Contact

Executive Committee


Chairman: Nick Cansfield - 07789 284568

Nick is a newcomer to the Midhurst area, having moved into Stedham with his wife and two grown up sons at the beginning of 2021. After 26 years with ICI, Zeneca and Syngenta working from a number of different sites, including Fernhurst, Nick spent the last ten years of his working life as Head of Reward and Pensions with the Insurance company Ageas. Nick decided that working life was getting in the way of his hobbies and took early retirement to spend more time playing golf, taking photographs, following Aldershot Town FC and writing niche books that are unlikely to be of interest to anyone.

(appointed November 2021)

Vice Chairman and Membership Secretary: Karen Richardson - 01730 601794

I grew up in Headley Down and moved to London where I trained as a nurse. After living in Hong Kong for some years, my husband and I came back to the UK where I nursed and then moved into Social Work. We then moved to France for nine years where we renovated a property, adopted dogs, kept hens and kept busy with land maintenance. I helped with events in the community, and with charities supporting animal welfare and people with cancer.
Returning to the UK from France in 2016, friends lent me a house in Midhurst and I thought what a wonderful town to live in, I'll settle here and that's what I did.
Amongst other activities, I enjoy walking with my two rescue dogs, gardening, and volunteering at Midhurst Museum
(appointed July 2021)

Treasurer: Charlotte Backshall-McGregor
Charlotte’s family has lived in Midhurst and Easebourne for five generations, owning and running Backshalls Garage from 1911-2011. Charlotte was educated at the Convent of Mercy in Midhurst and found a career in finance soon after leaving school in 1989. After roles with IBM and Lloyds Bank, she currently works closer to home as Financial Controller for The Edward James Foundation which incorporates West Dean College, Gardens and Stores. She is a member of the Midhurst Community Choir and is married to Seonaid.

Programme Secretary: Tina Litchfield - 01730 816542 Email: tina@tinagavin.com
Tina was born and raised in a large happy family in Michigan in the USA. Her first husband was a fellow art student. Being adventurous, they left their studies and emigrated to Europe in 1969. They settled in Haslemere where they brought up their two sons. But in the early 1990’s she found herself on her own. The family house was sold and she came to live in Midhurst. Tina published two books on patchwork and on the strength of that, she opened a little quilt shop in West Street. After a while she sold the business and worked for a few years as a secretary before meeting Gavin. The Litchfields enjoy a wonderful retirement. They both enjoy choral singing, countryside walks, gardening, and travel. Tina wrote and self-published ‘Easebourne Village Vignettes’ in 2011. Tina also enjoys drawing & painting and is active on several local committees, including that of The Midhurst Society.
(appointed November 2021)

Social Media Lead: Dawn Cansfield - 01730 810939

Dawn grew up in Midhurst and has recently moved to Stedham after stints in Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and Hampshire with her husband and now grown-up twin sons. She worked in Human Resources in the corporate and healthcare sectors before discovering Archaeology and embarking on a higher education journey, culminating in a PhD in prehistoric mortuary practice - and a handshake from Alan Titchmarsh at the graduation ceremony. Currently a visiting research fellow at the University of Winchester, Dawn is also the Landscape Editor for the Hampshire Field Club's newsletter, and handles the Midhurst Society's social media presence on Instagram and Facebook. She is also a keen dog walker and wildlife photographer.
(appointed July 2021)

Committee member: Phil Stringer

Phil has been connected to the village of Easebourne and Easebourne church for most of his life. Following a working life in the Army and in the civil service working for the Ministry of Defence, he retired in 2019. He is connected to our local schools as vice-chair of governors at Midhurst Rother College and clerk to governors at Easebourne Primary School. He is a volunteer for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission where his area of responsibility includes war graves in a number of local churchyards and cemeteries. He is also the Poppy Appeal Organiser for Midhurst and district branch of the Royal British Legion. Phil is married to Nicci and they have two grown up children, George and Molly.

Committee member: Dave Rudwick

The Rudwick family has lived in Midhurst for at least five generations. Dave’s grandfather Harold and Harold’s brother Percy ran the Rudwick Garage business in Knockhundred Row until the 1940’s. That property is now the home of the Midhurst Museum which Dave helped to set up with his brother Tim and Peter Nightingale. Over the years the Rudwick family has collected a vast number of artifacts, images and paperwork about Midhurst and its close neighbours.
(appointed June 2022)