Our team

In Memoriam, Cliff Hughes

Cliff and his wife Rita began their incredible journey with St Catherine’s in 1982, when their first task was raising the funds needed to open the hospice. Initially chairman of the buildings sub-committee, Cliff played a pivotal role in negotiating 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 served with dedication until 2018, when he was appointed President. In 2024, he was honoured as the Founder and Life President of St Catherine’s Hospice.

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

He was also instrumental in establishing a North West Hospices group, encouraging greater collaboration between hospice charities across the region.

Cliff’s vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment have left an enduring legacy at St Catherine’s, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Lynn Kelly, Chief Executive

Lynn Kelly has a strong professional background in media, education and training, and has volunteered her time for a number of worthwhile causes throughout her career.

She was appointed as chief executive of St Catherine’s in September 2020, having worked at the hospice for nine years prior managing a number of essential areas of the charity’s work, including education, training, volunteering, information systems, facilities and clinical administration.

She has always been a keen volunteer and has supported a number of causes over the years including Oxfam, Farm Africa, Macmillan, London Wildlife Trust, and the Lancashire National Garden Scheme.

Originally from Southport, Lynn achieved a BA Hons at the University of Bristol before working at Radio Bristol as a researcher. She then gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Falmouth College of Arts and became a local radio reporter.

Her career progressed when she moved to London and spent eight years working at BBC Radio 1. Highlights from the time include working with John Peel, Annie Nightingale, and Scott Mills; on the Official UK Top 40; and launching Sara Cox At The Weekend as a brand new show.

Returning to her roots in 2006, Lynn joined North West Vision and Media as a training manager and later became Head of Skills, working with new entrants, freelancers and businesses in the digital and media sector in preparation for the BBC moving to Media City in Manchester.

Lynn completed a Master’s Degree in Voluntary Sector Management in 2019, and continues to play a key role in new research and Compassionate Communities programmes at St Catherine’s, as well as patient and family involvement, partnerships with other hospices and academic institutions, and many other areas of the organisation. She is also Chair of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Education Strategy Group.

In her spare time, Lynn enjoys gardening and growing her own fruit and vegetables, and has completed the Royal Horticultural Society Certificate in Horticulture. She is a keen walker and along with her husband, trekked the length of Hadrian’s Wall in aid of St Catherine’s a few years ago.

Chair 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.

Lorraine is the Chair of the Board of Trustees and She sits on the hospice’s Knowledge Exchange; People, EDI & Governance; and Finance & Audit Committees, is also a trustee of the University of Central Lancashire.

She 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.”

John Chesworth

John is Executive Chairman at Harrison Drury and is 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.

He is the hospice’s President of the Board of Trustees.

Tracy Earley, Director of Nursing, Governance & AHPs

Working with the Chief Executive and Medical Director, Tracy manages care services provided by St Catherine’s. These include: a 19 bed in-patient unit, the community team of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Hospice Support Assistants; lymphoedema, the support team (social work team) and rehabilitation.

Tracy Earley began her nursing career in the mid-80s, qualifying as both an adult and children’s nurse. She’s worked in Northampton, Edinburgh, Leicester, Nottingham, and for the past two decades, Central Lancashire.

In Nottingham, she helped establish a retrieval service for critically ill children by partnering with the ambulance service and RAF. In Sea King helicopters, she was part of a team who would transport children from as far as Scotland and London to receive paediatric intensive care, and later, helped set up a similar service in Leicester.

Later, Tracy’s focus shifted to adult care, and she became a consultant nurse for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust (LTHFT) across Chorley and Preston hospitals; one of only three consultant nurses in the country specialising in nutrition and intestinal failure. Even now in her role at St Catherine’s, Tracy continues to provide specialist care one afternoon a week for LTHTR.

In addition to her care services responsibilities, Tracy also has several administrative and compliance roles at the hospice, and brings in her friendly therapy and wellbeing dog Molly, for the enjoyment of patients, families, staff and volunteers.

Dr Andrew Fletcher, Medical Director

Andrew joined St Catherine’s in February 2014 as Consultant in Palliative Medicine, and became the hospice’s Medical Director in May that year. He manages the medical workforce and supervises doctors in training, and has overall medical responsibility for the clinical care and support of patients.

