Dec 162016
 

With thanks to Jessica Murphy, Senior Account Executive, Citrus:Mix.

Seona Shand, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. Pic: Donald Stewart

CLAN Cancer Support is delighted to announce a number of appointments to its board of directors. Leigh Stott, Stuart Cochrane and Seona Shand have joined the charity’s board and Andrew Lawtie has taken on an ambassadorial role.
The board is responsible for the continuing development of support services on offer, with each member bringing forward their own personal expertise and knowledge in a specific area.

Managing director at Hunter Adams Limited, Leigh wanted to give something back to the charity that helped support her mother.

Since joining Hunter Adams, Leigh has worked with organisations in over 20 sectors, gaining a wealth of experience in human resources.

Leigh Stott said:

“I lost my mum to cancer 23 years ago.  This was my first introduction to CLAN and the support she received during this difficult time was outstanding and something that I will always be grateful for. 

“The impact of a cancer diagnosis can have such far reaching impact on the individual and their families and friends, but the service and support CLAN can provide during such a difficult time can be an enormous help.

“I am looking forward to working with CLAN and sharing my knowledge and experience from an HR and business perspective. For me it is about continuing to help CLAN raise awareness through the local community but also supporting the team in their annual fundraising goals.”

Stuart Cochrane, director of FWB Park Brown, has more than 25 years’ experience within the energy industry where he progressed to senior management level in both the USA and Europe.

Stuart joined Park Brown International as a Director in 2002, acquired the company in 2008 and in 2013 joined the board of FWB Park Brown on its merger with FWB.

He said:

“I’m delighted to be joining the CLAN board and I am very much looking forward to using my professional expertise to help the charity.

“I have had recent experience of the invaluable support that CLAN provides during and after cancer treatment and it is my aim to help it achieve its ambitions to grow without compromising on the levels of support it provides.”

Seona Shand, Membership Network Manager at the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, is looking forward to using her experience to help the charity. She previously worked as Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Inspire.

Seona said:

“As I’ve worked as a fundraiser in the third sector for over ten years I completely understand the difficulties in having to raise awareness and much-needed funds to ensure that the work of charities such as CLAN can continue for years to come.

“If I can do something positive and put my skills to good use in order to make the lives of those living with or affected by cancer as positive an experience as possible then I will have achieved all I can.”

Andrew Lawtie joins the charity in a specially created role of Children and Family Services ambassador.

He said: 

“I am delighted to become CLAN’s ambassador for Children and Family Services and to support the organisation in its invaluable work.

“My motivation to help stems from my own personal experiences of living and dealing with cancer. My son Stuart was diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer and sadly died at the age of 27.”

Andrew has a wealth of experience across the public, private and third sectors.  For the past five years, he and his wife Sheila have organised and delivered a successful national conference ‘Managing the Challenges of Cancer in Children and Young People’.  These have been held in various Scottish locations in memory of Stuart.

CLAN Chairman, Kenny Anderson said:

“I am very pleased to welcome Leigh, Seona and Stuart to the Board. As a local charity providing support services in the heart of communities throughout Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Orkney and Shetland it is essential we maintain a strong, robust and diverse Board particularly in these challenging economic times.

“These appointments strengthen the Board’s skillset to allow us to support CLAN’s senior management team, the staff, our hundreds of volunteers and of course, most importantly the individuals and families from these communities who benefit from our services.”

Dr Colette Backwell, chief executive of CLAN Cancer Support, added:

“CLAN is fortunate to have a number of committed, experienced ambassadors. For the first time, however, CLAN has appointed a dedicated children and families’ ambassador to support and highlight CLAN’s commitment to supporting children, teenagers and their families. In Andrew, we have found someone who can bring personal experience to help develop and promote the service.

“Our board members all give their time and expertise freely and I am looking forward to working closely with them and utilising their experience to ensure that CLAN remains a leading charity provider of cancer support services in the north-east, Orkney and Shetland.”

CLAN Cancer Support is an independent charity which provides comfort, support and information, free of charge, for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer. CLAN aims to support people to reduce anxiety, stress and to increase their ability to cope with the effects of a serious illness.

Based in Aberdeen, the charity covers the whole of north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. CLAN has a presence in Ballater, Banchory, Elgin, Buckie, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Lossiemouth, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Turriff, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

For more information about CLAN Cancer Support, please call (01224) 647 000 or visit www.clanhouse.org

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Jun 252012
 

It has been a turbulent week in Scottish football, not least for our own Aberdeen FC, with the passing of club legend Teddy Scott, and the departure of five board members including another club legend and former captain Willie Miller. Secretary of the AFC Former Players Association and the AFC Heritage Trust, Chris Gavin, one of the five to depart, shares his thoughts with Voice readers.

“Leaving the Aberdeen boardroom has me filled with mixed emotions. It is a huge wrench because I’m stepping down from close involvement at the very top of the club I love. 

“At the same time it will be quite nice to step out of the direct firing line for a while. 

“To outside observers the five departures from the Pittodrie board will seem to smack of the “Night of the Long Knives” but in fact it is simply the coming together of a number of events and the sole intention is to reinvigorate and strengthen the top echelons of the club.

“There was no bust-up over the Rangers Newco, nor any other dispute on the hurly-burly of Scottish football, and we must look on the change as an opportunity to be grabbed with enthusiasm.

“I can only really speak about my own departure and can tell Voice readers that it was in the works for quite some time. Indeed, my original intention had only been to stay on the board for three years, but the call of the Dons is strong and I was not inclined to step away from the constant struggle to build a stronger club, hence a tenure of almost eleven years.

“Having said that, there is always a right time to make changes and when the subject finally came up in earnest I was very comfortable with it, and having spoken with remaining directors I have stood down confident that we will see Aberdeen FC pushing on and with courage, fortitude and humour, pushing back up to the top levels of the game.

“This ex-director will remain closely involved with helping the club, most importantly helping to keep the influential Supporters’ Forum going and ensuring that the recently-revived road shows continue at a good pace. I am also secretary of the AFC Former Players Association and the AFC Heritage Trust so there is plenty to do and there is always something new to deal with.

“Today came the sad news of the passing of Teddy Scott who, for me, was AFC royalty, and the storm of messages coming and going from the club as so many of us began to come to terms with his loss. We must ensure that we do right by his fantastic career and the influence that he had on so many of us, players and fans alike”.

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