About Us
Friends of Townlands Hospital has been a valued local charity since it was set up in 1955.
It is still run as a voluntary body by local Trustees with a small Committee including medical representatives. The Friends fundraise to provide extra amenities for outpatients, enabling specialist medical equipment to be purchased which will augment the provision of "one stop shop" services at our local Hospital.
Recently funded items are a treadmill, ultrasound scanner, bladder scanner, neurological and ophthalmic equipment.
Funding comes from small annual membership subscriptions, social fundraising events, donations and legacies.
We focus on carefully considered purchases and initiatives to help augment the provision of “one stop`’ medical services at our valued Community Hospital and to enhance the “patient experience”.
Our Committee includes medical representatives who help appraise the quality of any bids to our fund.
To ensure we can keep doing this donate and you can be confident that any funds raised will go towards our charitable purpose.
The Committee
Our Committee includes medical representatives who help appraise the quality of any bids to our fund.
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President: Mayor of Henley
Mayor of Henley-on-Thames, Councillor Tom Buckley.
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Vice-President: Dr Peter Ashby
Dr. Ashby joined the Bell Practice as a Partner in 1975. He became involved with the League of Friends as a supporter, later serving as Chairman and Committee member and more recently as a Vice-President. As a member of the League and the Townlands Steering Group, he was involved with the campaign to save and then rebuild the new hospital. Since retiring in 2007, he has continued with his involvement on the committee.
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Vice-President: Judith Nimmo-Smith
Judith has over 25 years of public service, including as non-Executive Director of the SE Primary Care Trust, Founding Chairman of the Bell Patient Panel (now PPG), volunteering at Townlands Hospital, District Councillor & Friends of Townlands Committee (Chair 2011-21).
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Chair: Caroline Newton
Born and brought up in the Henley area, and with her own family here, Caroline is an enthusiastic user and supporter of Townlands Hospital. She has been chair of FROTH since 2021. Professionally, she is a communications expert with over 25 years' experience in diplomacy, journalism and politics.
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Trustee: Robert Aitken
Robert has been a Trustee of the Charity for c. 5 years and was Treasurer for several years and has lived in the area for nearly 50 years. Having a close interest in local health provision, he has been a member of Townlands Steering Group for more than a decade and was a Community Responder volunteer with South Central Ambulance Service for nearly 10 years. As a Chartered Accountant Robert enjoyed a career in Industry from which he is now retired.
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Trustee: Stephanie Greenwood
Bio coming soon…
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Trustee: Dr Noel Snell
Noel is a physician and biologist specialising in respiratory infections. He was director of research at the British Lung Foundation. A former Henley Mayor, he has held trustee roles for several national and local charities including the River and Rowing Museum and the Temple Island Trust.
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Treasurer: Simon Thomas
Simon is the managing director of Ridgefield Consulting – an independent accountancy firm with offices in Henley and Oxford. Having worked in the tax and accounting industry for over 20 years, he started his own practice dedicated to supporting the local community and the small businesses which are its backbone. His skills and experience make him a valued treasurer at FROTH.
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Secretary: Anne Davies
Anne had a 30-year career in information technology within the publishing industry in Europe and the USA. She was born and raised in Oxfordshire. Having returned to the County after 18 years in the US, she became a Trustee at Oxfordshire Community Foundation where she gained an appreciation of the charitable community in Oxfordshire. As a resident of Henley for the past 7 years, she has become involved with local groups and societies.