He works closely with our Chief Executive; Director of Nursing, Governance and AHPs; and Community Consultant in Palliative Medicine, in the design and direction of clinical services to support local people. Andrew also has roles within the Knowledge Exchange directorate, leading the hospice research programme, development and strategy, and has a focus on external education. He also represents the hospice on a range of operational and strategic groups in Central Lancashire.

Andrew completed his undergraduate medical degree from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2004 and became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 2008. He trained in Palliative Medicine in the North West Deanery, achieved the Specialty Certificate Examination in Palliative Medicine in 2011 and was added to the specialist register in 2013. Andrew achieved a distinction in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Consultant Leadership Development programme in 2017.

Andrew has a keen interest in education and training. He has received a postgraduate certificate in workplace-based postgraduate medical education from Edge Hill University and has completed a further module focused on Mentorship and Coaching. Andrew is an Honorary Clinical Reader with the University of Central Lancashire. Andrew is a recognised trainer by the General Medical Council and is the Directorate Training Lead for Palliative Medicine at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Kate Overend, Director of People and Organisational Development

Kate has worked in Human Resources for 19 years, including 16 years as HR Manager at the University of Central Lancashire, and positions with Lancaster City Council and Lancashire Constabulary.

She joined St Catherine’s in 2021 in a new role which focuses on people, culture, values, wellbeing, and personal and professional development of employees and volunteers.
She also oversees recruitment, the Knowledge Exchange team, people (HR), and volunteering.

Kate, who lives in Chorley, said: “St Catherine’s has always meant a lot to me; I have experienced the hospice’s care in my own family and we have fundraised for the charity over the years.

“People are at the centre of everything we do here – from our patients and their loved ones, to staff, volunteers, supporters and more. It’s an exciting time for St Catherine’s as an organisation. Our 5 Year Plan running to 2026 has culture and workforce at its heart – with plans to further shape, develop and embed our hospice values, and enhance a culture we can continue to be proud of as we work towards our organisational goals.”

In her spare time, Kate enjoys watching her two children play grassroots football, and loves holidays and weekends away with her extended family and friends.

David Winstanley, Director of Finance and Business

Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, David has gained over 20 years’ experience working in senior finance roles, primarily in the Energy, Engineering and Manufacturing sectors, the last 10 years of which have been as either a Finance Director or Group Finance Director.

David is focused on the delivery of the hospice’s financial and operational strategy through the sustainable growth in the trading subsidiaries of St Catherine’s, whilst carefully managing the regulatory, financial, operational, and reputational risks of the organisation. With a passion for the environment, he is keen to promote sustainability at the heart of the charity’s operations.

In addition to the finance team, he also oversees the IT, health and safety, maintenance, and housekeeping functions of the hospice.

Outside of work, Croston resident David enjoys fell walking in the Lake District with his wife and young son, cycling, watching most sports, and is a long-time season ticket holder at Wigan Warriors Rugby League club.

Amanda Van Duyvenvoorde

Rachel Adamson

Rachel Adamson is a solicitor and Director and Head of Fraud & Regulatory for Adkirk Law.

She sits on the hospice’s Patient Care; and People, EDI & Governance Committees.

Michelle Cox

Kate Burgess

Kate Burgess is Strategic Education & Research Lead for Lancashire & South Cumbria Hospices Together.

She has been a commissioner with Lancashire County Council and Clinical Commissioning Groups, and has been involved in end-of-life care for 15 years.

Kate, who hails from Adlington, said: “I’m very interested in both a personal and professional capacity in the work which is being done to widen access of palliative and end-of-life care in our area.

“My dad was cared for by St Catherine’s; it’s our community’s hospice and I really believe in the charity’s values and the difference it makes to local families.

“I’m particularly passionate about helping older people and those with dementia to access palliative care, and I’m very interested in the Compassionate Communities project which St Catherine’s is developing.”

Kate sits on the St Catherine’s Patient Care, and Knowledge Exchange Committees, and the Patients & Families Sub-Committee.