Claire Burnell

For many years, Claire was an active member of our Management Committee, before latterly redefining and focussing her role as a Trustee and Event Organiser for our Symphony Hall concerts.

Outside of BPSO, Claire is a practising Solicitor based in the West Midlands. She is a specialist in the handling of serious and catastrophic injury claims, both nationally and internationally.

Her passion for music, coupled with life as a busy lawyer provides a perfect balance for Claire. She is much in demand both in the law; and with regular performances as a musician across the country for several ensembles both as an invited soloist and as an orchestral member.

Claire’s drive, strength, tenacity of approach and sheer passion both as a lawyer and musician, provides a specific skill set also to her role as a Trustee.

Claire’s eye for detail and determination not only maintains, but also helps nurture and upport the growth of BPSO, both financially and as an organisation, thereby enabling the holistic benefits not only for BPSO, but for all other charities and organisations to whom we outreach into the wider community.

Benjamin Damazer JP DL

Benjamin’s policing experience started after leaving university and becoming a Special Constable in three different forces (MPS, West Midlands and West Yorkshire) as his work roles moved.

He was appointed as a magistrate at Peterborough and as a representative to the Cambridgeshire Police Authority. After a while Benjamin became vice-chair of the Authority until the transfer to elected police and crime commissioners. In total he was an Authorit member for 16 years.

Benjamin is a trustee of the Cambridgeshire Police Shrievalty Trust – a charity working with vulnerable victims of crime and was was appointed Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire earlier in 2020.

Benjamin is a management consultant and interim manager – working with large organisations to make things happen – turning strategy into action. He has worked with many public sector clients and for the UK government in several countries including Iraq and Afghanistan. For policing organisations, Bejamin has managed projects for a number of UK and international police forces on a range of assignments.

Bejamin was previously a trustee of the East of England Orchestra and failed to learn to play the cello. He sings occasionally.

Benjamin is married to Liz and his daughter Alexandra is an NHS paediatrician.

Martin Jelley QPM

Chief Constable Warwickshire Police

Martin began his policing career with Norfolk Constabulary in 1988, serving 16 years with Norfolk, both in CID and operational roles, which included a secondment to the Foreign Office in 2003 and working in Malawi to help set up their police service’s intelligence and crime management systems. On his return, he headed Norfolk’s Anti-Corruption unit in Professional Standards, before being promoted on transfer to Suffolk Police, where he headed up Suffolk Police’s Professional Standards Department.

In 2006, as Chief Superintendent and Basic Command Unit (BCU) Commander, he led the amalgamation of the Eastern and Southern policing areas in Suffolk, which encompassed the towns of Ipswich and Lowestoft.  He was involved in the response to the Suffolk Strangler in 2006.

Martin joined Northamptonshire Police from Suffolk Constabulary in October 2009. During his first two years as Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) in Northamptonshire, he was responsible for Territorial Policing. He initiated and led for the force on the first two years of Operation Guardian, a large scale, countywide initiative that significantly reduced crimes of robbery, burglary and vehicle crime in Northamptonshire. He also led the policing of the British Grand Prix for three years.

In 2011 Martin took on the ACC portfolio for Crime and Justice in the county. Whilst in this role he oversaw the force investigation and subsequent worldwide manhunt for the murderer of a Chinese family of four in Northampton.

Martin became Deputy Chief Constable in February 2013. In this role he led the Northamptonshire Police Programme “Aspire” which transformed policing services within tight financial restrictions.

Martin became the new Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police on 1st April 2015, leading initially in the Strategic Alliance with West Mercia and, more latterly, on the transition and the rebuild of the Force as it re-established itself post-Alliance.

He has been the National Policing lead for Vetting since 2010 and in 2015 became the NPCC lead for Professional Standards and Ethics. As the national portfolio holder for police vetting, Martin has overseen the introduction of Biometric vetting nationally and the development of a new College of Policing professional vetting code of practice which was launched in early 2017.

Martin was awarded the QPM in the New Year’s Honours in 2016, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Birmingham in 2019. He is also a Trustee of the British Police Symphony Orchestra.

Martin is married with two children, and his interests include rugby and skiing.

