Patrons perform a vital role for Edward's Trust, representing the charity whenever possible and doing what they can to help raise our profile and income by encouraging others to lend their support. We are extremely grateful for all their support.

Judy Dyke

I am the proud Mum of Harriet and Michael and the Partner in charge of the Private Client Team at Tyndallwoods Solicitors Edgbaston. It has been my pleasure to support Edward's Trust since the early 90s particularly in the area of fund-raising.

In 1999 I was honoured to be invited to become a Patron of the Trust and since then I have worn my silver kite brooch with great pride at various events when I have represented the Trust.

Over the years I have applied to grant making trusts seeking support for Edward's Trust and more recently the Trust's Garden of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum. Highlights include a fashion show in the Mailbox in November 2004. I collated and published a cookbook "teatime treats" which celebrated the 4 o'clock tea and cake that was served at Edward's Trust each day. I organised a charity football match featuring the Aston Villa Old Stars in August 2007 and the performance of The Magic Jigsaw in Town Hall in February 2008. I was so grateful to Randal and Sandra Brew while Lord and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham that they chose Edward's Trust as one of the Lord Mayor's Charities and the Lady Mayoress kindly hosted a Tea Party in support of the charity in the Council House. We were pleased to welcome clients and friends to a Summer Tea Party at the offices of Tyndallwoods in June 2009.

I enjoyed bringing together Team 21, a team of 71 runners who took part in the BUPA Birmingham Great Run Half Marathon in October 2011, raising £30,000 for the Trust in it's 21st Anniversary year. This year, I look forward with enthusiasm to continue to serve Edward's Trust. Tyndallwoods will be hosting a Diamond Jubilee Tea Party in March, with funds raised to support the continuing work of this special charity. 

 

Clare Martin

I was pleased to return to Birmingham in 2009 after nine years away living in Leicester and Cardiff. I am a proud Brummie and I am so happy to have returned to make Birmingham my home again and to have settled in Selly Park. I got married in August 2012 and so some people will know me by my maiden name Clare Sillery.

I am also a Solicitor with Tyndallwoods Solicitors in Edgbaston. I specialise in Wills, Trusts and Probate and I am incredibly fortunate to be with a firm that supports charity in a big way. Judy Dyke, my colleague, is also a Patron of Edward's Trust and has been a long time supporter of the Trust and introduced me to them over 10 years ago. In 2011 I took part in the Birmingham Bupa Half-Marathon which raised over £30,000 for Edward's Trust - I must admit to not being able to run the whole way though!

I have been pleased to work with the Trust since my return to Birmingham and have been particularly involved with their social media efforts. I manage the Twitter account (@Edwardstrust) and the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/edwardstrust) and I'd be pleased to see you on there if you would like to follow or like us!

I was so proud to be asked to stand as a Patron of Edward's Trust and didn't hesitate to say yes! I look forward to a long future of working with this wonderful charity which is close to my heart.

Nick Owen

Nick has worked in regional and national television since the late seventies. He came to national prominence in 1983 as one of the first faces to appear on breakfast television in Britain. Nick was born in 1947 and educated at Shrewsbury School. He was awarded a BA (Honours) in Classics at Leeds University. His career in journalism started on the Doncaster Evening Post. He then worked on the Birmingham Post and what was then BBC Radio Birmingham before joining ATV Network's sports department - covering the World Cup in 1982.

When Central won the Independent Television franchise in the Midlands, Nick became a general presenter and teamed up with Anne Diamond for the first time. In 1983 he joined TV-am as sports presenter, but took over the main presenting role within eight weeks.He renewed his partnership with Anne Diamond and they presented the main programme together until late 1986. Nick then joined ITV Sport as presenter of their flagship programme Midweek Sport Special.

He also hosted the Olympic Games for ITV in 1988 and the World Cup in 1990, as well as a variety of other sports programmes, including athletics and boxing. He then went on to anchor the game shows Sporting Triangles and Hitman, as well as presenting all ITV's Royal Premieres between 1986 and 1992.

He moved to the BBC to co-present Good Morning With Anne and Nick on BBC ONE from 1992 until May 1996, a total of 600 programmes. In 2006, he was awarded the Baird Medal by the Royal Television Society, Midlands, for lifelong achievement in television.

He has presented BBC Midlands Today since 1997.

Nick is a father of four grown up children. He's a huge football and cricket fan. He's a past President of Derbyshire County Cricket Club and current chairman of Luton Town Football Club. In 2004, Nick published his autobiography, "In the Time of Nick." 

Will Farmer

 Will Farmer has been actively involved with Fine Art & Antiques all his life having been raised in home filled with collectors. His personal passion is for 20^th century Decorative Arts which developed from the young age of just 12 years old when he first began amassing a collection of Clarice Cliff pottery. Thoday Will specialises in all things 20^th century with particular interest in ceramics nd glass of the period.

In 2001, he teamed up with fellow auctioneer Nick Davies to establish Fieldings Auctioneers Ltd based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands. Over recent years notable finds include a rare archive of books and printed material relating to the Stourbridge glass industry which realised over £22,000 and a collection of ceramic tiles which eventually sold for over £97,000. 

Following earlier appearances on BBC’S "Going for a Song" and "Flog it" Will joined the BBC’S Antiques Roadshow in 2004 as a an expert on ceramics and glass. Will is currently in the process of filming his sixth season with the show along with writing regular features for BBC’s Homes & Antiques and Live 24 Seven magazine together with a collection of guides on leading designers of the 20^th century.

Nikki Tapper

A voice already familiar to people in Birmingham and the West Midlands, bubbly Nikki Tapper joined BBC WM in 2003. Her gospel show comprises of lively chat, interviews and the very best in UK and international gospel music. A teacher and full-time mum, Nikki has always had a keen interest in radio loving all types of programmes across a variety of stations. She also has a passion for football and supports West Brom Albion (and yes, Arsenal too!) Having lost a son, Nikki knows too well what sadness that brings and is grateful for the loving support she and her husband had at the time. She therefore, fully understands the need for Edwards's Trust and how important the work is. Nikki is extremely proud and humbled to be a patron for and to be associated with the Edward's Trust.