Trustees

Chairman: Rupert De Mauley

Rupert De Mauley joined the Board of Trustees in June 2017 bringing experience from the political, financial and military sectors.

Lord De Mauley was, until stepping down at the 2015 general election, minister for the natural environment, science and animal welfare at Defra. A chartered accountant and former investment banker and entrepreneur, he spent nine years working in the Far East in the 1980s and 1990s. An army reservist for thirty years, in the early new millennium he commanded the UK’s only reserve armoured regiment, the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, of which he is now colonel. A former amateur jockey both here and in the Far East, he is a keen equestrian. He is president of SPANA and of the Council of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations and Chairman of LAPADA. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 2005.

Vice Chair: John Peat

John Peat was one of the first Trustees of the charity in his capacity as a representative of War Memorials Trust’s bank, Royal Bank of Scotland.

Initially acting as relationship manager to the charity he has assisted in guiding the charity's finances over the years keeping a close check on activity and our financial position. Now working in the commercial sector of the bank Mr Peat has retained his involvement in the charity due to his strong support for its aims and objectives.

Speaking of his role with War Memorials Trust Mr Peat said: "During my time as a relationship manager with the Royal Bank of Scotland I have been involved with various charities and felt that this knowledge would be of assistance to War Memorials Trust in its early days. Also having experience of dealing with fledging businesses I was able to ensure, with others, that the financial aspect of the charity was set up properly from the outset. I believe that we should not only all look to remember what happened in the past but also look to the future."

Treasurer: Russell Walters

Russell Walters joined the Board of Trustees in September 2015 from a career in the heritage and charity sectors.

Mr Walters worked for English Heritage for over 16 years before taking over as Chief Executive of a charitable foundation in 2013. At English Heritage, he spent a number of years overseeing the grant to War Memorials Trust and was the English Heritage lead on the joint English Heritage/War Memorials Trust War Memorials Online project, as part of his English Heritage role as lead on their World War I commemorations, at the time. He is also a Trustee of the Canterbury Oast Trust and the Battlefields Trust as well as being Chair of Governors at his local infants school.

On joining the Board, Russell said: "I delighted to be joining War Memorials Trust after previously having been so involved. I am particularly keen to continue the work on War Memorials Online, whilst helping to develop the organisation for the future." 

Randolph Churchill

Randolph Churchill joined the Board of Trustees in September 2017 bringing experience from the military and financial sectors.

Mr Churchill undertook a short service commission in the Royal Navy with spells on HMS Alderney and HMS Swallow. Following that, and qualification as a Chartered Accountant, he moved into investments. Since 2003 he has worked for Rathbones managing investments for private individuals and foundations. Randolph is the President of the International Churchill Society, an Honorary Fellow of Churchill College Cambridge and has been a Trustee of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and a Director of the Armed Services Charities Advisory Company. Randolph is a regular speaker at Churchill conferences and dinners in the UK and abroad.

On joining the Board, Randolph said “I am thrilled to have joined the Trust and am passionate about maintaining with pride our war memorials across the United Kingdom.” 

Phil Curme

Phil Curme joined the Board of Trustees in July 2025 after many years of involvement as a member and volunteer. He had recently stepped down as Chair of the Clevedon Pier & Heritage Trust following seven very successful years during which a £3m visitor centre project was successfully completed, helping to secure the future of Britain's only Grade 1 listed seaside pier for future generations.

Phil has an MA (with Distinction) in Military History which was attained in 2016 after he retired from a successful career in financial services, where he specialised in the delivery of transformational change. Phil lives in the West Country and when he is not undertaking non-executive commercial work or volunteering in the not-for-profit sector, he enjoys spending time with his family and walking battlefields.

On joining the Board Phil said, "the protection of Britain's war memorial heritage is vitally important, and I am delighted to be involved in supporting those who are working to ensure that the men and women who fought and died for their country are not forgotten'.

Jon Gedling

Jon Gedling joined the Board of Trustees in 2025. He is Director of Estates at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, where he is responsible for the conservation and management of a global estate comprising over 2,000 constructed cemeteries and memorials in more than 150 countries and territories. These include many internationally significant sites, such as the Menin Gate in Belgium and the Thiepval Memorial in France.

A Chartered Building Surveyor, Jon has over 25 years’ experience, beginning in private practice before specialising in the leadership, conservation and care of historic estates. He has worked across some of the UK’s most prestigious heritage sites, including for the Royal Household and Eton College, and was Estates Director at St John’s School in Surrey. He served on Historic England’s Historic Estate Conservation Committee, overseeing he care of the National Heritage Collection. Jon has worked closely with War Memorials Trust during his time at CWGC and brings to the Board a strong personal connection to its mission, along with practical experience in heritage conservation and estate management.

On joining the Board Jon said, "I have long admired the Trust’s conservation-led approach, combined with its practical support and careful advice. It is a privilege to join the Board and help support the work of the charity in protecting such important memorials and the stories they represent." 

Maggie Goodall

Maggie Goodall joined the Board in March 2019 bringing experience of historic buildings casework and practical conservation.

Ms Goodall has a background in history, historic architecture and heritage management. She was War Memorials Trust’s first Conservation Officer, between January 2000 and September 2003, organising its casework, giving conservation advice and setting up the initial grant programmes. She has also worked for the Victorian Society and the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England. Currently she leads the Education and Training team at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB).

With an enduring interest in social history, ecclesiastical and funerary architecture, monuments and memorials, she has written and lectured on a variety of war memorial and conservation subjects. She organised the Conservation & Commemoration conference in 2014 (with the SPAB, WMT and the Church of England) and the SPAB’s First World War Centenary events – a guest lecture series in November 2014 and archive-focused event in November 2018.

On joining the Board, Maggie commented: “I am delighted to be returning to War Memorials Trust in a role where I can help support the Trust and its dedicated team in the valuable work of making the country’s extraordinarily varied and fascinating war memorial heritage better understood, more widely appreciated and well cared for.”