Who We Are

Born in Wandsworth in 1945, John was educated at Emanuel School and the Royal Veterinary College, London, qualifying as a vet in 1969. Apart from 3 years in pharmaceutical research with Eli Lilly, he spent the majority of his career in general practice in South Wales, Essex and 25 years running a large veterinary hospital and mixed practice in East Grinstead.

John has worked for the BBC on undercover investigations involving animals on the Inside Out programme and for 10 years was a trustee of Animal Care in Egypt, an equine charity working in Luxor. Since 2010, John has been head livestock vet for the South of England Show Society. He is married to Joanna and has 4 adult children and 6 grandchildren and lives in Chiddingstone, Kent. They have a small herd of Sussex cattle.

The welfare of animals is one of Frances’s main interests in life. Frances is a vegetarian and supports several animal charities, including the RSPCA. For many years she was the chair of one of their branches that included a large animal rescue centre.
Professionally, Frances was the founder and Managing Director of a company that organised international conferences. Her responsibilities included chairing the Sussex Branch of the Institute of Directors and the Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce. She has also served on the Board of the University of Brighton, the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brighton International Arts Festival. As a trustee of IWCT Frances brings a wealth of business experience combined with a love of animals and a deep concern for their welfare.

For thirty years David was a successful dairy farmer with an award-winning herd of pedigree Jersey cows. With the milk industry undergoing huge changes along with the demise of the Milk Marketing Board, it was time to re-think his farming policy so reluctantly the herd was sold in 1994.

Long before it became fashionable David had always been interested in conservation and British wildlife in particular. He was greatly inspired by the work those pioneering champions of conservation, Sir Peter Scott and Gerald Durrell, were doing at Slimbridge and Jersey respectively and by what the controversial casino owner John Aspinal was achieving with his zoos in Kent. Having sold the cows the realisation of his second childhood dream was possible, to have his own zoo and do something for conservation! The farm was slowly converted into a wildlife centre and nature reserve and opened as a visitor attraction in 2000 to raise awareness to the plight of our native wildlife.

Today the British Wildlife Centre is home to the finest collection of native wildlife in Britain with over 40 different species from tiny harvest mice to magnificent red deer, all living in large enclosures landscaped to reflect their natural habitat.
A Centre of excellence where the message is Conservation through Education.

John was born in the late 1940’s and educated at grammar school in Tunbridge Wells and the university of “Life.” He studied a postal course for Chartered Surveyors and qualified in 1970. Most of John’s career was spent surveying all types of property and project managing substantial health care developments.

John has actively participated in in animal rights demonstrations throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe. Campaigns such as anti Fox Hunt, Canadian Seal hunt and live animal exports from Shoreham. He is still an active lobbyist in retirement and continues to do fundraising for animal rescue organisations, through Silent auctions, Sponsored walks, stalls etc. John has set up and managed 3 animal welfare charity shops.

As a dog lover, John has four rescued collie type dogs who enjoy Flyball competitions.

Harriet has worked in marketing roles since graduating from the University of Brighton in 2009. Whilst working for a leading sports horse stud and veterinary facility, Harriet provided the secretariat at a BEVA/FVE conference in Brussels regarding regulating the live transport of horses for slaughter across Europe.

Harriet oversees the digital communications for IWCT, including the social media platforms, educational material, email marketing and the website.

She also has a horse called Marley, on whom she enjoys low level competitions across the South East.