Chair of Education Committee, Lead Governor for Boarding.

Neil went from Ampleforth College to The Queen’s College, Oxford, as a Hastings Scholar, to read Modern History. He started teaching at Bryanston School in 1973 and retired after 40 years there. During that period, at various stages though sometimes concurrently, he served as Head of History, Housemaster, Director of Studies, acting Head of Modern Languages, and acting Head of Economics (twice) but taught mainly Politics. He served as an ISI inspector for 20+ years. Now in retirement, Neil continues to be involved with education developments by also serving on the governing body of Sarum Academy, and by maintaining the role of Deputy Chair of the Appeals Committee for the OCR awarding body. A keen speleologist in the past (now long retired), Neil sails a Laser dinghy occasionally in Poole, cycles and walks medium distances reasonably regularly, and pays appropriate attention to the development of his grandchildren (five to date, predominately girls).

Vice-Chair of Governors, Lead Governor for Health & Safety, Finance & General Purposes Committee Member.

Oliver was born at Tonerspuddle, Dorset, in 1950 and educated at Milton Abbey School and the Royal Agricultural College Cirencester. He qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1976 and was made a Fellow in 1988. After an initial spell in general practise Oliver spent 20 years employed as a Resident Land Agent responsible for property in Dorset and Yorkshire and then in 1996 established a small rural consultancy practice in Wimborne, specialising in rural property management in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Oliver joined the Territorial Army in 1972 and following various regimental appointments commanded the Royal Wessex Yeomanry from 1990 to 1994. Subsequent appointments included SO1 LO with 1(UK)Division, SO1 ARD Implementation Team, Colonel Yeomanry and Deputy Commander 43 (Wessex) Brigade, Appointed ADC to HM The Queen 1998-2000, and awarded the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) 2004. Oliver is a Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset, Liveryman and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, a Liveryman of the City of London, and has a number of charitable interests. Other interests include country sports, walking and skiing. Oliver is married to Georgina and they have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Member of Finance & General Purposes Committee.

Matthew was educated at Milton Abbey (Damer 1987-92, Head of House) and the University of Cardiff.  His career started in the family business, SMT Ltd, as the Marketing and Sales Manager before taking over as Managing Director. He sold the business and started his 16-year career in financial services.  In 2005 Matthew went to live and work in Abu Dhabi (UAE) as a financial adviser to the expat community, before returning to the UK and joining Coutts in 2008.  He has attended a number of courses including the entrepreneurship course at Cranfield University and a business course at Cambridge University (Judges Business School).

He enjoys his role as Director, Client Advisor at Brown Shipley (A Quintet Private Bank). Matthew regards his time at Milton Abbey as ‘priceless’.  He credits the school for giving him the confidence, discipline and drive to succeed in all aspects of life.  Matthew lives near Wimborne, Dorset, with his wife Liz and their three children.

Member of the Governance Committee.

Neil was in Damer House from 1989 to 1994, and is a former Head Boy of the School. Since September 2021, he has been Headmaster of Hall Grove School in Bagshot.

He started his career in the Army attending the Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst between September 1997 and August 1998, and was then Commissioned into 1st Battalion, The Black Watch, with whom he served on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has twice been honoured by Her Majesty The Queen: he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service following his command in Afghanistan in 2011, and he was awarded the OBE in 2019 following his Regimental Command.

Neil has experience of working in the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall, where he has been a member of a Strategic Level Overseas Operations team and in the Strategy Department responsible for Defence’s contribution to Security Reviews. He has also worked in the Finance Department of the Army, responsible for the management of the Army’s annual budget of £11 billion.

He is married to Eugenie and they have two teenage children. They all love the outdoors, sports, and their friends and family.

Member of Education Committee.

Natalie grew up in Surrey, and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Bath, before working as a teaching assistant in a comprehensive school near Godalming. This sparked her passion for teaching, and she subsequently went on to complete a PGCE and an MSc in Teaching and Learning at the University of Oxford.

She began her Science teaching career in 2008 in a large comprehensive school in South Gloucestershire, before moving to teach in a small comprehensive school in rural Somerset. After six years in the state sector, a move to the independent sector beckoned.

Natalie spent five years at Milton Abbey School in Dorset, initially as Head of Science, before taking on the role of Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning). She joined Wells Cathedral School as Deputy Head (Academic) in September 2019.

Justin grew up on his family’s farm in Hammoon in North Dorset. He went to Port Regis School, then Milton Abbey, where he was in Athelstan House, following in the footsteps of his father and elder brother.

He then completed a one-year vocational programme working on a farm near Bishop’s Caundle: tractor-driving, looking after young stock, and helping to make Dorset Blue Vinney cheese. After this, he received a National Certificate and National Diploma in Agriculture from Kingston Maurward. He worked on farms throughout North Dorset, before travelling and working for his uncle on a farm in Australia for nine months. On return to the UK, he worked at Sherborne Castle Estate as a shepherd and tractor driver for three years, whilst qualifying as a shooting instructor and becoming a member of the Guild of Shooting Instructors.

Justin spent his winters shooting and helping to run various shoots locally. During that time, he met a local business owner who offered him a job as manager of Conyer’s Gunshop in Blandford. In July 2004, he bought the shop himself, and has run it ever since, extending it in 2017. Justin is the Life President of Blandford Forum Rugby Club, and lives in Winterborne Houghton.