Meet the SHHiRT Trustees...

Founder & driving force

Jamie is our Chair of Trustees and the founder of SHHiRT. He was inspired to start SHHiRT after the loss of his son Sam, aged 37 days.

Jamie is the heart and soul of SHHiRT, and his vision brought our team of friends together to form the original board of trustees. His passion and energy have since opened many doors for us, and gained us a lot of new friends in the process.

Jamie is married to Clare and is a devoted dad to Lucas (pictured left). He enjoys drinking red wine, watching endless repeats of Only Fools and Horses, and taking part in increasingly dangerous martial arts.

Quote from Jamie:

“Losing Sam was the worst pain and sadness I have ever felt. Setting up Shhirt gave me something to channel all my emotions an energy and I am proud with what we have achieved so far. Samuel’s name will live on forever and hopefully Shhirt will help stop the pain and suffering of other families affected by Harlequins”.

Contact details:

E-mail: Jamie.Hardgrave@shhirt.org.uk

Phone: 07899  804 711

The communications chief

‘Burtie’ is our wordsmith – he writes most of the copy for our website, Facebook and Shout for SHHiRT – so if you find any typos, it’ll be pretty easy to brake his hart.

Burtie is a keen runner, despite carrying a reputation from his footballing days for moving at the pace of an ambient sloth. Nonetheless, he ran the 2011 Brighton Marathon for SHHiRT in a respectable 3hours 51minutes – something he has dined off ever since.

He is currently taking a short break from SHHiRT duty while he finishes his Masters degree in Psychology, but has promised to come back in 2012 with more ideas than ever – we can hardly wait!

Quote from Burtie:

“It has been fantastic being a part of this project with my close friends.  I really believe we will make a difference”

Contact details:

E-mail: Roland.Burton@shhirt.org.uk 

The numbers man

Tom is our Numbers Man – affectionately known as our bean-counter, or book-cooker.

Tom keeps a watchful eye on our figures (though thankfully not our waistlines) and is frequently the voice of reason when decisions are being taken. It was at his insistence that SHHiRT upgraded from an abacus to a calculator when we realised just what a great job our supporters were doing in raising funds.

Tom is a golfing guru, a demon at darts, and plays precision pool – meaning that he can often be found counting his own personal profits at any sporting or social events, when he’s not holding the SHHiRT purse-strings.

Contact details:

E-mail: Tom.Bidwell@shhirt.org.uk

Technical guru & webmaster

Our technology expert, James is responsible for ensuring that SHHiRT is firmly embedded in the 21^st century.

With a degree in Business Studies, James brings a level-headed acumen which has been vital in setting the strategy and direction of SHHiRT, not to mention building our website and designing Shout from SHHiRT.

Another keen sportsman (we’re an active lot!), James is the only remaining member of the SHHiRT team to refuse to hang up his football boots – showing a grim but admirable determination to steadfastly ignore the fact that time has been a cruel mistress to what little pace and ability he once had.

Marketing & Event Management

Matt joined the SHHiRT team in September 2011, bringing a wealth of marketing and event management experience.

His expertise in using events as a communication platform for building awareness will be vital for SHHiRT, as we grow and look to tell our story to new supporters, as well as exploring new ways of engaging with our existing followers.

Matt enjoys travelling, watching Crystal Palace, and engaging in lively debates about whatever captures his imagination at the time. It’s a source of great confidence for the trustees to know that we have a man on our team who has never been wrong about anything.

Contact details:

E-mail: Matt.Bidwell@shhirt.org.uk

Ideas, organisation & drive

We were delighted to welcome Amy to the team in September 2011. Amy has a fantastic track record of using her outstanding organisational skills and inspirational leadership to deliver major events, making her a valuable addition to the team.

Having formed Chequers netball club from scratch in 2000, Amy has established it as one of the leading clubs in the county  – and has helped generate tremendous publicity and fundraising for SHHiRT through the club before even becoming a trustee.

Amy is mum to Freddie and long-suffering partner of Lee – though she insists that joining SHHiRT doesn’t mean that either of the two men in her life will be left completely to fend for themselves.

Contact details:

E-mail: Amy.Ireson@shhirt.org.uk

Scientist & Researcher

Adam also joined the team in September 2011, bringing a unique set of skills from his scientific and government background, which will help SHHiRT to take a more strategic approach to research and administration.

Before becoming a trustee, Adam sacrificed the dubious distinction of being “The Hairiest Man in Croydon” by shaving his head, face and eyebrows to raise funds for SHHiRT. It was an act which was impulsive, reckless, and totally undignified – and left the other trustees in no doubt that Adam had just the right qualities to join the team.

Adam is married to Claire, and dad to Charlotte, Daniel & Oliver.

Contact details:

E-mail: Adam.Hardgrave@shhirt.org.uk