Our Team

Lynn Kelly, Chief Executive

Lynn Kelly has a strong professional background in media, education and training. Working at St Catherine’s for the last nine years as Director of Knowledge & Technical, Lynn has managed a number of essential areas of the hospice’s work including education, training, volunteering, information systems, facilities and clinical administration.

She has been instrumental in guiding the organisation through the challenges and changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, and was appointed as chief executive in September 2020. 

She said: “St Catherine’s is truly a wonderful place – there’s kindness and creativity in every corner. It goes without saying that there are challenges ahead but also exciting opportunities too.

“I feel certain that the amazing team we have here will take us from strength to strength over the coming months and years – we have achieved so much together already and I’m looking forward to working with colleagues and our amazing communities as we move forward.”

Lynn also plays a key role in the charity’s new research and Compassionate Communities programmes, patient and family involvement, and partnerships with other hospices and academic institutions.

She is also Chair of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Education Strategy Group.

Chairman John Chesworth

John is a commercial lawyer dedicated to helping owners and managers of Lancashire SMEs make it possible to achieve their objectives by navigating them through the ever more complex legal and regulatory landscape in which businesses have to operate.

He joined Harrison Drury in 2006 and became managing partner in 2007; since then he has spearheaded the firm’s growth and development.

He is a founder member of the Winckley Square Community Interest Company which oversaw the restoration and refurbishment of the Winckley Square gardens in the heart of Preston, and Harrison Drury is a patron of the Youth Zone movement.

John plays an active part in the running of Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club following his retirement from rugby after 13 seasons playing for the First XV. He has also completed a number of triathlons including the Ironman UK.

Michelle Cox

Cliff Hughes

Cliff and his wife Rita have worked for St Catherine’s since 1982 when their first task was raising the funds needed to open the hospice. Initially chairman of the buildings sub-committee, Cliff negotiated the purchase of Lostock Hall Convalescence Hospital from the NHS – a major milestone in the development of the charity.

He became chairman of the board in 1989 and remained in post until 2018, when he was made President.

A building services engineer by profession, during his time as chairman he steered the charity through countless developments and changes, including major renovations and improvements to the site in Lostock Hall; the launch of new and enhanced clinical services; and the introduction of exciting fundraising events and campaigns, including the launch of the first hospice lottery in the country.

He was also one of the instigators of a North West Hospices group encouraging greater collaboration between hospice charities working across the region.

Lorraine Norris

Lorraine is the former Chief Executive of Preston Council – where she served for nine years – and has had a varied career, primarily in the public sector. She worked as a social worker for Bolton Metropolitan Council and later qualified as a solicitor in private practice before returning to the public sector in Salford, specialising in public child care law. She had a successful senior management career in Local Government for more than 20 years, and has considerable experience of managing a large public service led organisation.

She worked co-operatively with other Local Authorities; the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership; Royal Preston Hospital and the Greater Preston CCG. She has a strong track record of delivering projects with the private sector. She was the Chief Executive lead in the combined authority discussions.

She served as a representative of Lancashire Chief Executives on the Lancashire Health and Well Being Board, the Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board and the Central Lancashire Health and Well Being Partnership.

She is also a trustee of the University of Central Lancashire.

Lorraine said: “Like most people I have personal experience of people close to me who needed end of life care and the services St Catherine’s offers. I think St Catherine’s sits at the heart of our community and it is a privilege to make a contribution.”

Peter Franks

Peter Franks has more than 44 years’ business experience in many roles within the food retail sector, starting his career as a van salesman for Unigate Foods. His last 16 years were as Managing Director of Dr. Oetker (UK) Limited; he launched the business in the UK in 2002, building a multi-million pound, brandleading company, employing over 500 people at two sites in Leeds and Leyland.

Peter oversaw a ten year re-development of the Leyland site, upgrading and refurbishing the total site. He was responsible for sales, marketing, category management in Leeds; and manufacturing at the Leyland site. He was also responsible for the business development in the Republic of Ireland and served on several strategic international boards.

