Patrons - Greenbank Disability Charity

Baroness Masham of Ilton

Baroness Masham of Ilton has a disability herself and has been a Greenbank Patron for over 30 years.
Created a life peer in 1970, she is an active member of the House of Lords, where she takes a keen interest in issues surrounding disability, health and penal reform.

Baroness Masham of Ilton is also a former Paralympian, winning medals for table tennis in 1960, 1964 and 1968.

She explains why she is a supporter of Greenbank and campaigns for societal improvements for disabled people:

“Being disabled myself I know only too well the importance of good access to as many places as possible and parking for people using wheelchairs is very important. It is also important that people who have disability get the appropriate rehabilitation and training for daily living and employment. Correct housing for people who have a serious disability is very important and there is not enough suitable housing throughout the country. Therefore Members of Parliament, local councillors and the planners and health providers should all be made aware of the very varied needs of people with disabilities.
There should be good communication between all Services for disabled people. So often they are passed from one to another and Services become fragmented.”

Sir Philip Craven

Sir Philip Craven’s connection with Greenbank stems from a nearly lifelong connection with its Chief Executive, Gerry Kinsella. They met as wheelchair basketball players at Southport and their mutual respect continued as members of the GB team.

Sir Philip represented GB in Wheelchair Basketball five times from 1972 to 1988 as well as competing in track and field and swimming events in 1972.

On retirement from sport as a player, Sir Philip was elected as the Chairman of the Wheelchair Basketball Section of International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (later the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation). He was elected as the second President of the International Paralympic Committee in 2001, a position which he continues to hold.

Sir Philip explains why he is committed to Greenbank as one of its Patrons

“When we retired as players I chose the international scene and Gerry developed his dream at Greenbank. He really gets what sport and physical activity can do for individual people in society. To have great sport facilities and combine them with a high quality learning offer, particularly in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, is a great way to live the dream. I am very proud to be related to Gerry and Greenbank and know that this centre is an example of what could be done in many more major cities in the UK.”

Rachel Hall

Rachel is a founder member of Greenbank, and a former head teacher at the Children’s Rest School of Recovery (which was housed in the building which is now Greenbank College, until 1978).

She was also the PE teacher of Chief Executive Gerry Kinsella, who was a pupil at the school from 1957 until 1965.

Gerry describes her fondly as:

“A mentor and friend for over fifty years.”

He credits her as inspiring his lifelong passion for sport, following her introduction of PE to the curriculum, when he was about ten.

The idea of disabled children doing PE was revolutionary at the time.

Rachel served as a Council of Management member for over twenty five years and became a Patron in 2010.