Meet the Trustees

In the mid 70’s my dear wife was diagnosed with MS, and so began a journey. A journey into despair, fear, hope and realisation that the world had not come to an end. It was not all bad, and we could survive, raise a family and enjoy life – perhaps in a different way to that we might have planned. So, despite living with this insidious and unpredictable condition for almost 50 years, we still manage to laugh and support each other.

I joined the Derby branch committee back in 2011 and became Chair in 2012. Since then, I have worked with many remarkable people to help develop our Centre and reach out to as many people affected by MS as we can. We are a family – a caring, loving and supporting group that recognises the differences and traumas that people experience with MS without embarrassment, shame or disregard. And we remain committed to ensuring that support and our beautiful facilities at the Lilian Prime Centre remain available to each and everyone deep into the future.

It must have been when my father came home from the war that I realised that there was something different about my mother (Lilian Prime). She couldn’t walk very well and began to be in a wheelchair when we went out. By this time, I would have been about 8 or 9 years old. I recall having to go home from school at lunchtime to help my mother onto a commode at the side of the bed.

I don’t recall really appreciating our family circumstances. I guess we all just got on with life. I think it was when I met my wife Pauline in 1953 and saw how others lived that it dawned on me. Pauline and I married in 1958, and I promptly went into the army to do my National Service.

In 1960 my horizons of life were widened. Around that time, I became aware of the cruel life MS imposed. So, in the 1970’s I had my own company and was building bungalows for a housing association in Alvaston. I asked them if I could build some bungalows specially fitted out for people with MS. Thankfully, the answer was yes, and the Lilian Prime Charity was born. These bungalows are at Lilian Prime Close in Alvaston today. In 2005 the Lilian Prime Centre was built, which of course, brings me up to date.

I must pay tribute to Peter Milner, who has been the major force in driving the organisation forward for all these years. With the current trustees and management of Lilian Prime Trust, I have confidence that this will continue for years to come.

My wife was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago. Knowing very little about the condition, we took it upon ourselves to investigate further. We saw a newspaper article for a craft fair at the Roundhouse, subsequently attended.

After several minutes of looking around the stalls, Lynda was whisked off by the lovely Chris Ross for a complementary therapy leaving me standing all alone. I soon got chatting to Melanie Parker, who then introduced me to Peter Milner. We got chatting about walking, and Peter said that he was planning a 60-mile walk of Derbyshire to celebrate 60 years of the MS Society. I expressed an interest and well that was where my journey began. We completed the walk in October 2013 and soon after Peter invited me to a branch committee meeting. I was welcomed and asked to take on the role of Fundraising Manager.

Hi! My name is Sue Savage, and I’m excited to have been appointed your most recent Trustee!

For the last 10 years, I have been running my own wedding decor business. I was approached by Ade several years ago to help him with room and table decor for the Casino Nights & Themed Balls, which I was delighted to do. Later this year, I will be semi-retiring (early!) from the business and, thus, have more time to devote to the Charity. Ade suggested that I’d make a helpful Trustee with my company, creativity and organisational skills & background.

I have friends and relatives whose lives have been touched by MS and other neurological conditions. I firmly believe in the work the Centre does. It’s essential to provide support to those in need and a meaningful purpose and sense of community to as broad an audience as possible. I have much to learn (so please bear with!), but I hope to apply my skills and experience to making things happen and help create something truly unique and wonderful.

Hello everyone! I’m Alan Jeffels, a recent addition to the board of trustees for the LPMSC. I have supported the Derby MS Activity Centre for several years with design, promotional work and the occasional (very muddy) Tough Mudder.

I met Ade over five years ago at BNI. We decided immediately to help support and promote the Centre, especially events such as the Casino Nights, Annual Ball and Gardeners World Live. Our decision was twofold. Firstly, the Centre provides enormous value to the lives of so many. But, on a more personal note, my Mother in Law was diagnosed with MS. Supporting the Centre was a no brainer.

When asked to be a trustee for the devolvement of the new Charity, there was no hesitation. With almost 20 years of business, branding, design, web and marketing experience, I hope to use my professional and personal skills to develop the team, Charity, and its promotions. So we can achieve our goal of opening five days a week, supporting more people and working towards our ultimate of finding a cure.

If you would like to find out more about me, please visit my website and get in touch. I can always find time for a coffee, even if we can only meet virtually during these unprecedented times.

Big hello everybody – I’m Hayley. I am the great-granddaughter of Lilian Prime and granddaughter of our founder, Don Prime. It’s great to be joining the team of Trustees at LPMSC. I have been attending the MS Ball and other fundraising events for a few years. I am very much looking forward to meeting all you lovely people at the Centre soon. In the meantime, I am getting stuck in and getting involved in the future development of LPMSC. I hope to use my experience to help develop the Centre and look forward to being part of a charity that means so much to our family.