Since his retirement, he has been spending more time with his family and enjoys walking and cycling; he is a keen Blackpool FC fan and has a passion for all types of music.

He said: “I was delighted and proud to be asked to join the St. Catherine’s team; I am aware of the importance of the hospice to the Central Lancashire community and the amazing work of the staff and volunteers there.  I hope I can utilise my business experience to make a difference and add value enabling St Catherine’s to carry on serving the community into the future so positively.”

Tony Harrison

Tony has worked with several local authorities and the North West Development Agency to deliver economic growth throughout Central and West Lancashire.

He has also served as Vice Chairman of Lancashire West Citizen’s Advice Bureaux with offices in Skelmersdale, Chorley, Leyland and Fleetwood.

He has been a serving magistrate for more than 22 years, presiding over criminal and family courts across Central Lancashire and is an active member of the Leyland Rotary Club.

Tony Bonser

Following the death of their son Neil in 2009, Tony and his wife Dorothy have been driven by a desire to validate his life and death by working for better end of life care.

Passionate about breaking the taboo around death and dying and promoting advance care planning so that people’s wishes are fulfilled at the end of life, Tony is a North West Champion for the Dying Matters coalition.

He speaks and writes on a host of end of life care issues, working with St Catherine’s and Hospice UK.

Fiona Duncan

Fiona trained as a nurse in Edinburgh. She worked as a senior sister in the first hospice in South Africa in the early 1980s. She then joined St Catherine’s a short time after it opened.

Over the years she has supported the charity in a variety of ways including as an Association member, volunteer and fundraiser.

She has enjoyed a long career as a nurse working in critical care, hospice and pain management. She was awarded a doctorate in 2009. She has 10 years’ experience as a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisal committee member.

She retired from paid employment in 2017. Her interests include walking and Scottish rugby.

Fiona lives in Longridge where her three children grew up.

Jonathan Holden

Jonathan is a Partner at Forbes Solicitors and has extensive experience in all areas of employment law, having specialised in this area since 2005. He regularly advises local authorities, housing authorities and private companies on a wide range of employment matters.

Jonathan is equally adept at dealing with tribunal cases of all types, as well as providing internal advice on issues of various complexity, including large-scale restructures, job evaluation and equal pay issues. Jonathan also holds a particular specialism in dealing with employment & HR issues in an education context, having advised a number of schools and academic institutions on such matters.

He is also a school governor  and outside of work, Jonathan has a young family and is a competitive triathlete.

Michael Lough

Michael is co-owner and Managing Director of Preston-based digital marketing and software agency, Blue Wren. For more than 15 years Michael has worked in marketing and management consultancy; advising and supporting business, the public sector and NGOs in marketing communications.

Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Michael is a passionate sportsman with a distinguished rugby career behind him.  Married with two daughters, Michael is proud to live and work in Preston – although when it comes to sport, he still cheers for Australia.

Michael was delighted to be asked to join St Catherine’s Board of Trustees and hopes to make a valuable contribution, particularly in the area of digital marketing and communications.  His mother-in-law, a St Catherine’s Volunteer of more than 10 years, continues to make sure he does!

Tim Frier

Tim Frier, Head of Communications at Star Academies, sits on the hospice’s Community and Income Committee where one of his key focuses is offering insight and advice on the direction and delivery of the organisation’s communications strategy.

Tim has more than 15 years’ experience in marketing and communications across a range of sectors, including housing and education.

A chartered marketer and UCLan journalism graduate, Tim is excited to serve on the board at such an important time in the development of the charity’s marketing and communications activities.

Tim said: “St Catherine’s plays such an important role in the Central Lancashire community by providing invaluable care. It can only do so thanks to the generosity of its wonderful supporters, and I am proud to be part of the dedicated team which really makes a difference to local people.

“Marketing and communications are fundamental to any organisation’s success, but particularly for a charity which is so dependent on its strong reputation and ongoing public support. It is an exciting time for St Catherine’s as they work to deliver their ambitious communications and engagement strategy, and I am pleased to work with them to maximise its potential to deliver the best outcomes for the charity and the people it serves.”