Our Governors

Simon became a Governor at the School in January/March 2017, since which time he has been on the HR, Estates and F&GP committees.

He became Chair of the Governors in February 2023.  Before retiring at the end of 2020, he was a senior partner at City law firm CMS, and was widely acknowledged for his expertise in providing advice in relation to commercial property investment and development for both U.K. and foreign investors.

As well as having had a number of management roles at the firm, he was a trusted adviser to a number of the firm’s most important clients who looked to him for legal and strategic advice. He lives in Amersham and, since May 2021, he has been a parish councillor. He is a keen road cyclist, walker, tennis player and golfer. He and his wife, Jill, have three grown-up children, Tom, Matthew and Lucy.

Tessa Lemon has worked in HR management for over 25 years, most recently in higher education. Employers have included Ernst & Young, the Audit Commission and Brunel University London. She now undertakes consultancy projects to help organisations attract, develop and grow their people talent and maximise individual performance and engagement.

Tessa studied History at Southampton University and then went on to undertake her HR qualification at the University of West of England. In 2010 she pursued her interest in cultural change by gaining a post graduate diploma in the Psychology of Organisational Development from Herriot Watt University. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and on the governing body of an infant and early years’ school. She lives in Amersham and enjoys travelling, theatre, reading and keeping fit. She has run two marathons as well as a number of half marathons.

Sean is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years experience working in the commercial property sector and holds a Masters in Business Administration. Sean runs the London business at a national real estate company, Lambert Smith Hampton, having previously held senior positions at DTZ (now Cushman & Wakefield).

Sean specialises in providing Property & Asset Management advice to a range of financial institutions and property companies across the UK. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director of a not for profit charity, Forward Housing, which helps provide accommodation for people suffering with disabilities. Sean lives locally and his daughter attended the school up to July 2018. He is a very keen sportsman with a particular passion for golf, cycling, rugby and football!

Caroline currently works at Citizens Advice as a debt adviser and is a Magistrate sitting in Adult and Youth Courts in the Thames Valley.

Caroline became a Governor in June 2023, and is on the Pastoral and Marketing & Admissions committees.

She lives in Gerrards Cross, is married to Iain and has 2 daughters and a son. Both their daughters attended and thrived at RMS.

Robert has worked at leading, local independent schools since 2008 teaching Politics and Philosophy, coaching Hockey and taking on a variety of roles including Housemaster, Head of Sixth Form and most recently Academic Deputy Head. A Law graduate of the universities of Cambridge and Paris, Robert worked in London as a solicitor and entrepreneur, before entering teaching and completing his PGCE in Theology and Philosophy. Robert lives in Sarratt with his wife and two sons, where he enjoys running, cycling, tennis and a spot of environmental activism.

Berneej is an entrepreneur operating a B&B and has recently opened a Code Ninjas franchise in Borehamwood. Having studied Chemical Engineering at Imperial Berneej spent 14 years in the City including 7 years at Morgan Stanley before leaving the industry in 2014 to run his own business. Berneej enjoys playing hockey and has two daughters who both study at RMS.

Sharron is currently an Assistant Headmistress at an HMC co-educational independent school in Bushey, Hertfordshire where she is the Director of Sixth Form and also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer. Having studied History and Politics at the University of Manchester, Sharron completed her PGCE in History at the University of Cambridge. She lives locally with her three children and enjoys reading and spending time outdoors. Sharron is a member of the pastoral and academic sub-committees.

Andrew is an Investment Manager, with over 30 years’ experience of advising charities on their investments, and is a Chartered Fellow of the Securities Institute. He is currently a Senior Investment Director at Psigma Investment Management where he is responsible for leading the charities business.

Andrew is a trustee of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, where he chairs the Investment Committee and he carries out a similar role for the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers where he is a Liveryman and sits on the Court. He also serves as a Trustee of the Sir Halley Stewart Trust (a grant giving charity), The ICAEW Charitable Trusts and The Harrow Mission Trust. He is currently a Foundation Governor at Christ’s Hospital School in Horsham and served a four year term as a governor at The Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie.