John Morgan

Principal Trumpet BPSO

A former Roads Policing Officer with Dyfed Powys Police where for the later part of his 33 years service was a Police Motorcycle /Car Driving Instructor and on retirement ran his own driving school based in Llandeilo, West Wales.

His musical talent developed through the Carmarthenshire music service and he was selected to attend the Welsh College of Music and Drama (then based at Cardiff Castle), as a part time student where he studied Trumpet under Colin Casson (BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra). He was selected for The National Youth Orchestra of Wales and studied under William Lang (London Symphony Orchestra).

John is a founder member of the British Police Symphony Orchestra and held the position of principal trumpet from it’s formation in 1989 for over 20 years, recently returning to that position. He has also been principal trumpet with the Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra, Philomusica of Aberystwyth and has performed with the National Sinfonia of Wales, the Welsh Chamber Orchestra and freelances with other orchestras across the UK. He proudly represents BPSO as Director of Music for the UK National Police Memorial Day.

He has previously been musical director of Carmarthen & District Youth Opera, Merlin Youth Theatre and was the founder director of The ‘Myrddin Chorale’ a Carmarthen based  mixed choir and Carmarthen Symphonic Wind Band. He is currently the founder and proud conductor of Band Tref Llandeilo Town Band a local wind band formed recently to participate in local events and encourage local players of any age or ability to enjoy making music.

John is honoured to represent the British Police Symphony Orchestra as a trustee.

Bill Skelly

Chief Constable Lincolnshire Police

Bill was appointed Chief Constable in November 2016, commencing his role in February 2017.

Born on the east coast of Scotland, Bill grew up in the countryside before completing his schooling in Dundee. He then moved to study mathematics and physics at Edinburgh University, where he later completed an MBA. Bill joined Lothian and Borders Police in 1990 and completed the command course at Bramshill in 2004 and the following year, a Diploma in criminology at Cambridge.

Through his policing career he has held many rewarding positions including leading the Immigration Crime Team at New Scotland Yard and being appointed in 2008 by Her Majesty the Queen as her Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.

Bill joined Devon and Cornwall Police from Police Scotland as Deputy Chief Constable in 2013 where he had been working on the safety and security of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors having passed with distinction their Certificate and Diploma programmes and been accepted as a Chartered Director.

He is a keen supporter of celebrating policing history and was the founding Chair of the South West Police Heritage Trust.  On reflecting on his own journey, he expresses his values that developed as a child growing up in Scotland, with his role in modern-day policing of Lincolnshire, as a deep desire for fairness and justice; an abhorrence for the abuse of power and bullying in every sense; and a need to intervene and do his duty.

Bill is delighted to be Chief Constable and has two goals for Lincolnshire Police: to deliver the best possible service for our communities by better matching demand and resources; and investing in the wellbeing of all staff to become the happiest, healthiest and most active in the country.

When not on duty Bill, who is married with two daughters, likes to spend his time outdoors, enjoying walking and cycling, including in the past, pedalling from London to Edinburgh! He is also an avid volleyball player and the chair of the Police Sport UK Volleyball Section, playing on many occasions as a member of the National Police Team at home and in Europe.

Sir David Thompson QPM DL

Chief Constable West Midlands Police

Chief Constable David Thompson joined Greater Manchester Police in 1990 after graduating in Law at Liverpool University.

During his career in Greater Manchester Police he served at every rank, starting as a constable in North Manchester. His career highlights included working on the Manchester Olympic bid and leading work on New Deal for East Manchester. He commanded the main policing operations for the 2002 Commonwealth Games at the City of Manchester Stadium including the opening and closing ceremonies. He was also Commander for central Manchester, policing the diverse communities of Moss Side and Longsight.

In 2007 he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and at various times led policing portfolios for Operations, Local Policing, Crime, Information Technology and Terrorism. At a national level he led the 2010 review of National Counter Terrorism structures.

In 2010, he became Deputy Chief Constable for West Midlands Police and oversaw the start of force’s change programme, WMP2020.

Since 2011 he has led the National Gangs portfolio and the Criminal use of Firearms portfolio, where he leads the UK’s response to gun crime. In 2015 he became the NPCC lead for Finance.

In January 2016 he was appointed Chief Constable and sets the strategic direction for the force within the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Plan. He is committed to delivering a modern policing service that prevents crime, protects people and offers help to those in need.

