Lewis-Manning Hospice Care has confirmed two new appointments to our Board of Trustees. The charity has welcomed Cecilia Bufton to the role of Chair and Gareth Sherwood as Trustee.
Cecilia brings a wealth of leadership and governance experience from her commercial background, predominantly across the charitable and healthcare sectors. She has led strategic marketing and business development at both SMEs and multinational organisations, with a particular focus on health, wellbeing, and technology. Cecilia has also held senior public sector non-executive roles as Chair of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, Independent Chair of the NHS Integrated Care Partnership and Independent Chair of the Birth to Settled Adulthood Programme for Dorset Council. She has experience as a Charity Chair for the Macular Society and Plant Heritage, and Vice Chair at Talbot Village Trust.
Cecilia said: “I am delighted to join Lewis-Manning at a time when charities play a more involved role in the national healthcare system than ever. The anticipatory care model that Lewis-Manning champions offers patients dignity and choice, as well as supporting their loved ones at every stage of the journey. Lewis-Manning’s mission to deliver exceptional care and support more people across Dorset has the potential to make a significant difference and I’m eager to play my part in achieving this goal.”
Lewis-Manning takes an anticipatory approach to care, focused on identifying and addressing people’s needs as early as possible in their journey with a life-limiting illness. Central to this model is the principle of being proactive, predicting needs, and supporting people to live and die well. By offering earlier intervention and ensuring that service delivery is carefully co-ordinated anticipatory care enables people to live well for longer, reduces unnecessary hospital stays, and supports individuals to remain at home or in their chosen setting at the end of life.
Cecilia continued: “Hospice care is not just about the end of life, but about adding life to years. Whether through social activities that give people joy, or highly skilled clinical teams helping individuals prepare for a good death on their own terms, Lewis-Manning makes a real difference in our community. I am beyond excited to work with Clare, the senior leadership team, and my fellow Trustees to continue building on that impact.”
Cecilia succeeds Jeremy Allin, who has served as Chair since 2018. Under Jeremy’s leadership, Lewis-Manning has undergone a period of transformation, significantly increasing its reach across Dorset and strengthening its role as the county’s independent hospice charity.
Alongside Cecilia’s appointment, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care has also welcomed Gareth Sherwood to its Board of Trustees, following the retirement of Reverend Jane Burgess after five years of dedicated service.
Gareth is Chief Executive of YMCA Bournemouth and has spent much of his career working across healthcare, charities, education, and faith communities. As a former hospital doctor, he has also led local and national social impact organisations. Gareth is currently Vice President of Dorset Chamber of Commerce, Trustee of the HealthBus Trust, Visiting Fellow at Bournemouth University, Associate Minister at BH1 Elim Church, and Chair of the Dorset Police Ethics Committee. Gareth is also actively involved with a number of boards addressing homelessness, employment, and governance.
Gareth said: “It is an honour to join the team at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care as a Trustee. I have long admired the charity’s heart to provide proactive, person-centred care, and to support people across Dorset to find comfort, hope and peace in the midst of illness. I look forward to working with Cecilia, Clare, and the wider team to build on the remarkable compassionate service they already provide, and to support them to ensure that Lewis-Manning continues to be a trusted, independent service to our community.”
Lewis-Manning CEO, Clare Gallie, concluded: “We are thrilled to introduce Cecilia as our new Chair and Gareth as Trustee. Between them, they bring incredible expertise from the health, charity, and commercial sectors, combined with a real desire to support people across Dorset.
“I would also like to thank Jeremy and Jane for their immense contribution and dedication; the impact they had on Lewis-Manning and the wider community is vast.”