After six years as Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre and ten years as a Trustee, David Bartholomew has passed on the baton of Chair to Danielle Friend.
Established 21 years ago, The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre provides support to cancer patients, as well as their friends and families, from its Centre in Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells.
David, a professional photographer, has supported and been involved with Pickering since its inception, becoming a Trustee in 2016 and Chair in January 2020. Over the years, he has also raised money for the charity, including tackling Hadrian’s Wall.
“Pickering has been an important part of my life for the past 20 years,” says David. “Having had a close family member and good friends who have used the charity, I have seen first-hand how much the Centre can help. I am very proud and honoured to have been Chair for the past six years but know I am handing over the role to a very capable successor in Danielle.”
Danielle Friend, owner of accountancy practice Create Balance, joined the Pickering board in 2024 and boasts extensive charity experience. Through Create Balance, she provides Finance Director (FD) services to a regional air ambulance charity as well as previously being the FD of a Maidstone-based drug and alcohol charity.
“My experience isn’t just finance, as I’ve led on HR, IT and Estates – which has given me a wealth of experience and an all-round strategic view of how charities run to better service their primary mission,” says Danielle, who was born and raised in Tunbridge Wells and attended Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School (TWGGS).
Today, Danielle lives in Tunbridge Wells with her partner Andrew, their daughter Emily and two dogs, Baxter and Barney.
The Pickering Board also includes Deputy Chair, Angela Ward; Treasurer; Chris Maslin; Richard Moore; and Dr Rema Jyothirmayi.
“I have some very big boots to fill as Chair of Pickering,” says Danielle. “David has provided trusted and steady leadership through a period that included navigating the pandemic and purchasing our new Centre. We have so much to thank him for.”
She continues: “I am enormously proud to take on the responsibility of being Chair of the Pickering Board. The charity is close to my heart, as I lost a dear friend to cancer in 2022, who cared a lot about the charity, even before she became ill. To be given the opportunity to shape the future of the charity as Chair, is nothing short of a privilege.”