CEO: Alexandra Thompson
Alex joined GASP as Chief Executive Officer in August 2019 following roles at SATRO and Royal Society Mencap. Alex has a wealth of experience working with corporate organisations, schools and local stakeholders, facilitating joined up working and realising shared goals. She is keen to develop and grow GASP in order to provide opportunities for more young people to participate in the highly successful programmes we offer.
Operations Manager: Lucy Weber
Lucy joined GASP in July 2022. Having previously worked at Jubilee High School, Lucy has a wealth of educational experience, particularly focused on those with SEND and alternative educational needs. Lucy has been bringing students to GASP for over five years. Prior to education, Lucy had an extensive career at senior management level within Facilities Management.
Fundraising and Business Manager: Moyra Matravers
Moyra joined the GASP team in January 2023 following over 20 years of fundraising in the third sector across Surrey. Most recently she spent 10 years as Head of Fundraising at Oakleaf Enterprise, leading a small team, whilst specialising in bid-writing. Moyra is thrilled to have the opportunity to increase GASP’s income at a time of operational growth, helping the charity to benefit a growing number of young people.
Executive Assistant: Sam Jones
Sam joined the GASP team in 2021 and assists Alex with the day to day administration tasks of running GASP. Sam brings to the team experience from both the corporate and education sectors. Having worked in mainstream education, Sam has first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing schools and their pupils. She understands the needs of young people and the value alternative provision gives. Sam’s work experience includes Media Relations, Marketing, Office Management and Finance.
Programme Coordinator: Laura Lloyd
Laura joined GASP in March 2023 and has several years’ experience in administration including quality assurance of policies and procedures, staff training and much more. Laura is hugely passionate about young people’s education and is committed to reaching out to schools and other education services within Surrey to ensure their young people can access the alternative provision GASP offers.
Programme Coordinator: Karen Moon
Karen started at GASP in October 2024 as Programme Coordinator to oversee AQA’s. She has a true passion for empowering students, allowing them to see their full potential. Karen has taught and course-led in a range of schools, including Alternative Provision and SEN schools, for over 20 years. In this time Karen had gained a wealth of experience which will enable her to support the team in expanding the AQA qualification offer.
Delivery team
Howard James
Howard joined the GASP team in 2013 and leads the delivery of our mobile programme which takes the GASP programme across the county and delivers our onsite courses to schools, youth centres, referral units and centres for young adults. Howard trained as a mechanical engineer at the MOD, with a specialism in precision instrument making. Howard has a background in development and field service engineering, in both the public and private sectors. He is also a fully qualified British Gliding Association Instructor, and teaches people how to fly, including the disabled. In his spare time Howard enjoys playing badminton.
Simon Boyden
Simon joined the GASP team in 2015 and assists in the delivery of both mobile and workshop sessions. His mechanical expertise stems from his interest in maintaining and repairing cars as a hobby. He has engaged with and instructed youth in his spare time for four decades as an ATC, RAFGSA and Full Cat BGA gliding instructor and holds a PPL. He was a Scout Leader for over 15 years, moving up through the sections with his children. He has held various voluntary roles such as PTA Chair and Treasurer. Simons career background was investment banking financial services IT where he spent two decades working in London.
Richard Seymour
Richard joined the GASP team in April 2021 and helps deliver sessions in the workshop. He started his career in 1978 as an apprentice mechanic at a local Ford dealership before moving to Toyota to work as a Technician in their Technical Department in 1990. In 2010 he moved to the Toyota Press Department as a Product and Technical Specialist. Richard has been involved in many roles including preparation of cars for the press, assisting with driving events, supporting motor shows, providing product information, and maintaining and driving the cars. During his career he has also taught a Formula One driver how to drive one of Toyota’s special cars, competed in the Toyota MR2 motorsport championship and driven a car with wheels made of ice. Richard currently supports film crews with vehicle management, driving and special projects. In his spare time he enjoys restoring old cars and motorbikes, cycling, table tennis and the theatre.
Roger Brecke
Roger started his career as a blacksmith, working in this field for 40 years. He then moved into lighting design and tool making, once making a chandelier that was a top seller for 10 years in a well known department store. Roger enjoys working as part of the team at GASP and helping the students increase their knowledge and confidence with new found skills.
Terry Francis
Terry joined GASP in October 2023. He attended Brooklands College and then worked in various companies over the years, holding both supervisor and management roles for various motor vehicle companies. Before joining GASP, Terry spent 20 years as a supervisor for Maranello Classic Parts Ferrari & Maserati. Terry gets a great deal of satisfaction knowing that he can pass on years of knowledge to the younger generation. Having previously worked 8am-6pm, working for GASP gives Terry a better work-life balance and he can now spend more time with his family. In his spare time, Terry enjoys golf, football and snooker, and is very proud that he has achieved a single figure golf handicap!
