys researching health and wellness related topics, spending time with family and friends, cooking and listening to music.

Close

Rachel Tasker

Gym Instructor

Rachel joined the Samson Centre late August 2018 and has worked part time with us ever since. Rachel is a qualified personal trainer with a personal interest in rowing and Olympic-style Weightlifting. Rachel has previously worked at the Nuffield Health gym in Guildford and has vast experience working with a wide range of individuals. Her special gift is finding the ‘can do’ in most situations and being a part of the friendly supportive team here at the centre.

Close

Alison Clayton

Rehab Assistant

Alison first joined the Samson Centre in 2012 as an Oxygen volunteer, having spent many years as a teacher and a few more at home with her three children.  This was such a positive experience that it helped inspire Alison to retrain to work in a healthcare / rehabilitation setting. She attained a Diploma in 2014, followed by several qualifications from St. Mary’s University including Sports massage, dry needling and several other soft tissue therapies. She joined the Samson Centre as a Rehabilitation  Assistant in 2017. Since then she has studied Strength and balance courses, and Tai chi for rehabilitation. Outside of the Centre Alison enjoys running, horse riding, travelling and learning Spanish.

Close

Davinia Simpson

Rehab Assistant

Davinia joined the Samson team in September 2019 as a Rehabilitation Assistant. She has two children and a dog called Rusty who she enjoys long walks with regularly. Davinia has a background in Health, Nutrition and fitness. In 2017 Davinia won a Beacon of hope award for her charity fund raising for the National Lymphoma Society.She has most recently qualified as a Gym instructor and is a keen fitness enthusiast.

Close

Claire Marks

Rehab Assistant

Claire first joined the Samson Centre in 2020 as an oxygen volunteer and has recently taken on the role of rehab assistant in the main physio department.  Claire used to work in the sports event and hospitality industry but now that her children are a bit older (16 & 14), she has decided to focus on her passion of exercise and rehabilitation.  She has a Sport Science degree from Birmingham Uni and has recently qualified as a Level 2 gym instructor and is enjoying supporting MS clients, helping them to keep moving and be the best they can be.  Claire loves exercising and being in the outdoors – if she isn’t walking her young Labrador Ralph, she can be found playing tennis, running or out on her mountain bike.

Claire previously volunteered at the Fountain Centre based in the Cancer centre at the Royal Surrey and also keeps busy helping the school PTA and Godalming Swimming Club where her daughter swims.

Close

Paul Dimmock

Fundraiser

Paul, has been involved with the Waterside Centre since 2002, assisting the management team to secure the capital funding for the original  building. He is an active member and coach of the Wey Kayak Club. 

In April 2020, Paul began supporting the Samson Centre part time securing external funding and increasing awareness with public agencies and securing long term private sector partnerships. In addition to his fundraising activities, Paul combines his Kayak Coaching skills to support the growing group of Samson Centre enthusiasts with the Thursday “Samson Kayak Ergo” session.

Paul has supported a range of organisations, securing funding in the University and Local Government sectors, his funding efforts have assisted with both capital and revenue projects to promote the sport and physical activity agendas. Paul has been a Trustee of the London Sport Forum for Disabled People and closer to home with Active Surrey.

Close

Debbie Boulter

Centre Manager

Debbie is joining the team as of 4 September 2023 .

She has spent the last 22 years working in the charity sector and is driven by supporting amazing causes.
In her spare time she enjoys the outdoors walking her dog and spending time with her family.
She has a passion for crazy challenges and is always looking for something new to try.

Close

Sarah Holburn

Counsellor

I’m Sarah Holburn, a registered counsellor. I am very pleased to be working alongside The Samson Centre to offer service users and their relatives counselling sessions. I have worked with a wide range of clients in a variety of counselling settings including the Royal Surrey County Hospital, NHS Trusts, educational facilities and within charities such as Momentum and Victim Support. I look forward to meeting more of you.

(Sarah comes to the Centre on Mondays to run her individual counselling sessions).