Simon Tanner: co-Chair of Governors Profile

I live with my wife, Cath, and daughter, Sophie, in Claygate. My wife is a midwife at Kingston Hospital, and she also runs the Mums and Bumps group at Holy Trinity Church every Monday morning. Sophie is a TA at CPS. In my spare time I like to cycle, walk our two dogs and love live music. I attend Holy Trinity Church, Claygate, where I am a member of the PCC.

I have been a member of the Governing body since 2022 and was Vice Chair last year. I am an experienced commercial and financial adviser, having worked in a variety of roles across a broad spectrum of sectors and countries. I currently lead the Asset Transformation business at CBRE.

I am energised by working on things that genuinely make a difference and I love how central CPS is to the life of the village. Education is vitally important and I’m keen to help Claygate Primary School thrive and provide top quality education and facilities for the children of the village.

Meryl White: co-Chair of Governors Profile

I was born in Yorkshire and spent my working life in leadership roles in education and local government in the north of England, raising young people’s achievements and aspirations, starting out as a languages teacher and finishing my career as Director 11-19 Education. I moved to Claygate in 2020 to live near my family.

Since retiring, I became a cookery writer and presenter, sharing my passion for food history, inspired by my grandmother’s baking, on various online platforms.

I enjoy giving my time in the wider community and beyond. I am a keen member of the Claygate Gardening Society and sing my heart out with the Claygate Choral Society at Holy Trinity Church. My other activities include walking, swimming, playing the saxophone and reading. This summer, I was privileged to be a ‘Volontaire’ at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, where I was in charge of a team of ‘Volontaires’ at the cycling Time Trials and Road Races.

I have been delighted to support Claygate Primary School as a Governor and Chair of Resources Committee since 2021, as a volunteer in the classroom and gardening with the children on the school allotment plots. I bring experience, intellectual commitment to achievement for all, value for relationships, boundless enthusiasm and pride in the success of pupils and staff.

Profiles of all the remaining Governors can be found on the document below.