Trustee Pen Portraits
Derek Dinsey
My name is Derek. I have been involved with UET since the start, as my son was a pupil at Uplands school in 2012. It is great to be able to give something back to the community and to be able to help those who struggle to help themselves; it is fantastic to see the progress the Trust has achieved over the last 10+ years. I started my career 40 years ago as a telephone engineer at BT and have worked for Virgin Media, Orange Communications and finished my career as a senior manager at Vodafone. As a trustee, I use my skills and experience gained in business to help contribute to decision making for the benefit of our people.
Sue Dinsey
My name is Sue and I’m a keen novice gardener, having recently retired from a role as a Credit Risk Analyst with Nationwide to spend more time in my garden trying to keep my plants alive. I also love travelling and eating good food, so a perfect spot for me would be in a café in a botanical garden somewhere. I have been involved with UET for a number of years and have watched the service evolve, as it provides much needed opportunities for young people and adults, like my son, to blossom.
Alan Stone
Alan was born in the UK and spent most of his childhood at school in Tanganyika, returning to the UK in 1961. His early engineering career was in London and Cirencester before setting up his own Consulting Engineering Practice in Swindon in 1988. Alan is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers; he is also a member of the Rotary Club of Swindon.
Alan is now retired and was a Governor of Uplands School from 1998 and Chair of Governors from 2010 until 2012. In 2012 he was one of the “start-up” Trustees of UET.
He retired as a Governor of Uplands & Churchward in October 2021 and became a Trustee of UET in early 2022.
He is an Associate Governor of Kingshill School, Cirencester. He is also a Parish Councillor.
William Wyldbore-Smith
William is the Patron of Uplands Enterprise Trust and a member and board chairman of Brunel Academies Trust & Brunel Education Board Trustee. A retired partner as of 2013 of Thrings LLP Solicitors and a High Sheriff of Wiltshire 2013-2014.
William is a Trustee of various charitable organisations including the Wiltshire Community Foundation, Marlborough College Foundation to which he retired in 2019 for both, Plum Layton Charitable Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust, and Maud Health Trust to name a few.
William was also appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire in 2019.
Jeff Smith
My name is Jeff Smith. I have a 30 year old son with Severe Learning Difficulties who attended Brimble Hill Special School, Uplands Special School and Horizons College who now attends the Bespoke course at Uplands Enterprise Trust. I was a full time carer for twenty years dealing with all aspects of my son’s well-being, gaining considerable experience in dealing with every support agency and service provider that has supported my son. I have been a Trustee of the UET since its inception in 2012. I was also a Governor at Brimble Hill Special School for twenty years being Chair for four. On a personal level I am now retired after working for BT for forty four years in IT & Systems. In my spare time I am a keen road cyclist and enjoy drinking red wine, but not necessarily at the same time.
Why UET? Having been through the difficult and stressful process of transitioning my son from Children’s to Adult Services, that continues to be an unacceptable cliff, UET provides much needed and deserved opportunities to young people with severe and complex needs. Being part of the UET organisation gives me the chance to work with a highly motivated and dedicated team that helps our young people develop in the way they want to. UET is also keen to have a more instrumental input in supporting parents and carers to get the best outcomes for their young people.