Vice-Presidents of Dream-A-Way

Our Vice-Presidents have provided significant contributions to Dream-A-Way over the years, and continue to drive the charity forward in the community.

The work and support of all our Vice Presidents is deeply appreciated and they are shown below in no particular order.


Photo of David Hill, our latest Vice-PresidentDavid Hill
Paralympic Swimmer and ParaTriathlete

After meeting the Dream-A-Way team I was hooked and really keen to get involved because of all the volunteers’ kindness and passion to provide much needed help to local young people and families. I look forward to helping the charity grow and create even more smiles by spreading their message in my role as Vice-President.

Click here to read more about David.

 


 

Valerie Lister

Valerie Lister

Valerie Lister
Owner, Bicton Park Botanical Gardens

It’s a privilege as a vice-president to be associated with such a deserving cause and a charity that brings so much joy and happiness to so many local people.

Thanks to the dedicated hard work of its committee members and supporters the charity has made huge strides forward over the years and constantly strives to achieve even more for the benefit of the local community.

The team at Bicton and myself are pleased to support Dream-A-Way as much as we can in its fund raising activities and future development.


 

 
Marc Astley

Marc Astley

Marc Astley

The great thing about being asked to be an honorary member of the Dream-A-Way team is that you know you are not going to have to work as hard as the real committee – it’s impossible!

I can honestly say that I have never come across such a determined, tenacious and – in the best possible way – bloody minded team of people.

If they set themselves a goal, they achieve it, if they want something, they get it and if they make a promise, they keep it. Their fundraising work is relentless and their enthusiasm contagious.

I cannot think of a single organisation I would be more happy to lend my name to than Dream-A-Way. To be counted as a friend of the charity is an honour and a privilege.


 
Liam Tancock

Liam Tancock

Liam Tancock
World Champion & 
World Record Holder

I am really pleased to have been asked to become a Vice-President of this brilliant charity local to my roots. I am from Exeter and even though I am away training and competing for most of the year I hope that I can help make a difference by offering my support.

I really believe it’s important that people have to opportunity to visit new places and gain new experiences. Dream-A-Way helps make this possible. As a professional swimmer I am very lucky to be able to travel the World and really enjoy seeing new cultures and meeting new people.

I look forward to being part of the team and helping out in any way I can. I am really pleased that the charity uses sporting events to raise some of the money, as I am all for getting more people taking part in sport!

 
   
Julian Tagg

Julian Tagg

Julian Tagg
Vice Chairman
Exeter City Football Club

Having somewhat inadvertently devoted much of my life to working with and for children I was always very aware of Dream-A-Way as a charity standing out as it does for a considerable number of reasons. 

Of course it goes without saying that there is the leadership and dynamism of the Chairman and all those around him which is proven not only by the incredible sums of money raised but the way that money is distributed. 

Personal involvement directly and at first hand means the reward for both the givers and receivers transcends the financial aspects and creates a good feeling that promotes further effort from a real understanding of the huge problems being faced by so many children and indeed their parents. 

Couple that with the novel idea that charity work is done for free and that every penny goes directly to the good work, meant that the great honour of being asked to become a Vice President made for a very easy decision. 


 

 
Judi Spiers

Judi Spiers

Judi Spiers

Dream-A-Way is driven by a hard working and fun loving bunch of people who I am very proud to be associated with.

We are so lucky to have such a proactive charity on our doorstep and one that achieves so much never resting on it’s laurels constantly there in the public eye making somebody’s dream come true. It’s a pleasure to be on board!


 

 
John and Joelle Winterbottom

John and Joelle Winterbottom

John and Joelle Winterbottom

Joelle and I are deeply honoured to be asked to become Vice Presidents of DREAM-A-WAY.

During our highly successful fund raising year in 2009/10, when I was Lord Mayor, we admired the hard and dedicated work carried out by the Dream-A-Way team.

