Peoples Voices Board Members

David Brooke

A prison professional with over 30 years’ experience in managing HM Prison Service establishments, ranging from Open Young Offenders’ Institutions through to the large, complex Dispersal Prison at Wormwood Scrubs. I also completed a three year appointment as a Senior Inspector with HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.
My prison career concluded with four years in the private sector during which I opened the second privately managed prison in the UK.
During my career I have undertaken a number of training courses including Personal Counselling and Group Work. I was an occasional student at Durham University studying Social Administration and a tutor in the Adult Education Department, participating in the training of Magistrates.
I am a trustee of a registered charity Friends of Mount Vernon Cancer Treatment Centre.

Elizabeth Firth, Solicitor and Notary Public
Having qualified over 30 years ago as a Solicitor and more recently as a Notary Public I have practiced in High Wycombe where I am now a part time consultant with a local firm of solicitors. I have specialised in wills probate and trusts with a particular emphasis on those persons with learning or physical difficulties and their families. I have spoken at meetings to a number of groups and organisations regarding the special considerations for this group of users and their families and carers.
I have also run seminars for those involved with terminally ill patients and the applicable laws. My voluntary sector roles include acting as Chairman of the General Commissioners of Income Tax (South Buckinghamshire Division) and membership of the Buckinghamshire Advisory Panel, Non Executive Director of the South Bucks Association for the Disabled (SBAD) and of The Fremantle Trust where I am a member of the Care Committee. I am also a Governor of Wycombe High School where I am also the SEN Governor.

Jeff Eccles

I am a mental health service user. I worked as a Legal Executive for 20 years and for the last 8 years I have been an advocate and mental health awareness trainer for People’s Voices. I am very active in the service user involvement movement and am the Chair of SPUR, the user group for Chiltern and South Bucks. I am also the Chair of the Patients Council, based at the Haleacre Unit.

Mary Rance LI.B

I have over twenty years’ experience in a range of trade and membership organisations and as an active lobbyist on behalf of those organisations have developed strong relationships with national and local government. Most recently, I have worked as Director of the London Region of the Confederation of British Industry and in that role developed new partnerships with key stakeholders in London as well as with key public and private sector personnel. I have now made a career move into the voluntary sector and am currently employed as Deputy Chief Executive of TOC H, a charity set up 90 years ago to build a fairer society by working with communities to promote friendship and service, confront prejudice and practice reconciliation. This charity has grown considerably over the last five years and my role is to support, advise and implement the future development of the business and to work with key stakeholders to help raise the profile of the charity.

Jeanette Yeoman B.Sc ( Soc.Sci ) ACMA

After leaving university, I went into industry where I trained and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant. I have worked in several different industries in the South East, most recently as a Senior Project Accountant for a major UK electronics company and then as Financial Controller for a medium sized company involved in industrial instrumentation.
Since moving to Bucks in 1992, I have been involved in full time childcare and am an active school fundraiser and volunteer.
I have been Treasurer of the Hampshire Branch of the CIMA and committee member for the Chiltern Branch of the National Asthma Campaign.
I am currently Administrator of the Chiltern Youth Chamber Orchestra and involved in supporting other local music societies on an ad hoc basis.
I have been a Volunteer Advocate with People's Voices for 5 years.