KNA’s Patron
Lord (Chris) Holmes of Richmond MBE
KNA’s Patron
Chris was a Paralympian gold-medallist 1988-2000, worked as a journalist and solicitor, and was elevated to the House of Lords in 2013. There he is an advocate for the potential of technology, including AI. He and his wife have lived in Kew since 2007.
Our Trustees
Chair: Kirsty Gillan-Thomas
Kirsty has a background in social research and evaluation, focusing on issues of social policy and the charity sector. She currently works for Paul Hamlyn Foundation, a grant-making charity. During her career she has also worked for the Home Office, and a number of charities in a paid and voluntary capacity, with experience in fundraising, caring and work with children and young people. She has been living in the area since 2015 and joined KNA as a trustee in 2018.
Vice chair: Position Vacant
Treasurer: Chris Langley
Chris Langley joined KNA as Treasurer in 2024. Recently retired as Treasurer for a container leasing company called Blue Sky based in Marlow. He was there for about 12 years and in total fulfilled similar roles in the container industry for about 34 years. Chris is also Treasurer of Kew Scouts.
Martin has lived in Kew for nearly ten years. His wife, Laura, volunteers as a driver with KNA, and he works in the media in Paddington.
Martin Cross
Martin has lived in Kew since 1974. He retired in 2009 from a career in financial services and became a KNA volunteer driver and trustee, including two periods as chair (2015-2017) and (2020-21). He also volunteers with Oxfam and Age UK Richmond. His wife Jenny is a KNA Office as a volunteer
Margaret De Fonblanque
Margaret moved to Kew 30 years ago, but as her husband was a diplomat she spent some of those years abroad. Although her main career was in the Civil Service, she diversified into teaching history in Delhi, working for the European Commission on recruitment in Brussels, and acting as an English language editor in Vienna. She was an Assessor for the Civil Service graduate recruitment scheme for 20 years, and acted as the lay member on the interview panels for the magistrates service.
Martin Keene
Martin has lived in Kew for nearly ten years. His wife, Laura, volunteers as a driver with KNA, and he works in the media in Paddington.
Monsignor Canon John Weatherill
Monsignor Canon John Weatherill is the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Loreto & St Winefride's Catholic Church in Kew. He joined KNA as a trustee in 2024.
Our staff
We have four part-time paid members of staff - a Director who oversees the charity, an Operations Manager to run the day today business of KNA a Companionship Manager who manages Kew Neighbour's Companionship Programme and a Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator to help KNA stay visible within our community.
Our volunteers
A team of volunteers run the office on week days from 10am – 12 noon, finding volunteer drivers, gardeners and shoppers to meet the requests of those who need the help of our wonderful team of volunteers.