In addition we met some of the deserving individuals who have benefitted from their fund raising efforts. We look forward to continuing our association with this great Charity


 

 
David Freeman

David Freeman

David Freeman 

I am extremely honoured to have been appointed Vice-President of Dream-A-Way.

I have seen at first hand the dedication and enthusiasm which the Dream-A-Way team put into this local charity, and am delighted for them that they have received royal recognition for their efforts by the award of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

I look forward to watching Dream-A-Way continue to support many thousands of local people in Devon. 


 

 
Brian Bradley

Brian Bradley

Brian Bradley – Bradleys Group

I am most honoured to be thought of and of course being asked to become a Vice-President of Dream-A-Way. The charity is different to nearly all, if not all, other charities I know of in that one hundred percent of funds go to charitable use.

The Queen’s Award presented in 2009, clearly demonstrates the esteem in which the charity is held and it is a great honour to be part of that.


 

 
PO Williams

PO Williams

Petty Officer (Communications Information Specialist) Simon Williams, HMS DEFENDER

It is a great honour to be made HMS DEFENDER’s first Vice President of Dream-A-Way and look forward to working with all within the charity and giving regular updates on how our Fundraising activities are progressing.


 

George Sloan
Director, Timepiece

Having been involved with Dream-A-Way for many years it was a great honour on my birthday to have been appointed Vice-President.

Our company, Timepiece is extremely proud to be associated with such a dedicated charity helping so many local people.

My staff and I look forward and will continue to sponsor this award winning charity.


 

 
Charlie Thomas

Charlie Thomas

Charlie Thomas

Founder Committee Member – 

I am a founder member of Dream-A-Way and have spent many years as a Trustee and Committee Member. I was delighted and honoured when Jeff, Gill and Bob asked me to become a Vice President. Being part of Dream-A-Way is an excellent way of joining in with a group of people who enjoy helping others.

I have helped on many trips and holidays and particularly remember a wonderful few days we had with a coach of disabled people in Blackpool. I intend to continue to be actively involved with the charity in my new role.


 

 
Sam Hudson

Sam Hudson

Sam Hudson

“I’m delighted to have been involved with Dream-A-Way for the last 13 years, and am honoured to have been asked to serve as a Vice President for much of that time. The work that Dream-A-Way does through its committed and dedicated team is just astonishing and they have transformed the lives of so many local people as a result.


 

 

Mark Tyler

MarkTylerJournalist and broadcaster

I was honoured to become a Vice-President of Dream-A-Way more than ten years ago. Since then I have seen at first hand the energy and commitment of everyone connected with the fantastic fund raising events.

There seem to be more each year, and they just keep getting bigger and better. I also know what a great impact the money raised has made for so many local people.

It’s wonderful to see those happy faces so often in our local media – this is a wonderful charity to be involved with.


Tim Rea FRICS

Tim Rea

Tim Rea

It was with huge sadness that we announced the loss of Tim Rea on Saturday 25th November, 2017, after a short illness, bravely fought. Please click here to read more about our true friend ‘Mr Tim’. 

Here’s what Tim had to say when appointed as Vice-President: I was very honoured and pleased to accept this new role as a Vice President since my business commitments took me outside of the UK, I have  been a member of Dream-A-Way since 1995 spending  many happy years as a  Committee Member then Treasurer and later as a Trustee.

Over many years I have enjoyed helping  our guests enjoy many trips, holidays, journeys to Euro Disney  and pantomime coach outings, sharing with them  that unique experience that money cannot buy, the sheer joy of helping many special people and the buzz of sharing their delight at going on a trip or receiving a dream holiday grant.

I am a proud to be a  Vice President of Dream-A-Way, this role still allows me to use my skills to benefit others.


Bob Beer

Vice President

Bob Beer

I am a founder member of Dream-A-Way. Together with Jeff Merrett, Charlie Thomas and a few others we formed the charity and one of our aims was to make Dream-A-Way different by not taking any salaries, expenses or any payment. We have continued successfully for over 20 years with this ethos. I enjoy knowing that the work we do helps local people who need holidays and breaks.