Our Trustees
Our Board of Trustees consists of voluntary members, who give their time to supporting the work of our Chaplain and ship volunteers. Eileen Reilly, who is the Company Secretary of Mission to Seafarers Scotland, attends the meetings, although not as a voting member.
JEREMY HAWKINGS – CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
Appointed Trustee: 2023
Jeremy trained as a hotel manager and worked in Britain, Germany, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. Before his retirement, he was for 25 years, the Chief Executive of Luxury Scotland which provided overseas marketing for many of Scotland’s five star luxury hotels. He is a Lay Leader, Vestry member and Treasurer of St Columba’s Episcopal Church in Aberdour and has taken services there for more than twenty years. He has been involved with many organizations helping homeless people, including The Jericho Benedictines, The Bethany Christian Trust, The Cyrenians, as well as his local foodbank.
SIMON FILSELL – VICE CHAIR
Appointed Trustee: 2017
Simon has worked for the Scottish Episcopal Church as Diocesan Administrator for the Edinburgh Diocese since 2012. Prior to that, he was Business Manager for a Buckinghamshire Grammar School, having spent 15 years before that, working for the Church of England, managing property and IT. In addition, he runs a choir which performs across the UK, solely for charitable purposes. Simon follows his father, with his involvement in the Mission to Seafarers organisation.
RONA FINLAYSON – TRUSTEE
Appointed Trustee: 2021
Rona worked as a hairdresser and managed two Edinburgh Salons . She then worked for Sky Television for 14 years in various departments until retiring in 2016. Over the years she has volunteered for charity and has experience in fundraising. She has two grown up daughters, Adele and Laura and is kept busy helping to care for her two Grandsons Marc and Jacob. She is an active member of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
JOHN LAIRD – TRUSTEE
Appointed Trustee: 2021
John is a Chartered Environmental Health Officer (EHO) and a member of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland. He has worked with Falkirk Council since 2016, in the food and safety team, and as a port health officer in the Port of Grangemouth. Prior to this John was an EHO in the Royal Navy, for 29 years, serving all over the UK and overseas as far as the Falkland Islands. Just after leaving the RN, he was appointed as a Member of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. He is a member of the port welfare committee and regularly visits ships to carry out ship sanitation inspections.
BISHOP IAN PATON – TRUSTEE
Appointed Trustee: 2019
Bishop Ian had been Rector of Old St Paul’s Church, Edinburgh since 1997 until October 2018, when he was consecrated Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane. He is also honorary Anglican Chaplain to Edinburgh University, Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh and Associate Tutor at the Scottish Episcopal Institute.
TOM ROBERTS – TRUSTEE
Appointed Trustee: 2023
Tom is a solicitor with experience of advising public bodies in respect of their governance, powers and duties together with experience in advising them about their enforcement investigations against companies for breaches of consumer, sectoral and competition laws. He lives in the West of Scotland and is an active member of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Tom brings previous experience of being a charity trustee. He also has a creative side and writes short stories, poetry, lyrics and music.
FRASER SCOTT – TRUSTEE
Appointed Trustee: 2021
Fraser has been with GAC Services since 2016, initially as a shipping agent and now Supervisor, covering ports across central Scotland. GAC is one of the world’s largest shipping agencies – GAC UK, with its Head Office in Grangemouth, handles over 6,500 offshore, tanker, dry cargo, liner and cruise ships every year at all the UK’s main ports. During his time at GAC, Fraser has supported offices throughout the UK and Ireland. He has also just recently joined the Port Welfare Committee for the Merchant Navy Welfare Board. Having Graduated from Heriot-Watt University with a BA in Management, Fraser has worked in a variety of roles prior to his career in shipping.
TIMOTHY TUNLEY – CHAPLAIN & TRUSTEE
Appointed Trustee: 2019
Tim has been the Chaplain to MtSS since 2009, having left Theological College in 2002. He was ordained and work as a curate in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough. He went on to be Vicar of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, then went to be team Vicar of Seacroft in Leeds. Tim has visited many of the ports in Scotland and preached at many of the Scottish Episcopalian churches up and down the country.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS – TRUSTEE
Appointed Trustee: 2020
Christopher is a member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and a former chartered engineer. His career in Government service started on ship and submarine projects, including time spent at shore facilities and at sea in Scotland, later moving to senior nationwide communication and training roles including working in the Defence Medical Services. He is an active member of the Church of England and a trustee of a choral charity, singing frequently in choirs based in Scotland and England.