Who we are:

TOM HARWOOD - head of FOUNDATION

Tom joined the charity in its infancy as Foundation Manager in April 2020.

Tom comes with over ten years of experience in the local sports development and charity sector, successfully delivering on a number of different national programmes in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Graduating in 2012 from Leeds Metropolitan University in Sports Development and Management, Tom is passionate about the impact sport can have on communities and how the Blues Foundation can enhance peoples lives in Bedfordshire.

Email: tom@bluesfoundation.org.uk

Claire Hawes - Projects officer

A master’s degree graduate in Sport Development Management, Claire joins Blues Foundation with a wealth of knowledge and key experience following previous roles at Active Luton and Wycombe Wanderers Sports and Education Trust.

This has seen her work on a range of community projects targeted to some of the key demographic we have already, and want to continue to support, including women only physical activity, youth engagement for those at risk of offending/re-offending, disability sport and projects taking the promotion of positive physical and mental health.

Email: claire@bluesfoundation.org.uk

Max Cubitt - Rugby Development Officer

Max welcomes 6 year of experience within the rugby industry.  Graduating from St Marys University in 2016 with a Sports Science degree, Max travelled to the Caribbean to be the Rugby Development Officer on St Vincent. Developing the sport with limited resources and coaching the Islands senior 7s team, Max has the strength to overcome tough situations embrace the opportunities he finds himself in. 

Max has spent the last 5 years working for Northampton Saints, delivering rugby across the counties and coaching in the DPP. Max had also worked for the Saints Foundation, working with vulnerable individuals and engaging them through the power of sport and physical activity. Helping and giving everyone the best opportunity to choose the correct path.  

Email: max@bluesfoundation.org.uk

James Stonor – Chairman

Chairman of the Blues Foundation, James grew up in and around Bedford and attended Bedford Modern School. James runs nationwide civil engineering firm, Stonbury where he is Group Chairman, as well as having several other business interests. 

James has also been a Director of Bedford Blues Ltd since summer 2016.

James hopes that we can use the platform of both rugby and the club to do good and James believes the Foundation is an opportunity to reach a diverse demographic of people that do not have the opportunity to benefit from, or have access to, the value that both rugby and sport in general has to offer.

Along with Gareth Alred, he has created the vision for the new Foundation and is excited by the launch of the new charity.

Mark Ormerod – Senior Independent Director

Mark read Sport and Recreation Management at the University of Sheffield and completed his MSc in 1995. Mark joined the Sports Council aged 25 and led research on the National Junior Sports Programme, developed Talent Identification systems, and set up the Active Partnership Network in the East Region.

After 17 years, Mark left Sport England to become the CEO of Leap in 2012. Key to his role is interpreting national sports policy into deliverable action at a local level and removing barriers to sport and physical activity.

Mark has been a long-time supporter of SportsAid, becoming a trustee in 2014 and Chairman of SportsAid East in 2017. He passionately believes in the transformational power sport has to improve lives.

Gareth Alred - Trustee

Joining the Foundation since inception, Gareth is the Chief Operating Officer at Bedford Blues having moved to the Championship Club in June 2014.

Gareth has a wealth of rugby off-field experience under his belt already, working in various commercial, marketing, operational and media roles at Newport Gwent Dragons, Doncaster Knights and Jersey Reds.

Born and bred in South Wales, Gareth is very passionate about rugby and the power it can play in the community. Still playing locally for Bedford Queens and coaching cricket in Sharnbrook, as well as his role at the Blues, Gareth believes in the positive impact sport has on a large and diverse group of people.

Victoria Brading – Trustee & Secretary

Victoria joined Deloitte in 2004 and has worked in a variety of roles within the tax function. Initially specialising in the US and UK taxation of high net worth individuals, qualifying within both the US and UK tax jurisdictions to become a ‘dual-handler’. Victoria is an Associate Director in the Global Employer Services practice supporting multinational clients with global tax compliance risk and global mobility strategy planning. 

Victoria has always had a love of sport and graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Sport & Exercise Sciences. She is a qualified personal trainer, fitness instructor and hockey and netball coach. Through many years of both playing and coaching competitive sport, she has witnessed first-hand the positive impact team sports can have on the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals. She has a particular interest in providing sporting opportunities to disadvantaged and under-represented demographic groups within the local community. 

Victoria is married to former Bedford Blues player Simon Brading and lives locally. She has two children, who both actively participate in various sports teams locally.

Angie Novell - trustee

Angela has been the Chief Executive Officer of award-winning disability charity MK SNAP since 2018. The charity was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2020; the MBE for voluntary organisations.

Angela was formerly Director of Education at MK Dons Sport & Education Trust based at StadiumMK for 11 years and was involved with the development of the education and sports offer for the trust; including the delivery of a range of community based programmes. She was Finalist in MK Women Leaders Awards and Winner of National Business Women’s Awards 2019 Third Sector Champion.

Angela lives in Olney with her husband and has a beautiful family of ‘grown up’ children. She was founder president of Soroptimist International MK supporting women and girls and is a passionate advocate of disability rights and awareness. Angela believes that sport has the power to break down barriers to inclusion and to change lives.

Simon Lousada – Trustee

Born and educated in Bedford, Simon is married to Susan and has two children and two grandchildren.

Returning to Bedford in 1985, Simon established his own business (FPS) in the service industry. With consistent year-on-year growth, the business flourished and employed many people locally before being sold in 2007. Following the sale, Simon invested in further businesses and property opportunities locally and nationally. Simon continues to be very active within a number of businesses.

In 2009 Simon worked with Mark Rutherford School and Bedford Park Rotary Club to establish a mentoring programme to connect students with local business and sporting people, including players from Bedford Blues. Simon played rugby at Bedford Queens for 20 years and now enjoys cycling and other forms of sport. He is also a trustee at two schools in Bedfordshire.

John Pearson – Trustee

Executive Director of Cancer Support Operations since February 2016, John is responsible for delivering Macmillan’s services across the UK to support people affected by cancer.

John has worked at the Royal Voluntary Service charity as the Chief Operating Officer. He spent many years in the commercial sector working in a variety of organisations including BP Oil, EE in telecommunications and Santander in banking.

John and his wife are passionate supporters of Macmillan, combining their love of sport and travel with raising money for Macmillan. Through running marathons, to climbing Kilimanjaro, they have raised over £200,000 for Macmillan to date. 

A season ticket holder at Bedford Blues, John loves watching rugby, playing golf and trying to stay fit!

Susie White – PA to the Board of Trustees

Susie spent 10 years in the FMCG sector of LVMH and Estee Lauder as a Business Analyst in London, before relocating to Milton Keynes. Moving into corporate finance and assisting the MD was a springboard to working for Stonbury, becoming Assistant to the Chairman.

Susie hails from the north west of England and is hugely passionate about sport and exercise having a positive attitude on wellbeing and health.  She assists the Trustees at the Monthly Board.