Governors – Who we are…

Chris Gayler – Chair
Co-opted governor

Chris has been a Governor since January 2018. She has recently retired as Headteacher of a special school and has 38 years of experience working in special education. Now she has some free time on her hands she enjoys reading, swimming, walking the dog (or should I say being walked by the dog?) and spending time with her family.

Norma Riddle – Vice Chair

Following a career in the private sector I moved to Hampshire 34 years ago. I worked for Hampshire Constabulary before starting 24 years ago with Special Educational Needs Department (HCC). I undertook a number of roles and was a Senior Special Educational Needs Officer when I retired in October 2018. I have always had an interest in the holistic well-being of all children/young people. 

I have not only worked towards improving the education of children within the SEN Service but have ran or supported youth groups and also been a helper in a church creche.  

I have many hobbies; cross stitch, jigsaws – ordinary and 3D, knitting, and now retired spending more time walking with my husband and time with my grandchildren.  

Andy Young 
Parent governor

Andy has been a governor since 2015. He is a Chartered Accountant and currently works as the Group Chief Financial Officer for the City Football Group. He has had a son at Osborne school for a number of years. Outside of work and family time Andy attempts to slowly drag himself around triathlon and Ironman courses.

Lynn McKeague
Co-opted governor

Lynn has been a governor since Summer 2016. She is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Winchester, which involves delivering lectures and conducting research on youth mental health. Lynn contributes to charity fundraising efforts through Winchester Ladies Circle and in her spare time she trains with a local athletics club.

Alex McWhirter 
Co-opted governor

Alex has been a governor at Osborne school since 2013 and is also a governor at Shepherd’s Down School since 2003 where his son has attended both schools. He is a Financial Planner and runs his own financial services company based in Chandler’s Ford. Alex contributes to charity fundraising through supporting organisations such as Friends of Osborne School and Eastleigh Rotary. In his spare time, he likes to relax with his family.

Sandra Stanbrook  
Co-opted governor

Sandra Stanbrook has been a governor at Osborne School since May 2018. She retired in late 2017 after a career in Children’s Services. She has previous governor experience within a mainstream and secondary school within Hampshire.

Brenda Ralston  
Teacher governor 

Brenda has recently joined the governing body as teacher governor, replacing Caroline Irwin. Brenda has worked at Osborne School since it opened in 2003. She is a class teacher in Year 9, Head of Art and Design and Head of Key Stage 3. Brenda loves working at Osborne. She wanted to join the governing body to become more involved in the strategic areas of Osborne's development. 

Melissa Doughty is a new Governor.

I am an Architect with over 20 years experience in the design and construction industry. Since joining HCC Property Services in 2013, my focus has been the delivery of education projects in the Primary and SEND sectors; where I enjoy working closely with the schools, governing bodies and children’s services. In my spare time I like to get outdoors with my family, travelling and visiting interesting cultural sites.

Geoff Meads – HCC nominated Governor

Although he has spent the past 25 years in scientific and executive positions for the Department of Health Geoff began his career in social work five decades ago, with special needs teams pioneering personal review and care management systems in Hampshire. A new Governor in 2021 he is delighted to return to his original ‘home’ in Winchester, where he is an emeritus research professor, and endeavors, with his wife and two daughters, to sustain an active lifestyle in which an allotment and Parkrun loom large.