Trevor Vass
Trevor started working at GASP in September 2023. After leaving school he started an apprenticeship at a Kawasaki dealership, while attending Merton Technical College for motorcycle maintenance. Trevor has over 30 years’ experience in the motorcycle industry, having worked at various motorcycle dealers including Kawasaki, Ducati, Honda and Yamaha. Trevor used to motocross when he was younger, but now enjoys mountain biking, watching motocross, and building and working on his son’s bikes. His son recently qualified to race BMX for Great Britain at the World Championships! Trevor enjoys working with, and inspiring, students who may never previously have considered mechanics, giving them the confidence to potentially pursue a career or apprenticeship in the field.
David Wiltshire
Dave joined GASP in January 2024. He started out as an apprentice with Southern Counties Garages Group while attending Crawley Technical College attaining City & Guilds qualifications in Motor Vehicle Technology. Dave has spent the last 50 years working within the automotive industry working as a mechanic/technician with the likes of Austin/Morris, Triumph, Rover, Daimler/Jaguar, Land Rover, Ford and Mitsubishi. In the 15 years prior to joining GASP, Dave has been involved in the mechanical restoration, reconditioning and servicing of classic and vintage motor cars. In his spare time Dave enjoys motorcycle riding (on and off road), touring, relaxing, reading and music. He is also an authorised drone pilot and enjoys aerial photography.
Chris Plummer
Chris joined the GASP team in January 2024 having spent his working career in the motor trade. He spent many years within BMW achieving Master Technician status. After leaving BMW Chris set up his own company specialising in BMW cars. Now semi-retired, Chris splits his time between working at GASP and driving VIP’s around for BMW and Mercedes. Chris enjoys golfing, running, cycling, swimming and triathlon – and anything else he fancies having a go at. He can also still run a marathon sub 3 hours 45 minutes at the age of 68! Chris enjoys being part of the GASP team and passing on his experience in the motor trade to students who may not have considered mechanics as a career choice.
Alan Wells
Alan joined GASP in January 2024 having spent 44 years in the motor industry. He started off by attending college and completing a City and Guilds Light Motor Vehicle qualification, working initially for Ford and Saab franchises. For most of his career Alan has been involved in specialist vehicle building, customising, restoration and Motorsport activity. More recently Alan has been specialising in the delivery of City & Guilds level 1 to 3 as well as work base training and light fabrication. Alan joined GASP to share this knowledge and help with creating new and interesting teaching resources to develop and expand the already varied curriculum. In his spare time Alan does bare bow archery, is a qualified bee-keeper and was recently included in an Anthropology study and exhibition at UCL London.
Evening Team – Monday
Andrew Rowe: Andrew (Raggy) joined GASP in 2024. He has worked for TUI airlines for the last 41 years starting on an Engineering Apprenticeship and becoming a CAA Licensed engineer and then Hangar Manager based at Luton Airport. He has supported TUI’s fleet of 135 Boeing aircraft all over the world. The most enjoyable part of his career was managing the Engineering Apprenticeship program, selecting young people to join TUI and seeing them progress to become qualified engineers. He is now retiring, and although he has many hobbies connected with racing cars and bikes, is keen to share his experience and knowledge with the younger people who attend the GASP evening sessions.
Brian Wales: Brian joined the team in 2024 and is currently enjoying life as a house dad to his two teenage sons and doing lots of DIY on his new family home. Brian’s automotive engineering career started with an apprenticeship with ESSO. He then went to university to study Automotive Engineering. Brian’s resume includes holiday work at Williams F1, a graduate job at TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing), Supplier Quality Engineer at McLaren Automotive and then Operations Manager at McLaren Special Operations – leading the team that delivered bespoke customisation to customer cars. Brian has two hobby cars, his late father’s MGB and an ex-army Lightweight Land Rover 88 that is ready for restoration. Brian joined GASP to give something back to the industry that has given him such wonderful opportunities.
Evening Team- Wednesday
Steve Randall: Steve joined GASP as a volunteer in March 2023. Steve is a fully qualified aircraft instrument maker (multi-trade machinist and fitter) and was apprentice trained at the MOD. He has run engineering companies doing work ranging from aircraft components to seat heaters, racing car part manufactures and specialist boring bars. Steve set up his own plumbing and building company 20 years ago.
Andrew Hurley: Andrew joined GASP in January 2023. Andrew specialises in the reverse engineering of novel, legacy and unknown complex systems. A qualified Level 6 Ordnance Munitions and Explosives apprentice trained by QinetiQ Fort Halstead. He is currently undertaking a full nut and bolt restoration of as Citroen 2CV6.
Darren Drew: Darren joined the GASP team in December 2023. Darren started in the construction industry making double glazed windows. He then moved into the office/management side of things spending the last 40+ years in construction management. Darren has a passion for maintaining his own cars and describes himself as a competent DIYer with a keen interest in all things mechanical. He is also a beekeeper, keeping a few hived locally and loves watching sci-fi films when he has the time.