Trustees

The Acorn Arts Centre has an active and engaged Board of Trustees who, together with representatives of our funders, work closely with the Centre Director and her team to manage the Arts Centre and develop future plans.

Below are brief biographies of our volunteer Board of Trustees.

Alan Beevor

Director of wine merchant Mount's Bay Wine Company based in Penzance, a Chartered Accountant who spent his career first in Industry, then in the international Venture Capital market with 3i Group plc. Alan is Treasurer for the charity.

Erica Duggan

I was born and educated in Australia and lived and worked there until I married an English diplomat in 1969.  I spent the next 30 years moving with him and our children, around the world. On his retirement we moved back to the UK and I now live in Portgwarra on the Penwith Peninsula. 

Trained in Australia as a newspaper journalist, my career took a back seat to my husband's after marriage. Nevertheless I did manage to keep my hand in with some editing and writing wherever we were posted. 

I now relish being based permanently in one place and finally putting down roots. To satisfy a long-held interest, I have recently returned to university part-time to study for a science degree in Nutritional Therapy.

I have always had a deep love of theatre and spent much of my teenage and university years in amateur drama groups. Iam delighted to be involved with the Acorn. 

Bernard du Sautoy

Work background: Experience in quality assurance and quality systems. Developed and validated software in early days for computer systems manufacturer and with users. Worked in UK based company with customers world wide and then in independent business unit; finally part-time freelance. Enjoying retirement.

Tessa Garside

Studied at Penzance Art School and acted for three years at the Minack in Rowena Cade's time. On graduation trained as a jeweller, exhibiting nationally and internationally, including with Goldsmiths and the Arts Council. Taught jewellery at the university, adult education college and Cancer Care in Lancaster. Retrained as a counsellor and Expressive Arts Therapist, working at Cancer Care and St John's Hospice for twenty years. Given workshops and designed art exhibitions at Cancer conferences nationally. Also facilitated publication of three books by Cancer Care clients. In summer 2007 received a Millennium Grant to set up Expressive Arts Therapy workshops in Penwith

Phil Jackson

Born in Penwith and lived here throughout his life. Performed in amateur theatre throughout '80s and 90's - now retired from the stage!! Theatre Manager of The Minack Theatre on the cliffs at Porthcurno for the last 16 years with responsibliity for programming, PR, IT and many other things. Trustee of the Cornish Theatre Collective.

Steve Revill

Steve trained as an accountant and worked in engineering, logistics and professional audio on accounting and systems. Managing Director of the pro-audio company Turbosound & BSS Audio for 7 years then purchased the studio loudspeaker company Quested and over several years expanded it to supply a wider range of audio products to the recording studio market. He then sold the business and moved to Cornwall in 2006.

Colin Rogers

Managing Director, Deco Films & Television Ltd., based near Penzance. Has worked as a producer, director, writer and company executive in UK film and tv industry, including running network drama departments in ITV and BBC TV. Founding executive of Meridian Broadcasting Ltd.. Set up and ran Cornwall Film Fund 2000-03, then ran the world's largest media health campaign (on HIV/AIDS) as Director (India), BBC World Service Trust, 2003-5. Headed similar DFID-funded project in 2007 as Country Director, Nigeria, BBC WST. Director, National Association for Literature Development 2005-6. Lecturer, MA in Professional Writing, University College Falmouth since 2005. Fellow of Royal Television Society and Royal Society of Arts. Director, Media Centre for Cornwall Ltd.; Board member, Cornwall Film Festival; Director (co-opted), Mencap (Royal Mencap Society Ltd.); Governor, Mencap National Colleges; Director (non-executive) and Vice-Chairman, Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly NHS Primary Care Trust. Occasional glass-collector, Acorn Arts Centre.

Sue Turner