The Management Committee

The Store and Post Office is owned and run by Findon Village Collective Ltd (FVC). A management committee has been elected by shareholders, to develop and manage the business on their behalf. The Management Committee comprises:

Chairman:  Patrick Colville

Born in Worthing and educated at Steyning grammar school. Studied social sciences at Leicester university and then went into industrial relation at the CRI and subsequently  management training at Roffey Park college in Horsham. Whilst tutoring at Roffey Park I undertook a master of philosophy degree , also in industrial relations. During this time I was bringing up four children. My main occupation started in the early eighties when I joined the family business in the care industry. The business has since grown and we own nine homes , 411 beds and employ 550 staff. My daughters now run the business. I joined the village shop in 2021.

Vice Chair:  Annie Whitchurch

Annie took on the post of Volunteer Trainer shortly after the shop opened in 2017 when as a recently retired teacher she was keen to become more involved in the local community. She continues to work in the shop and train new recruits in a voluntary capacity, and was thrilled to be part of the team that was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2022. Annie joined the Management Committee in July 2021 and became Vice Chair the following year, taking responsibility for internal communication together with some administrative tasks.

Treasurer:  Alan Holmes

Alan is a retired Chartered Accountant and was an audit partner in mid-tier National Partnerships for over 30 years. After retiring from this role he spent 6 years working with a small accounting practice providing a full range of services to mainly one-man companies before finally unplugging his adding machine!!

Company Secretary:  Richard Pratt

Buildings Advisor:  Stephen Porti

Stephen Porti is a landowner and organic farmer. He came on board to look after the fabric of the building, including the flat above the shop. Stephen’s comment on why he is involved with the management committee was: “I was overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of all those involved with the purchase and regeneration of the shop, and wanted to be part of it.”

Compliance:  Anne Colville

Anne has lived in Findon for the last 23 years.  She started her career as a Nurse and before retiring as a Director across a group of 9 care homes throughout East and West Sussex. Newly retired she wanted to become more involved in the local community and still utilise her skills acquired from years of working in health and social care.  She is a volunteer in the shop and has subsequently been asked to be part of the committee looking into best practice across health and safety, infection control and first aid.

Maintenance & Logistical Support:  Chris Blacker

Chris moved to Findon with his wife Sharon in 2016. His parents had lived in the village for many years. Chris is a retired Master Mariner, commanding large oil tankers. Finishing his career working as a Marine Pilot/Loading Master and Marine Safety Advisor/Logistics Supervisor at an offshore oilfield in West Africa. Chris retired in 2021 and now acts as part of the sourcing team on the committee, and assists with maintenance of the shop and flat above. Chris’s wife Sharon is also a volunteer in the shop.

Jean Burden

Jean was a primary school teacher for many years before re-training as a counsellor, working in a variety of settings – schools, low-cost counselling services, and with survivors of rape and sexual abuse. She is a comparative newcomer to the village, only moving here in 2020 (as everything was closing) but has tried to overcome that particular handicap by getting stuck into things ever since. She now writes the monthly articles for the Findon News, as well as volunteering in the shop, supporting our website, and doing anything else that she happens upon.