CC Thompson was awarded the QPM in 2014 for services to policing and received his knighthood in 2021.

Roger Wardle

Roger is a native of Leicestershire and started his police career in Leicester City Police. He subsequently transferred to Thames Valley Police and then in 1989 to West Midlands Police as Assistant Chief Constable. Soon after his arrival there he met Constable Alex Roe who had the idea of forming a police orchestra of police officers, police staff and their close relatives, representing all parts of the United Kingdom.  Publicity through police channels was given to this and those interested were invited to audition.

In 1990 the orchestra, then known as the Police National Orchestra, performed its first concert at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral as part of a UK tour, which included among other venues, The Royal Albert Hall. Roger became the first Chairman of the orchestra, until his retirement from the police service in 1997. In the early years was heavily involved with Alex Roe in organising concerts and he toured with the orchestra including to both Jersey and France. He has always been a very enthusiastic supporter of the orchestra’s work with police and other local and national charities.

As he says, “Meeting Alex and helping with the formation of the orchestra, not only changed my attitude to classical music, it changed my life! The British Police Symphony Orchestra continues to be a wonderful ambassador for the Police Service and I have the highest admiration for all those involved who give so generously of their time. Long may it continue to prosper.”

Paul West QPM DL

Retired Chief Constable West Mercia Police

Paul West has 32 years of policing experience, including 13 years as a chief officer and eight years as the Chief Constable of West Mercia Police.  He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished police service in 2005 and appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Worcestershire in 2019.

Paul has been an independent member of the Judicial Appointments Commission since 2012 and a member of the Prison Service Pay Review Body since 2016. Other than those part-time public appointments, Paul has devoted the remainder of his time since he retired in 2011 to voluntary governance roles with a number of charities and schools.

Paul has been a very keen amateur musician for over 40 years, dating back to his teenage years when he led the Durham County Youth Orchestra.  He has had a long association with the BPSO, initially as a supporter and Trustee before serving as the Orchestra’s Chair between 2009 and 2011.  Since retiring from his role as a Chief Constable and having the ability to attend rehearsals on a regular basis, he has greatly enjoyed being a member of the BPSO’s 1st Violin section.  Paul currently also plays viola with the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra.

Lisa Winward

Chief Constable North Yorkshire Police

Lisa started her police career in North Yorkshire Police in 1993 as a Special Constable in York. She joined Humberside Police as a regular officer in 1994 and worked through to the rank of Inspector via a number of community and detective roles, in the challenging social demography of Grimsby and Hull.

Having joined the High Potential Development Scheme in 2003, she ventured into roles such as professional standards, and communications and planning where she authored the policing plan on behalf of the Police Authority and the Force.  As a Chief Inspector in the business change team, Lisa led on a force-wide workforce modernisation programme.

In 2008, she transferred to North Yorkshire Police and worked within the York and Selby BCU senior management team as Chief Inspector Operations. She remained at York on promotion to Superintendent Operations and went on to be the Commander for the City between 2009 and 2013. During this time she also attended the FBI National Academy Leadership course in Quantico for 11 weeks. The course involved completion of a number of assessed Masters level modules on leadership, international policing, intelligence-led policing and child victims and perpetrators.  Subsequently Lisa undertook roles at force level as the Executive Officer to the Chief Constable, and Head of Uniformed Operations for the Force.

Lisa has held the role of Head of Major Crime, Specialist Operations, Criminal Justice and Force Intelligence alongside supporting the change programme linked to affordability and collaboration.

In May 2016 Lisa took up Chief Officer responsibility for local policing, and in February 2017 she became Deputy Chief Constable at North Yorkshire Police.

Lisa Winward assumed temporary command of North Yorkshire Police on 16 April 2018, following CC Dave Jones’ announcement that he was to retire from policing after 32 years of distinguished service.  On 27 July she was announced as the Police and Crime Commissioner’s preferred candidate to become North Yorkshire Police’s substantive Chief Constable, and on 15 August 2018 she was confirmed in post by the Police and Crime Panel, becoming the permanent Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police.

Lisa is married to David, a recently retired Humberside Officer, and enjoys socialising, skiing, gardening and long country walks.