Our People

Mick Connon – Chairman

I have a BA in Audio/Visual Communication, Drama and Theatre Craft and, after college, spent some time working in stage management in theatres around the North West culminating in 2 years at Liverpool Playhouse as a Stage Electrician.

My later career was in the IT industry starting as a Developer and, transitioning through most roles, ended up as an IT Service Management Consultant for a global IT services provider.

My passion is music, especially live music (I play guitar and mandolin badly). Now I am not working it is a privilege to be able to flex my theatre muscles again as a technical volunteer for events, helping to developing our technical capabilities, and serving on the board of Trustees.

Chris Latham – Vice Chairman

My professional life has been in a range of educational settings from schools and Further Education to Adult/Community education and training.

Personally I am interested in a wide range of performing arts and am an occasional musician.

This is my second term as a Trustee with PAT with a gap of 9 years between the two.
I am glad to be back and enjoying the challenges.

Tom Davies – Secretary

I am a long standing Trustee who currently acts as Company Secretary for the Trust, having previously held the role of Chairman. I continues to invest time in developing the technical side of the hall including the installation and development of the digital stage lighting.

I run my own company working with corporate leaders and, as a “sideline”, provide Sound and Lighting services to festivals and venues.

I have lived in Somerset for 38 years with my wife Sylvia. We look after a pair of Alpacas as well as two dogs and I also spendtime playing bass in a variety of bands.

Derek Boles

I am a retired mechanical design engineer but have been a singer and a musician all my life in one genre or another. Several years ago I was asked to help at the monthly Acoustic Nightat The David Hall and as time passed I found myself taking a bigger role in the event and getting involved with other activities at The Halland with Petherton Arts Trust.

I was invited to join the Board Of Trustees in 2018 and now, as well as organising and MC’ing the Acoustic Night I regularly enjoy working at events as board member or steward and trying to get involved wherever help is needed.

Janet East

My career started in biological research. I qualified in accountancy and worked in the administration of education. My particular interests are fibre arts and crafts, art (drawing and painting) and wildlife watching. I enjoy live folk music and have been a regular visitor to The David Hall for many years.

I hope I might contribute to greater daytime use of The Hall and that my finance skills can be helpful in the administration of PAT.

Adam Hawkins

I am now retired having been a primary school headteacher for some 30 years both in Lewisham, S.E. London, and here in Somerset. I have always believed in the importance of music and the arts in the primary school curriculum which are essential to the all-round development of the child.

I am the membership secretary of Yeovil Town Road Running Club and although my marathon days have gone, we still take part in a weekly Saturday parkrun including events in seven different countries. I organise the series of cross-country races for local primary schools which usually include more than 400 children from more than 30 schools.
Other interests include travelling in our motorhome, volunteering with the RSPB,Yeovil Town Football Club, golf, buses and of course, our grandchildren.
It is an honour to have become a trustee at the David Hall especially given the importance of being able to experience live music.

Angie Keating

Most of my schooling was in Reading, after which I did Bilingual Secretarial and Business Studies at Twickenham College of Technology. Jobs brought Cliff and I to Somerset which we have made our home and we would not want to live anywhere else. My work has always been office bound and I latterly worked for a local firm of solicitors and for a short while ran a Building Society Agency. I am now retired.

I have been part of The David Hall from the very beginning when it was initially used as a rehearsal and performance space for amateur dramatics in 1986. I was a customer, participant and volunteer in the early days.
Since 2002 I have worked as a regular volunteer, manning the box office and some administration activities in the office and from home.

I joined the board of Trustees on 2019. My main involvement is with fundraising events and helping with marketing and publicity. My interests are walking, dogs (Airdale Terriers), history and architecture of old buildings.

Crawford Murray

An Aerospace Engineer by profession I have been involved with David hall for a couple of years helping with the lighting and other tech things. I first messed around with theatre lighting at sixth form and then did not do anything until about 13 years ago when I got involved with our local am-dram in the sussex village where used to live.

Since moving to Somerset we had regularly attended events at TDH and, as they say, the rest is history. I have an eclectic taste in music from folk, to punk rock and blues to symphonic metal.

I am married to Rowena and live in Hardington Mandeville.

Pete Wheeler

Having spent 30 years of my professional career as a Police Officer, on my retirement, I started as a volunteer at The David Hall, mainly running the bar. From a very early age my non-work interests related to music. I was member of Bath Folk club and attended many live gigs including the first Glastonbury.

In 2008 I joined The Board and at the same time I was asked if I was willing to take over the planning of the music events, which I have done to this day.

My main emphasis has always been on ensuring that we have a diverse programme of music, dance theatre and spoken word with quality being our main driving force.

Vivien Wiles

I have been involved as a volunteer at The David Hall for some years.

I retired after a career in secondary teaching which included a great deal of involvement in school and staff drama productions. I have a love of theatre and poetry but may main passion, shared with my husband, is live music. We go to a range of events and venues, largely in the South West.

I hope to bring to the board time, a willingness to support activities, some catering experience and a willingness to turn my hand to new things.

Mike Wiles

I am a retired School Administrator, but in my past, I was also the administrator for a regional Folk Arts organisation. I have always had an interest in the arts, particularly music, both as a listener and a player. I have been involved in local bands for over 25 years and my wife and I regularly attend local gigs and bigger concerts, further afield.

I was first involved with the David Hall in 1994, as part of a Community Opera Project and I started volunteering around 1999. I have served previously, for a couple of years, as a Board member and I have been a member of the Entertainments Committee for a number of years.

Kerry Bamford

I am the Finance Officer at The David Hall dealing with all matters financial. I also deal with Hiring The Hall, Co-promotions, and all the admin that keeps The Hall up and running on a daily basis.

I have lived in South Petherton for an unimaginable amount of years!
I am an animal lover and also a dabbling artist.

Founder of The Gin Bar at TDH