Our Team
Our volunteer board of Directors oversee the running of the organisation and they are representatives of the community as a whole.
Wivey Link is managed and supported by four part-time staff and a team of local volunteer drivers.
Wivey Link also receives further back-up from a team of experienced office volunteers.
Team Members
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Bec Briar
Manager
Bec Briar moved to the area in 2019 and joined us in the office as our Manager soon after. She has a background in setting up, funding and running non profits with a focus on community, nature connection and mental health.
She keeps a flock of rare breed wool sheep in Ford and is a spinner and weaver in her spare time.
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Alison Sipthorpe
Wivey Link Coordinator – Scheduling Lead
Alison Sipthorpe is one of our excellent Coordinators and in charge of making sure our passengers get where they want to go. She has 3 grown up children and extended family in Wivey and Milverton.
Her experience is predominantly in healthcare and admin, a perfect combination for her role at Wivey Link working alongside our customers, drivers and volunteers.
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Neil Gent
Wivey Link Coordinator – Service Lead
Neil Gent is one of our three Wivey Link Coordinators, working alongside Alison and Mel to ensure all of our drivers and passengers are well looked after and our systems run smoothly.
Neil is passionate about community and is involved in many of our local organisations from 10 Radio to Wiveliscombe Library.
Directors
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Pauline Homeshaw MBE
Director · Lifetime President
A Wiveliscombe resident for 33 years, Pauline has a sales and editorial background. She is Chair of the Wiveliscombe Civic and Historical Society and is also a presenter on community radio station 10Radio. She is County Publicity Officer for SSAFA Forces Help.
Pauline also runs the biennial 10 Parishes Festival, a celebration of the arts and crafts so prevalent in the 10 Parishes area. Pauline loves theatre, books and she and her husband Bob have a huge interest in gardening.
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Andrew Smith
Director
Andrew retired in 2015 as Relationship Director Corporate Banking South West for Lloyds Bank Plc. He has lived in Huish Champflower for 31 years. He currently serves as a non executive for LiveWest, the largest housing association in the south west.
Previous pro bono appointments include serving as a governor at Kingsmead School, a trustee at Hospiscare (the Exeter hospice), and treasurer of Wimbleball Sailing Club. His interests include sailing, cycling, walking, bridge and travel.