John Hawkins (Chairman). A retired Prep School Headmaster appointed to the Board in 2003 and took over as Chairman in June 2008. With twenty-five years experience as a Headmaster in three schools in London and the Home Counties, he taught in both the Independent and maintained Sector and in Boarding and Day schools, and was responsible for introducing co-education and a large Pre-prep in Mill Hill School, North London. A former Chairman and Vice-President of IAPS, until recently Governor of four other Independent schools, he has inspected Prep schools in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and currently represents the Independent Sector on the General Teaching Council. John was educated at Manchester Grammar School, the Sorbonne, Westminster College, Oxford and the Open University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts. John is married with one daughter and three grandchildren; his interests include Rotary, reading, travel and golf.

Peter Smallwood. A former Chairman of Governors and a Chartered Surveyor recently retired as Chairman of Matthews and Goodman. Peter's two sons both attended MHS and, as a Governor since 1991, he feels lucky to be giving something back to the school. Presently a Director of CityReal, a property investment company in the City of London. Interests include MHS, his family, art, sport and gardening.

Robert Benton is a resident of Hawkhurst and near neighbour; his six children have all attended MHS. He has extensive experience in financial investments and until recently was the Chief Executive of Ingenious Securities Ltd, an investment bank based in the City of London which specialises in the media and technology sectors. He was previously Chairman of Bridgewell Group, Chairman and Chief Executive of Charterhouse Securities, and prior to that Global Head of Sales at ABN AMRO. Previous to that he was Chief Executive of James Capel.

Mrs Gillian duCharme, a member of the Board since 1987 and Chair of the Governor’s Marketing Committee. She was the Headmistress of Benenden School from 1985 – 2000 and later awarded a Doctorate of Education in 2005. Prior to Benenden she spent 19 years working in the Independent Education Sector in the USA, and was head of The Town School in Manhattan from 1980 to 1985. Educated at Beckenham Grammar School for Girls she studied for her MA in French and German at Girton College, Cambridge. She now works as the European Representative of a New York based educational consulting group, doing head searches, appraisals and board workshops. She is a member of the Board of the International Rescue Committee, UK, and the Greenwich School of Management. She has also served as a member of the Court of the University of Greenwich, and a Governor of Wellington College. Interests include tennis, art, architecture, hill walking, travel and books.

Dr David Hindmarsh. Joined the Board in November 2009 and is both a parent of two former pupils at the school and heads the Medical Practice in Cranbrook that provides medical cover to the school. Dr Hindmarsh is the Safeguarding Children GP lead for West Kent, is a GP trainer and advises the Board on general health, wellbeing and medical issues.

Simon Hodson became a Governor in March 2001. He attended MHS between 1965 and 1969, and has sat on the Committee of the Marlborough House Society for nearly 10 years, two of those as Chairman. As a Senior Partner in the national firm of solicitors, Beachcroft LLP, he has been a partner since 1985 and head of the Commercial Division for three years. His working life has covered most areas of corporate law with particular experience in private company acquisitions and disposals. He lives and works in London and is married with two children. He enjoys any sporting activity that encourages him to be outside.

Mrs Zsa Moncreiffe is married with three children, all of whom attended MHS. She has worked in publishing for the past 30 years, mostly as an editor and publisher; and she and her husband keep a small herd of beef cattle in Marden. Her interests are travel, various sports, theatre and reading.

Mrs Sheila Payne has been a parent and Governor - her son Christopher attended Marlborough House School in the 1970’s. Having taken a degree from King’s College, London University she worked in the Education department of the GLC. Latterly she spent time at the South East Regional Examinations Board before training as an OFSTED Lay Inspector. She has a special responsibility as the Governor for the Pre-Prep Department; her interest in younger children being strengthened by having two grandchildren of that age.

Arthur Reynolds joined the Governing Body in 1998 and has particular responsibility as the Governor overseeing the grounds and building projects within the school. After attending Cranbrook School he joined his family's farming business and now runs a mixed arable and beef farm in Hawkhurst. His two sons both attended MHS, and Arthur brings to the school a depth of local knowledge, great affection for MHS and a passionate belief in an all round education, including awareness of rural matters. To this end, he frequently makes his farm available for MHS school trips.

Mrs Teresa Sibree studied for a degree in Mathematics and later worked in Hong Kong. On returning to the UK she worked in the city as an investment analyst for Barings before becoming a full-time mother. Her three sons all attended MHS. She worked part-time at the school as a Mathematics teacher for 10 years before joining the Board in 2005. She has particular responsibility as a Governor for boarding and is a member of the Finance and Property Committee.

Henry Somerset has been a Governor and member of the Finance and Property Committee since 1991. After his time as a boy at MHS between 1970 and 1974 he went on to Wellington College, then to Cambridge University to read Mathematics. Until recently he was an investment banker with City firm Dresdner Kleinwort, and is married with three school-age children. His hobbies include watching and playing various sports.

Philip Thompson is a Chartered Certified Accountant working in his own practice in Cranbrook.  Philip was born in Hawkhurst and attended MHS as a pupil before going onto Cranbrook School.  He has been all his life associated with the school.  His father taught at MHS for 100 terms.  He was appointed to the Board in November 2001 and is Chairman of the Finance and Property Committee.  He was treasurer of the Marlborough House Society for a number of years and remains on the committee.  He was Treasurer of Hawkhurst Cottage Hospital League of Friends for 25 years. He has been a Governor and Trustee of Cranbrook School for over 20 years, umpires both boys and girls hockey and is a Young Enterprise Advisor.  His interests include golf, travel, reading, gardening and good wine.

Jonathan Watts is a Senior Master at Benenden School and was the first male Housemaster of a girl’s boarding house which counts many former MHS pupils amongst its numbers. He is a member of the Marketing Committee.

Jenny Webb is married with three boys, all of whom attended MHS from Nursery to Year 8. After graduating from University College, London she worked in the City for 10 years as an investment manager. Her interests include reading, tennis and supporting Arsenal. (If you can’t beat them, join them).

The Chairman of Governors can be contacted via the Trust’s Registered Office at the School address:

Marlborough House School, High Street, Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 4PY

or by Email via: bursar@marlboroughhouse.kent.sch.uk