Ian is the Bursar of Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood. He was in the British Army for thirty years, serving in Germany, Belize, Canada, Australia, the Balkans, the Middle East and Afghanistan. Ian is a former athlete and Nordic skier, who retains a keen interest in outdoor education as a white water kayak coach and canoe leader. A graduate of the Führungsakademie in Hamburg and the University of Canberra, his professional qualifications are in leadership, strategic management, financial strategy and project management. Ian lives with his wife and two sons in Northwood.

Helen has worked in market research for over 25 years. She is currently Global Chief Experience Officer for Customer Experience and Mystery Shopping at Ipsos. Previous roles include Global Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and Managing Director of Ipsos Loyalty, UK. Helen is a highly experienced events speaker and chair at industry events.

Helen is passionate about unlocking potential; she is a business mentor and trained coach, with a focus on supporting future leaders. She is a leadership team member of Ipsos ‘Women in Ipsos’ a network charged with maximising the potential of women, by inspiring them to reach their full potential. She has led a corporate school partnership programme and is currently in the throes of creating a Corporate School Responsibility (CSR) initiative, concerned with providing access to education for children – with a focus on girls – who have forcibly been displaced from their homes.

Helen is married to Nick, they have four daughters, currently all pupils at RMS, and a fox red labrador.

Simon is Senior Deputy Head of a leading boys’ 13+ prep school in Buckinghamshire. He is also an inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

A French graduate from King’s College London, Simon has been a teacher for over 20 years and has held senior leadership roles in several IAPS schools in the south east of England. Simon lives locally with his wife Helen, a chartered accountant, and their three sons.

When they are not keeping him busy, he enjoys singing in local choirs, going to the theatre and cinema and dog walks in the Chilterns.

Following 25 years in the Army, Christopher was appointed a Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales responsible for post-qualifying training through the Accountancy Business Group.

Moving on to a more global role at Merrill Lynch Europe plc, he subsequently becoming Finance Director of the Merchant Taylors Livery Company. This was followed by Director level positions in American global IT and Consultancy firms.

He came out of retirement to become the Finance Director of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution followed by being appointed primus FD of the newly formed Masonic Charitable Foundation, where was a Trustee for 11 years.

Christopher is married with two children and five grandchildren.

Jane became Governor of RMS in September 2024 having recently served as trustee and Chair of Finance of the Keys Academy Trust which has 13 primary schools in Reading.  Jane helped form the Trust in 2017 following on from her role as Foundation Governor of Earley St Peter’s Church of England Primary School.

Jane has had a role in Finance in Charities for over 30 years including a national charity which supported People with Learning Disabilities. Currently she is Director of Finance at Reading University Students’ Union, where she is also the Senior Management lead overseeing the Nursery run by the Union which has ~80 children.

Jane is an alumna of the school, having joined the Junior School at Weybridge in 1971, moving to Rickmansworth in 1973, and completing A Levels in 1980.  As a result she has a deep connection and commitment to RMS.

Freyja is an award-winning Events Manager currently working in the Financial Services industry. Previously, she worked at The Football Association and ITV, before making the jump to corporate. With almost a decade of experience and a degree in Event Management & Media Studies from University of Winchester, she started off as a student of Royal Masonic from 1999-2011 before studying Art at University of Portsmouth ahead of her degree. As an RMS Alumna, Freyja hopes to bring her experience as both a day girl and border to the Board of Governors.  Outside of work, Freyja enjoys walking in the Sussex countryside where she lives with her boyfriend and cockapoo, Buddy, reading crime novels, and baking.

Keith was a Governor at RMS for 46 years and served as Chairman for 25 years. He is a Fellow of the ICAEW and CIOT, Member of the SSBV, Freeman of the City of London and retired member of Monopolies & Mergers Commission. Keith practised as a Chartered Accountant and spent 40 years lecturing in the UK and overseas. He was honoured by the Queen as a Commander of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire and as a Commander of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. His astute business brain was invaluable in helping to bring the school to the sound financial basis it now enjoys.