Governors: Denstone College Council

Nigel T. Ratcliffe (Prof.) B.Pharm, Ph.D, DMS, FRPharmS (Rtd), FRSB, CBiol, PFHEA, FTOPRA(Rtd), FCMI (Rtd). Appointed 2017 Chair of the Board (Custos) June 2020. Member of the Education and Finance Committees, Chair of the Remuneration Committee. As Custos, ex-officio member of all Governance Committees. Emeritus Professor of Pharmacy and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, previous Head of Pharmacy School, Keele University 2012 -2018. Visiting Professor University College London and previous Chair of the UK Heads of Pharmacy Schools Council and academic member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB Governance Assembly. Previous Chair of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent NHS Community Trust and Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Appointments Board. Retired from AstraZeneca in 2011 as a Global VP of Business Strategy and Development and of the Global Regulatory Affairs Executive. Brings international perspective having lived for significant periods of time in 4 countries on 3 continents. Two children educated at Denstone, son veterinary surgeon (Edin), currently an equine resident at Cornell University Vet Hospital, NY, USA and daughter a pharmacist who has returned to university (UoS) to read medicine. Enjoys cycling marathons, hill walking, skiing, travel and family life.

David was appointed in 2022 for his second term as a member of the Finance Committee. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with extensive senior finance leadership roles in global business. Married with three children, all of whom were educated by Denstone, David enjoys sport, either through participation in running or swimming; or as a keen spectator of rugby and cricket.

Andrew Coley- Appointed 2011 Deputy Chair of Governors, Member of the Finance and General Purposes committee, Remuneration committee and Development Committee Old Denstonian and parent of an Old Denstonian

Managing Partner of Ainsley and Partners a London Project Management and Quantity Surveying practice whose principal clients include Harrods and many independent and Prep Schools.

He has a son who works for a City fit out company and a daughter who works for HCA Healthcare in London

His wife Sue works as a speech and Drama teacher in the independent sector.

Andrew has two horses and two dogs and enjoys his time in North Norfolk and being with his grand children Madeline and Jude.

Malcolm Coffin (MA, Cantab), appointed 2016. Partner and member of the Investment Committee at Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP, having commenced work in private equity in 2007. Prior to this Malcolm was a member of the M&A team at N. M. Rothschild & Sons and began his career as an accountant at Deloitte, receiving the national Northcott Prize for achievements in his accountancy qualifications. Malcolm graduated with a First Class honours degree at The University of Cambridge in Social and Political Sciences. Malcolm is an Old Denstonian (Meynell 94-99) and prior to that at Smallwood Manor. As a Governor, Malcolm is Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Development Committee. He has two young children and is a fan of sport in all its guises.

David Cooper BSc BEd MSc MCollP MBCS MCIEA. Appointed 2019. Chairman of Education Committee. David is an experienced educationist with over 30 years’ experience in schools. Enjoys playing football and running and is a keen skier. Believes in lifelong learning and has completed several MOOCs in maths and cybersecurity.

Mark Huddy, retired Airline Captain and Type Rating Instructor (TRI) and Examiner (TRE). Appointed 2019. Member of Finance & General Purpose, Safeguarding, Education, IT, H&S and Chair of Compliance Committee. Past parent and OD. Two children, Son is an Airline Pilot and Daughter on a Detective Constable Police Graduate scheme. Enjoys shooting, gardening, wine, volunteering on outdoor projects and time with family and can often be found restoring a Jensen Interceptor.

Chris Lewis appointed 2010. Member of the Finance and Marketing Committees. Director of Denstone College Enterprises Ltd. Partner of the Lewis Partnership, Board member of a number of educational charities. Enjoys skiing, walking, food and wine.

Jenny Marshall joined the Board of Governors at Smallwood Preparatory School in 2015 and took on the role of Vice Custos before the closure and move to the Denstone College site. Serves on the College main council and Education Committee. Have 2 children and 2 grandchildren and enjoys walking, reading and gardening. Parish Councillor for several years. A retired Primary School teacher who specialises in Early Years Education and Special Educational Needs. Jenny has worked in various primary schools across Cheshire from rural villages to inner city schools with high deprivation and social needs as Head of the Early Years. Jenny opened a nursery 17 years ago, Ofsted registered for 40 children. Husband Geoff attended both Smallwood Preparatory School and then moved onto Denstone College.

Geoff has represented college on cricket tours for Denstone Wanderers and is a frequent visitor at College events and matches.

Gareth McAloon (LLB, BVC, LLM, BCL (Oxon)) is an Old Denstonian having left College in 2005 as Captain of Shrewsbury House. Whilst at College he was a full-boarder and a keen sportsman representing the Colleges 1st teams in Cricket, Rugby and Football. He obtained 3 A-Levels in Politics, English Literature and History.

After leaving College Gareth went on to read law at University graduating from Keele University with a 1st Class LLB in 2009. He went on then to complete his Bar Exams at the University of Law and after which he was Called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 2010. He continued his post-graduate studies and obtained two Masters Degrees; the first from the University of Birmingham saw him receive an LLM in Commercial Law in 2012, and from this he then went on to obtain a Batchelors in Civil Law (BCL) whilst studying at St Anne’s College, Oxford where he graduated in 2013.

Since completing his studies, Gareth has been a Barrister in independent practice specialising in complex personal injury, industrial disease, medical negligence and inquests and public inquiries. Gareth is currently a tenant at Ropewalk Chambers, Nottingham. He was appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel in 2020.

Gareth was appointed as a Governor at Denstone in 2024 and is a member of the People Committee.

Barbara McNally-Young appointed 2015. Chair of IT and People Committees. A retired Systems, IT & Network Strategy Manager for the Telecommunications Industry who specialised in technical product introduction. Enjoys volunteering, politics, music and travel.

Jack Sampson, appointed 2022. Corporate marketing and media professional. Chair of the Development Committee, encompassing Marketing, Development, and Enterprise. Enjoys all sports leisurely, particularly cycling, as well as a budding family life.

Dr Qamar Siddiqi (MBBS, MRCGP and MSc(SEM)) has worked in health care for almost 30 years and is currently a practicing GP in the NHS. He holds specialist qualifications in Sports and Exercise Medicine and has worked with elite athletes and as a club Doctor for a Premier League football team. He was appointed as a governor in March 2023 and is a member of the Compliance and Safeguarding Committees. In his leisure time, Dr Siddiqi plays football, trains in Karate and attends the gym. He enjoys spending time with his family and walking to explore the Staffordshire countryside.